The San Francisco call., 1905-02-19

WHO IL III II, lOO.
I'D transfer my horse. Chang, to you
quick enough continued Captain
Frank, for 1 mean TO start him; but
I'll tell you straight, if the other two
come to the post fit, I'll only win it in
case something happens to both of
them-in case they fall or run out, or
something of that sort. Neither OF
them is apt to do that, though" he
continued, regretfully, for they're both
crackers at the Topping game
But I've got to win it, said Slade,
helplessly; and the look on his face
drew another whistle from the firm,
thin lips of the racing captain.
Johnson sat in deep thought for a
minute. If it's as bad as all that"
he said presently, looking at Slade,
''we'll have to hunt up a horse to beat
the both of them, Ell? You've got moth
ing in your stable that a donkey
couldn't give pounds to- But Baldeck's
just landed a Waller, in a shipload Of
horses from Australia, that If we can
buy and get fit in time will take lot
of beating His names Goldfinder. He
won over big timber in Australia"
Hope is a good tonic, and the way
Slade rushed things until he had Sc
cured Goldfinder was appalling. Not
but that there was trouble over 1t, and
it really seemed as though everybody
was in league to keep him from win
ming the cup. Baldeck wanted it him
self: in fact, had brought this horse
cut to win il TO take back to Australia.
Goldfnders price, $500, was all right.
Slade gave that eagerly enough, and
he got over the difficulty of the cup for
Baldeck by agreeing that, if the horse
won, he would have a duplicate made,
in gold, if he liked, and give 1t to him.
This seemed a trifling and happy ar
rangement; but, like good many other
trifiing things, it turned out serious in
the end.
You'll have to come UP with me to
my place and get Gcldfipder fit" Slade
said TO Johnson. Il want to win this
race and then quit the turf. I'll have
something else TO think of them. he
added impressively.
So johnson and his own racing stable
were transported up TO Tirhoot. There
was no difficulty about this. for Cap
tain Frank had shed the army and was
a racing gentleman pure and simple
not so very pure and simple perhaps.
Slade agreed to make him a present
of Goldfnder after the race was run
and won.
"WeI have a great chance to find
out how the new horse is going. Slade
remarked, with Chang in the string.
Chang's almost good enough. and if my
horse turns out a bit better. Wen scorch
them this trip"
While Slade and Johnson got the two
horses ready in Tirhoot. on the indigo
planters estate, something else was be-
ing got ready in Calcutta. That was
the working of one John Maynard's
mind over this same Ballygunge cup.
He was in the service, too. but that
didn't matter. What did matter was
that he thought Beth Cavendish the
only girl he wanted to marry.
Co rr-l1f nfh rod Cot fr1Ilx L.,
Tirhoot, he trained sprinter to go fast
for a mile, and jump viciously at every
thing in sight. Though Maynard.s NOR
ais were slightly oblique, his pluck was
all right, and he never thought of his
own neck in the matter. If he broke
the other fellow's-well, necks some
times do get broken in a steeplechase
over a stiff country.
Il think it's fairly satisfactory" he
confded to himself. IF by any chance
1 fail to bring him cropper, Lord Dick
is pretty sure to beat him out on Mus
ket." So he took a pretty heavy bet,
backing Lord Dicks horse to win a
small fortune. You see II was all gain
with him-love and coin.
Why Maynard had put Diabolo in no.
body knew. Certainly he couldn't stay
the course, three miles and a half, and
he was we'll named Diabclo, for he had
the temper of a fiend. 1t bothered Can
tain Frank not a little. That a man
of Maynard's cleverness should play
the fool was quite out of the question;
besides, Maynard could surely get
something that would go the distance
and have some chance of finishing with
the others. Then, when he found out
that Diabolo's owner had taken q long
bet about Musket's winning, he COM
menced to do considerable thinking,
suspicious thinking.
'I'll keep an eye on Maynard in the
race" he told Slade. HE played me a
bit Of trick once at Umballa and 1
shouldn't mind wiping out the score.
Chang's pretty big horse and be-
tween us we can take care of ourselves
and somebody else, too, If it's
needed
What do you mean?" asked Slade.
Nothing, only We'll sort of win the
cup between us. You'll sort of ride un-
der my order and when I give you the
word in the race, do just as I say, even
If IL does seem a bit queer"
I'll take your coaching, Frank, for
you know the game better than / do"
That was only two days before cup
day. Slade said nothing to Beth about
winning the cup. When he had won 1t
would be soon enough; If he lost-well,
he had not lost yet, anyway.
'Therell be some collarbones cracked
To-Day, SAID captain FRANK to Slade,
as they put on their silk colors in the
dressing room the day Of the race 1.-The
top bamboos on all the jumps are iron
bound and If any horse hits them hard
he'll come down for keeps and he'll stay
down. too"
Dangerous, that, eh?" answered
Slade. Might upset our good thing"
Hardly" said Captain Frank, with
his drawing twang; 'somebody'll find
them dangerous, but you won't. Gold
finder'll fly them like a bird
What about Change" inquired Slade.
Chang and his rider are all right"
replied Johnson.
The terms of the race were simple
enough 1t was a gentleman's race for
all horses owned solely by members of
the Ballygunge Association. 1t was
open to all riders. This also was
simple arrangement that turned out
very complicated at the end