Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1897-02-04
WON ON A CROSS.

'The nurse tells me you wish to speak
with me, Qulter," said Mr.. Tranquil,
the Clergyman, as he took his seat be-
side the bedside of a dying man in the
infrmary ward.
Eyes, yes, sir" replied the man, in
cracked voice. 'I feel shall not last
the night, and should leave this world
in d happier frame of mind if relieved
nv soul OF the secret that has BEEN the
curse of my life.
"At the age Of II became appren-
ticed to o trainer at Newmarket, and
In due course passed from under
his hands one of the smartest horsemen
I've turned out as he put it In intro
ducinq me to the notice of hts latest
client, one Capt Disbrow Dives, as sly
looking, and, as I afterwards knew to
my cost, as Thoroughbred scamp as
ever d!sgraced the sport of kings
"The captain had been on his beam
ends for some time through heavy
losses at cards, and, on top OF that,
shortly before knew him, came what
to many would have been Dame For
tunes finishing stroke-viz: his COM
pulsory retirement from the service
through being mixed up in some shady
business or other; but he soon found
his feet again, for On old uncle died
intestate, and Capt Dives, as next OF
kin, came an for over half o. million OF
money. After getting together choice
stud of race horses he soon saw the
futility of pluIginr and organized q
systematic alV offensive campaign
ngainst the rig.
Eventually the captain promoted me
to the position of first jockey, but dur
ing oil this time he did not associate
with the upper crust of race-goers- He
never visited the paddock, but might
always be seen hanging over the rails
outside, watching his horses win in the
most unconcerned manner imaginable.
"For five years nothing occurred to
divert the current of our wonderful
luck as it came to be called. But re-
verse, bearing out the adage of the
pitcher going too often to the WE'LL
seemed in store for US unless we played
our cards very carefully.
"The Clipper handicap was to be run
in fortnight, and our horse, Radix'
six stone ten pounds, q dark thpee-year-
old, which had been kept for this race,
was a favorite at five to one. In our
blind confidence we feared nothing,
and, in fact, looked upon the colt as
regular top-sawyer among the handi-
cap class; but as the time drew near my
belief in the colts vast superiority
bessened as some talk had heard about
one lower down SIT me thinking. The
captain had plunged heavily on this
event, and In the course Of one OF our
chats about the race I asked him If It
was q wise line to follow, even with
supposed certainty.
"Capt. Dives always became fdgety
when threw doubts on any Of his GER
tainties, and after looking keeniy at me
for few seconds he broke out with;
"Look here, now, Quilter, what do
you mean by talking in this strainT
You've heard something; out with 1t,
man, for there is no time to LOSE
"'Well, sir answered, I have heard
some ugly talk about Sir Giles Wack-
toms Ceranium, the bottom weight, but
If there is anything in it we shall soon
l,now, as Sir Giles is not the man to
let his horses run loose. Old Bridoon
told me on the strict ct. that Geranium
has been tried good enough to give the
top weight seven pounds and then win
IN trot. Of course, it may be only a
fairy tale, but it is best to watch and
throw away no chances
This had salutary effect on the cap
tain, for after hurriedly looking up
,Geranium's form he said he would
await the development Of events be-
fore supporting Radix further.
Nobody ever scanned the betting
lists more eagerly than during the
next few days, and it was soon plain
that some astute person who didn't
wish to attract public attention to his
doings was taking hand in the game,
and the captain began seriously to con-
slider the advisability of hedging some
of his bets, a thing he never liked TO
do; but three days before the race the
Geranium people struck blow that
Just about knocked him off his legs
BY working commissions nil over the
country they rushed the FLY up from
25's TO the position of a red-hot
favorite in one day, thus closing
against Us the last loophole of escape,
as hedging our money was now out OF
the question.
al have hitherto omitted to explain
that Sir Giles Wacl1ton considered Capt,
Dives a personal enemy. Theyhad both
been in the same regiment together
and had had serious quarrel over some
woman, and Sir Giles had sworn to be
revenged if he waited lifetime for
the opportunity.
"The day Geranium was installed IA
yorite Capt. Dives came down from
London with face the color of white
washed wall, and could see by his
manner that he had been drinking a
lot more than was good for him. After
n long confab he told the trainer to ar
range for Radix to be retired again
early the next morning. The captain
was well pleased with the spin, and
when the horses had gone home, came
up to me and Said he wished to have
talk with me at his lodgings, so as soon
as I had changed my things hurried
over to hear what wa in the wind.
mo sooner had I stepped inside the
Il