Sea Urchin.

Waikato Independent, Volume XXXI, Issue 2779, 24 November 1931, Page 3

Sea Urchin.

BY E. C. BULEY.

CHAPTER Xll.—(Continued). "Coraline," Peter said shortly. "Well, it's time she won," he said reasonably. "She hasn't won a race for two seasons now. But I suppose you know." "Not for two years?" Ann repeated. "I had a look at her,.Peter; she's a rat of a little thing, alongside New Toy." "She'll worry him out of it," Peter said doggedly. "Don't gamble on the race, whatever you may do." Perhaps he spoke with more show of authority than he intended, for Ann turned quickly to Edsell. "You'll bet for me, I nr.ve Mr Edsell? I want to bet £I,OOO on New Toy Would you like the cash?" "No thank you," Ed.sell smiled. "Settling day will be soon enough for me, whether to pay or to receive. And I'm pleased to bo honoured by your esteemed aommii'.'sii n." He went off to the betting ring, while Peter turned back, in company with Ann and her father. "That is the first time that you have ever been disagreeable, Peter," Ann complained. "You mighi have obliged me, instead of forcing me to depend upon a comparative stranger " "Peter might "ecort lhat you might have taken his t'p. iw.'.cad of being guie'ed by tho same comparative stranger," Djspanl observed rkil;. "You deserve m lose your money, Ann and you know it." "I'll lose my money when New Toy is beaten," Ann retorted. "But that has not happened yet." They returned to their friends, to find that the whole party had supported Edsell's information. Ledgeways had plunged—probably because Edsell had so far indulged him—and the whole party was a good deal excited when the horses came out for the race. Edsell returned from the ring, with the information that all the wagers had been made at odds of seven to two. Ronnie Scaife looked questioningly at Peter. "You're on with me, Ronnie," Peter said. "We've backed Coraline at twelve to one, and Mr Despard stands in with us." "Oh, good business," Ronnie exclaHned. "I say, Miss Despard, you ought to save on Coraline, don't you know." Ann made'no reply, but she shot a wicked sideways look at Peter, as if to call attention to the fact that the only supporter he had was the brainless Ronnie. Peter returned to that challenging look a confident smile, and then all attention was diverted to the race track. "They're off!" The race for the Goodwood Stakes is over two miles and a qiurter, one of the longest and most testing races throughout the whole racing season. The track itself winds among the wooded slopes of Goodwood Park, sometimes shutting the horses from the view of the. spectators in the stands, and sometimes exhibiting them silhouetted against the skyline. Probably no race is more spectacular, lasting as it does, for nearly five minutes, crammed with quick changes and racing thrills. Peter had expected that Coraline, which carried the lowest weights in ] the handicap, and was ridden by a tiny boy, would set the pace, in an endeavour to make the horses more heavily burdened tire under their weights, before the finish was neared. His guess was correct. They had notgone a quarter of a mile when Coraline carried her bright green jacket to the front. "She's running like a greyhound," called Despard, himself an owner of racehorses in Australia, and a very keen critic of riding as well as of a horse. "She's drawing away nicely Ann. They'll have a job to catch her." 'Something has to be in front," Ann retorted. "So long as it is not the horse that T am backing, I don't much care what leads." They disappeared from sight for an appreciable space of time; and when they came into view again, Coraline held a longer lead than before. "You know, Miss Despard," Ronnie Scaife called, in his slow drawling voice. "You really ought to have saved on Coraline when Gaunt told you. The little dear can stay for ever, and she likes racing in front." "Why don't you sell tips, Lord Ronnie?" Ann asked. "There's a lot of money to be made, I'm told, by anybody with a good loud voice." "Now you are funny," Ronnie replied, in a grieved voice. "But Ihe real joke comes when the race is over. When Coraline comes home alone, I mean to say." "When she does," Ann -replied. "But there are a number of horses keeping her company at the moment, I notice." "Yes," shouted Ledgeways. "Here comes New Toy, for one. Tait is not going to let her steal the race so easily as all that." New Toy, its jockey showing plainly, in a black jacket with orange sleeves and cap, could be seen drawing up, in hot pursuit of the leader. He had left the rest of the field as far behind as he was still behind Coraline, and the pair of them were consoicuous as they raced down to the tarn into the straight. Both seemed to be going easily and without any sign of tiring, and & hundred voices loudly proclaimed that the race must be between this pair.

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Then a loud shout proclaimed that New Toy was rapidly closing the gap. The horse was favourite, while Coraline was an outsider; so that the sympathies of most of the spectators were with the pursuer. They were now in the straight, and running directly towards the stands; so that it had become more difficult to estimate their relative positions. "New Toy has caught her," Ledgeways announced. "There is not half a length between them." "But he hasn't passed her," Despard replied. "His jockey is driving him with all his strength. If thut little boy is not too tired to ride the mare she will outstay him past the post." Another roar, and the . loudest one yet, proclaimed the fact that the favourite had got his head in front of Ihe outsider. There was still a furlong to go; and Tait, the jockey riding New Toy, was riding with desperate energy. Peter, who had not spoken since the race began, now pronounced his opinion. "That boy is sitting quite still," he said calmly. "He can._c.me along and win whenever he pleases. What do you think, sir?" "Why, there he goes," Despard replied, as Coraline's jockey used his whip. The result was electrical. The wiry lUtle mare regained the lead in a stride or two; and, answering every call of the tiny boy in the saddle, ran clear away again. When the post was reached she was six lengths in front of the tired favourite, whose jockey had mercifully ceased to call upon him, and allowed him to canter past the post, second, but well ahead, of all the others. "Well, Gaunt, you knew something about that one," Edsell admitted cheerfully. "Miss Despard cannot complain; you did your utmost to save 'ier from losing her money." "Oh, I not complaining," Ann said lightly. "I had a good run; and I must thank you very much for the trouble you took, Mr Edsell." There were others in the party who were not disposed to be so philosophical: and Ledgeways in particular favoured Peter with a look which seemed to say that he was responsible for fresh misfortunes.

" Come along, Peter," said Despard. "See if we can And another winner as good as that one." Ronnie Scaife attached himself to the pair as a matter of course. "I say, you know," he began as soon as they were out of earshot. "It's a bit thick, don't, you think. I mean having that chap Edsell along. I don't know what you think, Gaunt, or you, sir; but I never could stick him, myself?" Despard turned his unemotional face in Ronnie's direction. "Now that's very interesting, Lord Ronnie," he said. "What is your particular objection to Mr Edsell?" "Oh, I don't know," Ronnie said. "Only'he's not the sort of fellow to have about you, if you follow me. I mean, when Gaunt wouldn't bet for Miss Despard; well, I'd have made some excuse, if it had been put to me. I don't know if you follow me, sir." "I think I do," said Despard, with immense kindliness. "Peter, Lord Ronnie and I are going to have a drink. You find us a winner, while we see whether he can remember anybody who knows more about Mr Edsell than he seems to know himself, I confess I'm rather interested in a gentleman who contrives to turn losing to such good account." CHAPTER XIII. Peter Reflects. Peter went off, reflecting upon the truth of Despard's remark, and the general shrewdness of the big Australian. He was conscious that, in his first encounter with Edsell, he had gained something like a Pyrrhic victory. Ann had lost her money, in spite of him; and she had counted the loss for very little. But she had not liked Peter any the better, for being so right. He was a good deal troubled at having established a bond of sympathy between Ann and Edsell, though he could not but admire the perfect good temper with which Edsell had been put in the wrong. Peter Gaunt knew that no woman, however intelligent and level-headed, is entirely scamp-proof. The mere fact that he believed Edsell to be something far more extreme than a mere scamp might not make much difference. What he had to consider was that the man was engaging and popular, and that he was playing a part with consummate skill. But what part? The answer occurred only too readily to the disconsolate Peter, as he wandered through the paddock, exchanging absent-mind-ed greetings with his many acquaintances. He had wanted to know why Edsell was spending his money on Ledgeways, and at the same time prompting the extravagant peer to decline his uncle's offer. Now he puzzled over the question no longer. It seemed quite clear that Ann was the object which Edsell had considered from the very first. When Peter thought the matter over, he was forced to admire the cunning which the man had displayed. Ronnie Scaife had been put up as a dummy suitor,

and Camilla had been encouraged to gather together a party of rather vapid and pretentious people. And then, when Ann had become weary of this entertainment, Edsell appeared on the scene, with his attractiveness enhanced by the very stupidity of the people whom he had used as foils. Peter smiled grimly, as he recalled Edsell's impudent attempt to drive him out of the field. The man was not to have it all his own way, anyhow; and Gregory Despard was also on his track. Despard might not gain much information from Ronnie Scaife; but when Peter remembered how com-

plete had been the Australian** infoi*--mation about Ledgeways and Camilla* he knew that inquiries would not stojfi there. Indeed, Peter would not have worried much about Edsell and his schemes, if it had not been for the confession Ann had made to him. He could not forget that the girl had cherished for many years an ideal of oneromantic scamp. It was no use warning a girl of that type; if Despard set before her a complete account of Edsell's probable misdeeds, she might be only the more sympathetic to the culprit. (To be continued)- t