The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1909-04-23

AS though she was aware of his
presence for the first time. the girl
turned her face to him, white and full
of trouble in the moonlight that threw
up its delicate beauty and the dark,
sad eyes, to thank him, then passed
quickly through the gate, followed by
the man on horseback. They rode
up the drive to the great gloomy
house, and the gates were shut again.
The Old servant seemed to look at the
actors almost suspiclously.
so Ralph Strangways is ill again :;
that must be the doctor coming post
haste" observed Chatterton, as the
little party resumed their journey
And if any tout got wind of the
leech being sent or in such a hurry
tonight, we should hear of a further
drop in the betting tomorrow, and
there would be plenty of people who
have never seen Ralph Strangways in
their lives feeling pretty anxious.
over the country depending on wheth-
er one man lives for another seven Or
eight weeks!'
Il know it's something about a race
horse-why SO much hangs ON his
life said Joe Grisson, inquiringly;
but that's about all do know. It's
SO long since l was i'll a position to
scuander princely fortune on the
turf that I'm out of touch with racing
matters!"
We'll, it doesn't need much &C
quairtance with racing matter sto
know that Mr. strangways has a
mare, Pride O. Life, entered for the
City and Suburban." said another of
the company. 1T was favorite in the
early betting at the clubs, and it
would have been favorite still but for
these rumors Of Mr.. Strangways' i'll
ness, which they are trying to keep
as dark as posslDle. 1t amounts to
this-if Ralph Strangways should die
before the race, Pride o. I4ife's entry
becomes void and she can't run"
And he's backed her pretty heav-
lily. of course?" asked Joe, Interested
ITS said that he's staked every
! thing Oh the mares chances-a last
desperate coup to retrieve himself, for
he's about run through everything
That's what the turfs brought Ralph
StrangWays to-" said Chatterton, who
| had rather a fondness for the society
of sporting men. and was continually
| running up against them in bar par
lors in the various north country
towns he visited, and hearing all the
gossip of the racing stables. Ruin
for him and his if Pride o. Life loses:
ruin for the girl We saw just now. if
his death prevents the animal from
running, for that girl must have been
his daughter, and she's an only child;
devoted to each other father and
daughter are, they say. But barring
accidents land if Mr.. Strangways lives
till the race is run, Pride O. Life ought
to pull Off the event, and for the girls
sake l hope it will"
The name of Ralph strangways was
quite familiar to Lathom-Jack Craig,
as he was known to his new acquaint-
| ances in the theatrical company; he
remembered hearing a discussion
about the chances of the city favorite.
as it had been then taking part in the
race on the last occasion he visited
the club in Fellsgarth on the night
before his arrest. The memory of the
white, desperate face of the girl at the
gate of the great gloomy house, the
girl who in his first glimpse of her
had somehow reminded him of Hilda
more through something in the
proud poise of the head than in any
! actual resemblance of feature-had
given the question of the horses
chances a sudden new interest for
him.
Ruin for Ralph Strangways if Pride
O. Life runs and loses; ruin for his
daughter if his death before the race
prevents the animal from running.
He has staked everything on a last
desperate coup-everything." A girls
future and happiness hanging on the
speed of horse, on the frail thread
of mans life!
Only it was not the selfish thought
of ruined fortunes that had brought
that look of anguished fear to the
girls dark eyes. He felt sure of that
Father and daughter were devoted
Chatterton had said Some sudden
crisis must have come in Ralph
Strangways' illness that she had rid
den in such desperate haste for the
doctor. The suffering in the white
beautiful face, as she had thanked
him for his ,trifling service, haG
touched Jack Craig strangely-the
more, perhaps, because this girl hat
reminded him of the girl he loved
who was passing through the suffer
ing Of suspense too.
"And here we are at the Kings
Arms at last" said Joe at this juno
ture in tones of relief. "And l dom
know when l was more truly thank
full for anything in all my natural,
as turn in the road brought tn,
J., weary mummers in sight of the old
A1 IL