Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1909-04-29

conspirators and urged to enter into
their plot. They found her only too
willing to 40 So Her horse, Rocket,
was entered in the class for hunters,
and Rocket had carved out name for
himself In the Meadowthorpe country.
A few minutes later, just as Satterlee
had excused himself and left Miss
Rawlings, lust long enough" as he
explained, ito beg off riding those
horses" Mrs. Bradbury and Beatrice,
arm In arm. approached the Bradbury
drag, upen which the heiress was
sitting.
Beatrice's countenance wore look
OF anxiety which admirably concealed
the diabolical plot which she was
forwarding, while both Mrs. Bradbury
and Harding, who assisted them to
mount the drag, looked innocently un-
conscious
Grace, dear" said Mrs. Bradbury.
sweetly, lit seems you are favored
above all other women. and Beatrice
has come to ask your influence"
My influenced" laughed Miss Raw
lings. With whom, pray?"
"Why. Percy Satterlee. of course.
You know he is considered the best
cross-country' rider in New York
mo, reallyi" exclaimed the heiress;
then, remembering Satterlees care
less remarks, ITO be sure, l have
heard that he rode very well.
"Of course you have" said Beatrice,
her eyes sparkling with mischief.
well. the favor want to ask is sim
ply this. / am dying to have Mr..
Satterlee ride my horse, Rocket, in
the hunter class, but / dare not ask
him. Rocket is a good horse but a
little headstrong, and it takes good
rider like Mr. Satterlee to show him
to advantage"
81 am sure said Miss Rawlings,
that Mr.. Satterlee would be only too
delighted to ride for you If you asked
him. Why don't you?"
mo, no, He would refuse, | am
sure. He is so modest about his
horsemanship. You would think he
couldn't ride at all. Please, Miss
Rawlings, do this for me. beg OF
YOU" cried Beatrice. Il am going
to drive home for luncheon, but will
come back here in about an hour for
the answer Remember l depend
upon your influence"
So saying Beatrice got down from
the drag and went with Harding to
seek her own carriage. Presently
Satterlee returned. and luncheon hav'
ing been spread by the servants from
the capacious hampers which were
carried in the boot of the drag. mer
ry party assembled to dispatch it.
Satterlee paid devoted court to the
heiress throughout the informal meal
When it was finished and the mel
had lighted their pipes and cigars, he
and Grace strolled away from the resi-
OF the party.
They talked of many things, and
finally their conversation turned tC
the coming race.
Il want you TO do something for me
want you to ride a certain horse IL
the hunter class" said Grace.
why, of course" replied Satterlee
but whose horse is it?"
Satterlee's heart had almost stopped
beating, and it was all he could do tt
prevent his knees from shifting eacl
other, but it would never do to betra!
such tendencies.
II am not going to tell you jus
| now" answered Miss Rawlings as the!
rejoined the party. She was delighted
with her success in persuading Sat
terlee to do something which he woult
not do for such favorite as Beatric,
Halliday.
So when that charming yount
sportswoman joined them after lunch
Grace was all smiles.
II have secured your rider for you
| Miss Halliday" she cried triumphantly
"Mr. Satterlee says he will be dc
lighted to ride Rocket. Won't you, MI
Satterlee?"
calculated Satterlee mentally. Rid
Rocket, the brute that had nearly don
for him once, a horse known an,
feared as a terror even among tn
hard riders of the Meadowthorpe set
Was the woman mad?'
But he pulled himself together wit
a might effort. He saw that Beatric
was looking at him with eyes full O
ill-disguised mirth; but he knew it wa
his only chance to win the heiress
So he set his teeth and braced himsel
to murmur with an easy nonchalance
"Of course. Delighted, I'm sure"
Then he treated Miss Halliday to
look of deliberate defiance, which a
most disconnected her. She could a
ford to yield him point, however
The plot was progressing merrily.
1T is awfully good of you,' Beatric
murmured. Now | am sure of tn
blue ribbon
Presently the rumor commenced t
spread that Satterlee was going [
ride Rocket i'm the hunter class. Pee
pie began coming up to the Bradbur
drag by twos and threes to congrati
late him on his nerve; some of ther
to pretend to dissuade him from hi