The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-09-18

ing. It's rs easy to get into debt in In
dia as il is to get into sunshine. lie
was known by the cheerful name of
"Gaiety."
With Lieut.. Layton's name on the
back of n note and his friends on the
face of it, it was on easy hunt to stalk
Marwarie money lender with cash
enough to discount it. But that tran
saction didn't really help them very
much: it tided the friend over settling
day after the Bungaloo races, but it
didn't provide the ways and means
against settling day with the Marwarie,
With nothing tangible in sight, chances
had to be taken, and one or two little
flyers on the part of Gaiety had only
worked them down deeper in the debt
mire.
That was why Layton was wandering
about on the madam close to the Luck
now race course one evening when he
should have been at the gym" or the
mess" or almost anywhere except
incoming about ON the dismal smoke
scented plain.
He was doing something that no Off.
Ger in the whole service would have Civ
EN- him credit for-he was fretting.
The friend who had used up the money.
and who would most likely come u
smash if the thing wasn't met. was en-
joying himself with his brother officers
rs though he hadn't Il minute to spare
from the arduous duty of spending his
income.
Its Il devil of a hole that we're in
unused Layton, as he flicked at the dry
grass with his stick. 'tGaiety can't raise
the wind, not piece of it, to pay that
bl0od-sucking Marwarie, and he'll be
down on me for his pound of flesh like
an Afghan Ghazi. / wouldn't care, only
poor old Nell will have TO wait till God
knows when-wait till never-day, / fan.
cy, for the Internal thing will break M"
too"
He threw up his head and listened.
Something was pounding the turf be
hind him on the course 1t was not the
mixed excited shuttle of ezka ponies:
it was the clean, powerful strokes of
thoroughbred hoofs, strong horses ham
mering the sod in eager gallop-hs
racing ear knew that.
"By Jove, it's trialr' he muttercd.
i He could see a blurred mass gliding
along in the moonlight on the far side
of the course. He quickened his pace,
and drew up in the shadow of the lime
plastered grand stand
Two men We're standing Mt the ''finish
post" 20 yards past the stand. In the
uncertain light she could not distinguish
who they were.
The Marwarie and Gaiety slipped from
his mind for an instant and his sport.
ing blood bounded hot through his veins
in the excitement of watching the horses
race neck and neck up the stretch.
1t was Il glorious tussle. They're
riding for blood" he muttered. Its No
blind, this trial."
Two horses We're hugging each other
like twins; behind. dozen lengths
beaten off, galloped something that had
been put in to make the running
As they smashed past Layton, one, a
big bay, shot out as though the jockey
had just let his head go, and swung be-
tween the finish post and the judges
stand clean length in front of his
mate
1t was pure sport that made Layton
take so much interest in the dash up TO
that time. 'The bay could have gal
loped over the other fellow ut any time"
he thought. Il wonder who he belongs
to-"
Just then a high-pitched, drawing
voice came up to him from one of the
two men. There could be no installing
it. That voice was known from one end
to the other of the military racing
world of India-it belonged to Capt.
Frank Johnson. He was saying: by
CAD. Dick, he'll do for the big handicap,
if they don't smother him with weight
Awo stun and beating to the otherv'
Layton hurried away, his brain in Il
whirl. He was like a man who had
Il 3
was afraid of finding the owner.
1t was all clear enough. The bay was
Frank Johnson's Zigzag. with the Cap
tain's jockey, Dick Richmond, in the
saddle.
He remembered the horse perfectly
now.
Frank Johnson was one Of the clever
est racing men in India. His knowledge
had cost him something, for to have Il
free hand at the game he had resigned
his commission in the 9th bussars. IL
the trial had satisfied him that Zigzag
was good enough for the ''open handi
cap" 61b 615 612 90 N. -. N. N.
cap" there could be very little doubt
about it whatever.
Layton realized what it meant. 1t was
the very softest kind of a snap
With this knowledge he could back
the horse for more than enough to pay
off Gaiety's debts with the Marwarie.
But it would be hardly honorable to-
ward Johnson. He had Numbered upon
the Captains secret, almost stolen it.;
he could scarcely do it.
And then. on the other hand, the
greasy, c0yetous face of the money lend
er peered at him from the thick folds of
peepul tree, and sneeringly asked why
the sahibs signed notes they could not
pay.
1t meant ruin and shame and all the
rest of it; and even the face of his
friend, Of Gaiety-all the happy boyish-
ness gone-was there in the evening
dusk, drawn and white and pleading
1t was bitter struggle for Layton
had honor-plenty of it; but the odds
were too great; he could not fight
against it; and, besides, Johnson had not
confided in him, had not trusted him,
had not put him on his honor. 1t was
his luck that he had seen the trial: fate
had drawn him there to show him way
out of his difficulty.
Also, if he bought Zgzag in the lot