The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-09-22
Copyright 1907 by Max Penn berton, all rights reserved
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CHAPTER xI WhlrlWnid.

town or out of it. his trim man-seryant Abel would wake him at [ o'clock and see that he had a cup of tea and the morning papers by a quarter-past, Fine physical condition was one of the am- bitions of this 1.-the shapely person, whose father had been a jockey and whose mother had not forgotten to the day of her death the manner in which measure ments are taken upon counter
 Willy Forrest, by dint of perseverance, had really come to believe that these worth parents never existed but in his imagination. To the world he was tho second son of the late Sir John Forrest Bart, whose first-born, supposed to be in Africa, had remained beyond the pale for many years. Society, which rarely questions pleasant people, took him at his word and opened many doors to him. In short, he type of adventurer by no means uncommon, and rarely unsuccess- full when there are brains to back the pre- tensions.
 He was not a particularly evil rascal, and women found him charming. Pos sessed of a merry face horsey manner and a vocabulary which would have de- lighted a maker of slang dictionaries, he pushed his way everywhere, not hoping for something to turn up, but determined that bis own clever ness should contrive that desirable arrival When he met Anna Gessner at Ascot year ago, the propitous moment seemed at hand. ."fhe girl is a gambler to her very boots," he told himself while he reflected that seat upon the box of such a family coach would certainly make his fortune. Willy Forest resolved to secure such seat without moments loss of time.
 r This determination taken, the ardor with which he pursued it was surprising. a cunning fox-like instinct led him to read Anna Gessner's character as few n wi lpr greatly in the gospel of heredity, he per ceived that Anna owed much to her father and more to her nationality. She Is selfish and passionate, a little devil in single harness who would be worse in double'-this was his reading of her; to which he added the firm resolution to put the matter to the proof without loss of time.
 'l shall weigh in immediately and the weights will be light" he thought. "She likes bit of a fiutter and I'll see that she gets it. There is plenty of corn in the old mans manager, and if it comes to bursting the bag, l will carry home the pieces. There's where l drive the car. She shall play and l will be her pet lamb. Great Jupiter, what a catch.''
 The result of this pretty conclusion is next to be seen in d cottage in Hamp- shire, not far removed from the racing stables of the great John Farrer, who
 
 honest and the most famous trainers in the country. This cottage had Willy Forrest furnished Indirectly at Anna s eXpense) in manner worthy of all the artistic catalogues. And hther would Anna come, driving over from her fathers country house near BasingstolIe and caring not fig what the grooms might think of her
 Captain Forrest is my trainer" she told the men. bidding them to be secret.
 For any other explanation they cared not at all. To run a horse in a great race seemed to them the highest of human achievements, and great was their wonder that this fragile girl should dare it. "She be a rare good 'un and a stayer. Derned if l don't put my last button on Whirlwind.' This was the extent of the scandal that she caused.
 Anna motored over 10 "The Nest" some three weeks after Alban had been re- ceived at Hampstead and found Willy Forrest anxiously waiting for her at the gate She had brought with her one of those obliging dependents who act so cheerfuly unnecessary chaperones. and this person she left in the smart car while she entered the cottage and told the owner that he was forgiven. Their quarrel had been vehement and tempestuous while it lasted-and the cap tain remembered that she had struck him with her whip.
 "I knew you'd come Anna" he said good-humoredly while he opened the gate for her. "Of course, 1 don't bear you any grudge Good Lord, how you went it last time l might have been a hair trunk that had let you down at gate Eh what-do you remember it? And the old chin-pot which cost me twenty glli- meas. Why, you smashed it all to bits with your whip-eh, what? I've laughed till 1 cried every time ] tried to stick it together again. Come right in and let's shake hands You've got an oddish look ing lot in the car-bought her in at tho sale, l suppose-eh. what? Well, I'm glad to see you. really.
 She looked little downcast, he thought but prettier than he had ever seen her before. It was quite early in the morn- ing and his table had been set out for breakfast, with dainty oldfashoned china and silver kettle singing over a lamp. Anna took her favorite arm chair, and drawing it close to the table permitted him to give her cup of tea.
 You wanted to make a cheat of me-" she said calmly enough. "Oh, yes, I have heard all about 1t. There's nothing what eyer the matter with Whrlwind. He must win the cup-John Farrier says so. You are the person who does not wish hil to win
 Adventures never blush when they are found out. and Willy Forrest was no ex- ception te the rule
 . "Oh, there you are,' he cried boisterous- ly, just the same old kettle-drum and the same old sticks. Do you think I don't know as much about a horse as Farrier? Good Lord he makes me sick-I' sooner hear a Salvation Army band playing Jumping Jerusalem on the trombone than old John Farrier talking honest. Are we running nags to pay the brokers out or to make bit on our sweet little owa-eh what? Are we white-cholkered phila nthropists or wee wee baby mites on the nobbly nuggets? Don't you listen to him, Anna. You'll have to sell your boots if you follow old John
 She stirred her tea and slipped 1t slowly.
 You said Whirlwind was going lame on the near fore-leg, and 1t isn't true, she exclaimed upon pause. "What was your object in telling me that?'
 ~ said it before the grooms and you didn't give me a chance of blowing the smoke away afterwards You say you are racing to make money and what's the good of hyms and milk? This horse will start at Il to unless you are careful where's my gold-lined shower bath then? Don't you see that you must put the market back-frighten the packers off and then step in? That's what I was trying to teach you all the time Give out on the loud trumpet that the horse has gone dickey and leave em uncertain for a week whether he's running or sticking. Your moneys on through third party in the tween times and your cheeks are as .ed as roses when the flag goes down."
 And if the horse should not win after won have cheated the people?''
 ..You'll be some five thousand out of