Evening star., 1918-06-09
81 81 g. 81

things always do sooner or later, and
that the marriage was very far from
being happy one. AS matter OF
fact, he learned later that the county,
to a woman, had refused to accept
Lady Wilding; that her ladyship.
chafing under this ostracism, was for
having a number of her old profess
sional friends come down to visit her
and make a. time of it, and that, on
Sir Henry's objecting, violent quar-
rel had ensued, and the Rev. Ambrose
Smeer had come down to the hall in
learned something else that night
which gave him food for deep re-
fiection-the Rev. Ambrose Smeer. too,
had been to South America. When he
met that gentleman, in spite Of the
fact that Sir Henry thought so highly
vival meetings had done a world of
good. Cleek did not fancy the Rev.
Ambrose Smeer any more than he
fancied the trainer, Logan.
But to return to the present. By
this time the late falling twilight of
presently-as the day was now done
and the night approaching-Logan
led in Black Riot from the paddock,
followed by a slim. sallow-featured,
small-mustached man. bearing shot
gun and dressed in gray tweeds.
had a liking for the man, introduced
this newcomer to Cleek as the South
American. Mr.. Andrew Sharpless.
That's the English of it. Mr..
Cleek." said the latter, jovially. but
with an undoubted Spanish twist to
risk breaking your jaw with the
Brazilian original. Delighted to meet
you, sir. 1 hope to heaven you will
get at the bottom of this diabolical
thing. What do you think. Henry?
Lambson-Bowles' jockey was over in
Trying to see how Black Riot shapes,
of course, the bounder! Fortunately
] saw him skulking along on the other
side Of the hedge and gave him two min
utes in which to make himself scarce.
If he hadn't. If he had come step
down like a dog. That's right, Logan.
put her up for the. night, old chap.
and I'll get out your bedding"
aye" said Logan through his
clamped teeth. land God help man
or devil that comes a-nigh her this
that's all All say" Then he passed
into the steel room with the mare.
attended her for the night and. COM
ing out a. minute or two later. locked
her up and gave Sir Henry the key.
"Broke her and trained her. All did:
All can't pull un through no otl,er
way" he said. pausing before Gle elk
and giving him a black look "A
Derby winner hers cut out for, L,ln-
non Mister, and a Derby winner hur's
goin' to be. in spite of all the Lamb
horse -nobblers in Christendom!' Then
he switched round and walked
over to Sharpless, who had taken a
pillow and a bundle of blankets from
the convenient cupboard and was
making a bed of them. on the floor
at the foot Of the locked steel door.
"Thanky. sir, 'bliged to un. sir"
said Logan, as sharpless hung up the
shotgun and. with a word to the
/baronet, excused himself and went in
to dress for dinner. Then he faced
round again on Cleek, who was once
the rude bed: There's where Ted
Logan sleeps this night-there!" he
went on suddenly; land them as tries
to get at Black Riot comes to grips
with me first. me and the shotgun
Mr.. Sharpless has left All. And il All
shoot, Lunnon Mister, All shoot to
kill"
Cleek turned to the baronet.
do me favor, Sir Henry" he
said. For reasons Of my own. 1 want
to be in this stable alone for the next
ten minutes. and after that let no one
come into it until morning. I won't
be accountable for. this mans life II
he stops in here tonight. and for his
sake. as well as for your own. l want
you to forbid him to do 80"
Logan seemed to go nearly mad with
"Ah won't listen to It! All will stop
here, All will! All will"' he cried out in
a passion. Who comes ull find All here
waitin' to come to grips with un. All
won't stop out-Ah won't! Don't un
listen to Lunnon Mister, Sir Henry, for
Gods sake. don't"'
II am afraid must, in this instance,
Logan. You are far too. suspicious. my
good fellow, Mr.. Cleek doesn't want to
get at the mare. He wants to protect
her to keep anybody else from getting
at her, so join the guard outside II you
are so eager. You must let him have
his way" And, in spite Of all Logan's
pleading, Cleek did have his way.
Protesting, swearing. almost weeping,
tie trainer was turned out and the doors
closed. leaving Cleek alone in the stable.
And the last Logan and Sir Henry saw
of him until he came out and rejoined
them he was standing in the middle Of
the floor. with hia hands on both hips.
staring fxedly at the impromptu bed in
front Of the steel room door.
Put on the guard now and see that
nobody goes into the place until morn
ing, Sir Henry" he said, when he came
later. Logan. you silly fellow, you'll
do no good fighting against Fate. Make
the best Of it and stop where you are"
That night Cleek met Lady Wilding
for the first time. He found her what
he afterward termed "a splendid ami
NAL" beautiful, statuesque, more Of
Juno than of Venus. and freely endowed
k4.,