The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1909-05-21
CHAPTER XVIII.

Nx1AI L IN AN1X1
1t is Monday afternoon. Thu usual
crowd Of refuse humanity clusters round
the door of the great turf exchange. Ex-
pugilists, low publicans, noblemen's but
lers that were traders on mems weak
nesses or lust-greasy, brass-chained,
shovel-hatted, brazen-throated, brazen-
browed-with wolish greed of gain stamp
ed more or less on their features-the
hungry, gold-seeking mob o~scillate round
that low doorway. The turtles temple
never shuts the fell war between hackers
and layers never ceases. Eager murmurs
are heard midst that vulture-faced crowd.
HE went very bad in the market this
morning." 'Tell me they offered threes,
at the clubs, Whats wrong with
him?' What against The Saint?" and
similar hurried in~terrogatories fall on the
ear. Now a brougham, now a well-ap-
pointed cab. whose driver throws the reins
from his lavender-kidded hands to the
next tiger now the hansoms Of ordinary
life drop their respective occupants at
the small doorway.
The Subscription Room is full round
the big circular desks much paying and
receiving is going on. The sofas round
| the room are crowded with loungers; the
tessellated pavement is trod by a 1uctuat-
ing mass, who ebb and flow to different
| points as some one or two large specula-
tors vociferate the odds, or cease to do so.
II is the settling day after the broken
week at Newmarket. and sinister rumors
are rife about the first ~favorite for the
Two Thousand. He has stood at five to
two for a long while, but report says
| that three to one has been laid and Of
fered, to any amount of money, at the rae
ing clubs this morning.
Half-past four-fatal hour for many a
~favorite at TattersalPs, the adjustment of
last weeks accOunts-is over, and the
ring has time to turn it's attention to
forthcoming events.
Three to one against Coriander for the
| Guineas." is vociferated in more than one
quarter. Nothing positive seems known
about the horse but a panic has set in.
and hackers stand aloof from a wager
that yesterday they would have jumped
AT. Some few adventurous men take the
increased odds to a little, but speedily
repent as they find the disposition to lay
that price rapidly increasing.
At this juncture Pearman, attired in
deep mourning, entered the Subscription
Room. 1t was but a few days since his
fathers funeral, and, to do him justice,
he would not nave been there had NOT. a
friend telegraphed to him early in the day
the onslaught hat was being made on
COriander. Business must be attended 70.
he argued, whether racing or otherwise.
and knowing his horse to be perfectly
| we'll, he ran up at once to tow to stop
this demonstration against it.
Foremost among the opponents of the
f~avorite Was q big, corpulent north coun-
tryman, who enjoyed the reputation of
by no means throwing his money away.
In turf parlance, when he persistently bet
against a horse. The knew something"
Here's 1000 to 300 against Corian-
dar y Moderated Mr.. Pfyart, for the sec
ond or third time.
Put it down to me-" said Pearman,
quietly.
Yes. sir. Will you take it twice?'
Pearman nodded.
The bookmaker pencilled it into his
note book. The crowd, attracted by the
fact OF C~oriander's owner coming to the
rescue, had surged round them: but no
sooner had Mr.. Plyart completed his
memorandum, than he reiterated his
hoarse war cry of Here's 1000 TO q
against Coriander - a shout in which he
was Immediately Joined by two or three
other large spectators.
Put it down again, Plyart," said Pear
man. grimly and now, inspired with con-
hdence by the way in which his owner
had supported him, several hackers in
vested on the favorite.
H. 49,
would rally In the market; but the layers
OF odds far exceeded the hackers; and
finally came forth Mr.. Plyart's ominous
shout Of 1000 to 1000 against the favor
lite for The Guineas r"
I'll take that !" cried Pearman, though
his astonishment knew no bounds: and.
az the bookmaker noted it, he remarked,
with q sneer. You'll find my horse bad
to get out Of on the Two Thousand day.
| don't think you win hedge, except Il. !
loas."