The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-11-29

shuddered TO think Of those stiff five
foot fences and that great yawning
Liverpool jump out there on the Mea-
dowthorpe Club course.
So far Mrs Bradbury's plans were de-
veloping admirably She wanted Jack
Pierpont TO marry Margaret Hampton,
and she thought If he would only win
the race on Daisy Bell he. could propose
to the girl while his laurels were fresh.
1t was only an of chance Of course
but a good general does not despise the
slightest opportunity.
In one respect. however. she had reck-
oncd without her host-or- rather. with
out her guest For Beatrice Middleton
was quite as adroit as a matchmaker
as Mrs. Bradbury herself, and Mrs.
AIiddleton's influence was pledged in
favor Of Harvey wickham- Margaret
had known both men in town. and so
far had indicated no preference. 1t was.
as Dick Middleton declared, even bet
ting" between them. though, SO. Of
course. he favored his wife's candidate.
Another surprising fact developed. to
Mrs. Bradbury's dismay Beatrice had
entered her own horse, Rocket, for the
Stewards Cup. and although Rockets
reputation was such that few men cared
to ride him. IT was announced that Har-
vey wickham had undertaken the
mount
Wickham was a gentleman jockey of
some little distinction, although. to tell
the truth. he did not in the least relish
the mount. knowing the brute's bad rep
utation. Beatrice Middleton, however.
had insisted upon it, declaring that. as
Fierpont was going TO ride, he would
lose caste in Miss Hampton's eyes if he
refused to do so.
II was a very pretty situation, and
such as it was. it kept the Bradbury
household pretty well keyed up with ex-
element Pierpont had had a gallop
with Daisy Bell which was eminently
satisfactory to both Of them. while
W-Ickham had tried Rocket over several
jumps, and the latter had behaved In a
most exemplary manner. When the
party drove over to the course the next
morning on Bradbury's brake you would
never have suspected that such plotting
and coynter-plotting was in progress.
Miss Hampton sat on the box seat be-
side Mr.. Bradbury, picture Of happy
innocence. while Mrs. Bradbury and
Mrs. Middleton chatted gayly with the
three men on the other seats. All were
apparently gay and light-hearted. but
at least two of them wished in their
hearts that the day was well over and
that they had not unde taken TO ride.
However" thought Pierpont. as he
ne'er Won fair lady-so here goes
descended from the brake. faint heart
Wickham growled something under his
breath when he saw Rocket being with
difficulty restrained from Iashing out at
everyone in the paddock. His face
wore an expression of disgust, but il
was no time now to hesitate.
The Stewards Cup was the second
event on the program, and our two
friends soon found themselves mounted
on the backs of their steeds, wearing
the colors of their respective owners.
Six horses faced the starter for the
Stewards Cup. counting Rocket, who
persisted il facing the other way. They
were Dick NItddIeton's chestnut gelding
Dandy; Major Barclays chestnut mare
Sweetheart; Mrs. Bradhury's bay mare
Daisy Bell; Mrs. AIlddleton's brown
eolding. Rocket, and Mr.. Richmond's
gray mare. The Ghost
Who Mr.. Richmond was nobody seem
ed to know, nor was any information