The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-07-27
THE OFF CHANCE.

when you cannot lose. d"
Very well. dear. I'll enter the mare
to please you. But who is to ride her
You know I am much too heavy"
Mrs. Bradbury, the wife of NJ. F. H
smiled upon her lord and master, having
gained her point.
Leave that to me-" she said. you
enter the mare, 1 will supply the rider.
'Au right It's your affair. 1 be-
ueve I will enter the mare in your
DO cried Mrs. Bradbury. that will
be Jolly
The master of the hounds strobe off
toward the stables and his wife went
about her domestic duties with pleas
''Of course" she said to herself, lit is
only an off chance as Dick says, but
then she is such a dear girl and Jack
is such a nice boy" Which observation
on her part seemed to indicate that
there was more in her anxiety to have
Daisy Bell entered for the Stewards
Cup at the coming Meadowthorpe Hunt
races than appeared on the surface
The Bradburys always entertained
quite q house party for the hunt races
as befitted the NJ. F. H. and his lady.
This year only about half dozen guests
were expected, but Mrs. Bradbury had
already begun to lay plans Wnlch con-
cerned the future destinies OF at least
two of them.
Margaret Hampton was the first OF
sthe house party to arrive. She was a.
charming, fair-haired, blue-eyed crea-
ture whose one season in society had
not vet robbed her of the girlish fresh
ness of her convent life. She was an
especial favorite of Mrs. BRADBURY ;.
and was directly concerned in the lat
ters mysterious plot which included
the running Of DAISY Bell Ior the SleW-
ards cup.
Then there were the Middletons-Mr.
and, Mrs. Dick-old favorites at Mead
owthorpe, Harvey Wickham Fred Mat
thews, and Jack Pierpont Margaret
Hampton was the only unmarried wo-
man IN the party-which was also a
part of the above mentioned deep-laic
plot
Bell" asked the NJ. f. H. of his wife
the day before the races were to take
place; Middleton, you know, is riding
his own horse, Ralph Goring is goina
to ride Major Barclays chestnut. WIKI
ins has his own horse in. Who are you
going to get?"
Mr.. Pierpont has promised to ride
for me-" answered Mrs. Bradbury de-
''Pierpont! That boy? Why, what
does he know about riding a steeple-
chaser
HE has ridden a good deal-some-
Very well. It's your affair. you
know"
Now the truth of the matter was that
Pierpont felt quite as doubtful as the
NJ f. H. of his ability to ride a three
and a half miles cross country race
against such riders as the Meadow
thorpe Hunt club afforded. But when
Mrs. Bradbury asked him to ride her
horse for her he was not the man to
refuse. He had ridden a good deal ana
fox hunted a little in the South, where
the fences are not very formidable.
and he made I'D his mind in an in
slant to take his chances, though he
Bhuddered - think of those stiff five
foot fences and that great yawning
Liverpool jump out there on the Mead
OWthorDe club course
So far Mrs. Bradbury's plans were de-
veloping admira bly,. 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
but good general does not despise the
slightest opportunity.
In one respect, however, she had reck-
oned 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. Middle
tons influence was pledged in favor of
Harvey Wickham. Margaret had known
both men in town and so far had Indi-
Gated no preference. 1t was, as Dick
Middleton, declared, even betting" be-
tween them, though, so of course, he ia
vored his wife's candidate. Another sur
prising fact developed, to Mrs Brad
bury's dismay Beatrice had entered
her own horse, Rocket, for the Stew
ards Cup. and although Rockets repu-
tation was such that few men cared 10
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 had rep
utation. Beatrice Middleton, however,
had insisted upon it, declaring that, as
Pierpont was going to ride. he would
lose caste in Miss HamDton's eyes if he
refused to do so.
1t 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
Wickham had tried Rocket over several
jumps and the latter had behaved in
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 contemplating was in progress
Miss Hampton sat on the box-seat be
side Mr.. Bradbury, a 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 lighthearted, but at
least two of them wished in their hearts
that the day was well over and that
they had not undertaken to ride
However" thought Pierpont as he
descended from the brake. Faint heart
ne'er won fair lady-so here goes
Wickham growled something under
his breath when he saw Rocket, being
with difficulty restrained from lashing
out at every one in the paddock. His
face wore an expression of disgust, but
It was no time now to hesitate.
The Stewards cup was the second
event on the programme, 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