HIS DAY OF RECKONING.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 133, 3 July 1909, Page 4

HIS DAY OF RECKONING.

■ "I half expected you'd raise some 1 sort of-objection, but I really doa't see what you'd got to grumble about, Sir James. I liked the girl, have liked her ever since I first saw her, and I badly want to marry her; and/moreover, lin a rich man, which, to put it bluntly, Sir James, you ain't." ...I Sir James Bendon, from his position] on the hearthrug, eyed his visitor with j a look of intense irritation. i "Really, Mr. Seegar, I don't wish to disttuss the matter further," he remarked quietly, but with a firmness which should have warned his visitor that persistence would have been unwise. But Ted Seegar, racehorse owner and nearly a millionaire, was not the man to know when he had gone far enough, for he replied, in a familiar, not to say patronising manner: "Look here, Sir James, however high you may hold your head, I reckon money's as useful to you as to most other people, and I'll tell you what I'll do. I'll write you a letter, now if you like, agreeing to give you a cheque for £IO,OOO on the day Miss Kancy becomes my wife, and no one but you and I shall be any the wiser." . Sir James Bendon, white to the lips, controlled himself with difficulty. , "If I were a younger man," he remarked quietly, but none the less passionately,. "I'd pitch you out into the street and give you a lesson in manners." "Oh, that's your game, is it?" sparled Seegar, all his affability suddenly vanishing. "I tell you, my friend, I'll not take that lying down. Why, I could buy you and your house and your precious horses five, times over. I s'poso you think'you'U make money over Tantalus at the Derby, but we shall see; perhaps "that'll be my day of reckoning." And with that he strode from the room and -slammed the door behind him. Sir James Bendon and Mr. Ted Seegar were near neighbors, and, although there had never been any friendship between the two men, this was the first time that Sir James's intense dislike for the [ other had shown itself in any definite j manner. I

Seegar's record- ivas a bad one. He had made his moaej none too honestly, so it was'freely said; in the South African diamond fields, and, returning to England, had taken a big house near Newmarket and devoted all his time to horse-racing. No, not quite all hi?, time, for he had found several occasions for endeavoring —Vainly, 'tis .true—to •' ingratiate himself with beautiful tfancy Bendon, In spite of the fact that he was at least twjnty years Jier senior., Sir James iwas, as Seegaf had so bluntly pointed out, in reality a poor man.

His stables—fort he, too, was a sportsman—had seldom brought him any luck, and their had seriously drained his resources.

But at last he -was expecting a change of fortune, for there was no donbt about it that Tantalus, the horse he had entered for the Derby, stood a most excellent chance of winning the Blue Riband of the 1 Turf,

His jockey was certain of victory, and the betting already showed Tantalus to be the favorite.

Seegar, tqo, **» entering a horse, Merrymount, for the classic race, but of his form little, so far, was known. The man's threat that his day of reckoning -would arrive on Perby day had immediately filled Sir James with suspicion. Had. he, he wondered, any designs against Tantalus? It would perhaps s>» ad well to take special precautions. So, shortly after Seegar's departure, Sir James paid a visit to the stables and confided his fears to the, trainer, at the same time giving special instructions as to the care of the glorious animal that was to help retrieve his fallra fortunes.

'Til keep an eye on that gentleman, sir," remarked the trainer, "and Jim here'll do the same" —indicating a Emart-lookmg apprentice who was busily at work close by. "There ain't no tellin' what tricks he might get up to, if 1 know anything about him." After which warning Tantalus. was never left unattended for a moment either by night or by day.

Ted Seegar, as will have been guessed, was not the man .to sit down quietly under such a rebuff from his' neighbor. In the world in which he had lived, mopey was powerful enough to accomplish anything, and the old .baronet's contempt for hie boasted .wealth had raakled very deeply. Seegar had often wished to "take the old man down a peg or two," as he had put it, so long fts there was a chance of marrying into the proud aristocrat's family and having the, beautiful Miss / Nancy to rule over, and thus give a hailmark to his household, he had kept his' impulse under and done his best to keep fn with the owner of Tantalus. ■ Now, however, all these considerations were thrown to the winds, and he detcr'mined, whatever it cost him, to put a ijoke in Bendon's wheel. He knew well that the baronet would he backing his horse heavily, and that, *'bar accidents," it would come home a winner. He therefore set his wits' to i work to create the necessary "accident."

The opportupity came when he espied Tom Oatcs, the famous Jockey, pn Newmarket Heath. Oates had on. more than one occasion piloted Seegar's horses to victory, 'out for. the coming great race he was booked to ride Tantalus.

; It was, perhaps, the nature of the man that he got to his subject without any tactful preliminaries'. "What do you think arc Tantalus's 'chances for the Derby?" he enquired. ■ "Well." replied the jocljey, "personally, I think it's a dead cert., but you can never tell; they say Minerva js showing good form." "And I don't mind telling you I'd like .Minerva to win, next to my gee MerryJnount coming home first," replied Seegar. ; "By the way," he continued, "just between ourselves, would ft, 'thou' bp .any good to you just now!" "I daresay it might," replied Oates, but he added a little suspiciously, "what's the game, eh?" "Oh, nothing, but I'd give a 'thou' for an evening paper showing that Tantalus had lost."

"So you want me to pujl my mouqt, do you?" asked the jockey, with a queer, twisted little smile. "I don't care how you do it," replied Seegar, growing bolder, "but I'll give you a, thousand pounds, my boy, if Tantalus loses the race." "And do you realise. Mr. Seegar, what would happen if I took this pretty little offer of yours to the Jockey Club stewards?" aslred Oates, a dangerous' light leaping into his eves. For a second Seegar went a shade paler. ■*So you've suddenly turned squeamish, have yon?" he replied. "I'll bet it wouldn't he the first time you'd pulled a horse, anyway." "You dare say that to me?" cried 'Oates. flushing angrilvj "then that 'settles your hash; you'll hear more of ! this.'-" I "Don't talk through your hat. yon ! .young fool. I never made an offer of anv kind to you, and who do you think's going to take your word against mine?

WKSe, jolly good care you don't ride any more oi'.iny horses," sueercd oeegar. "Aud I, my friend, will more man ever do my best to brjng Tantaluß home a winner. ! And so saying, Oatea turned and left the owner to his own thoughts and devices. He realised, of course, full well that it would be, as Seegar had said, useles's to take his story to the Jockey Club officials. All'the same, he determined to speak,to Sir James Bendon's trainer about the matter. In spite of this second set-back, Seegar was by ho means at the end of his resources. Money, indeed, goes a long way, and it was uot long before a good deal of it had pass'ed from Seega,r» hands to those of a selected few; but it is perhaps needless to add that the :;ic:ng world in general heard no word ol iliese transactions. Sccar apparently believed he was getting excellent value for his money, lor he seemed to be in particularly buoyant spirits. So much so, indeed, that when next he met H.r James Ben- ' dun, that gentleman was astonished at his sudden change of front, for Seegar was affability itself, and even went as far as to wish Sir .lames limit at tuo now rapidly approaching race of the year.

liut the maimer in which he expressed the wish, anil the peculiar smile which accompanied it, rather puzzled the iiaiunci, who, iu consequence, took an early oportunity to have a chat with l:is trainer.

\cs, Tantalus is in splendid form

I sir," asserted that worthy; "but Jim 1 here says he's got an idea that there's n bit ot hanky-panky going on down at Seegar's stables, but he's keeping mighty close about it." "What does the boy suspectV asked Sir James. 'lt means a lot to me, Rogers. If Tairtalus fails, it won't be long before I do likewise. I've staked everything on the horse." "Well, sir, it's a dead sure thing that Mr. Seegar's Merry mount won't do anything great. I've had an opportunity of seeing him, and I don't think much of him. The odds are a hundred to one against him. And as for Minerva, that some of .them are fancying, I don't think anything of her chances." "Then you think we're safe enough?" asked Sir James anxiously. "I do that, sir, whatever Seegar's little game is. One thing, he can't got at Tantalus. I think Gates suspects something, for he was asking questions the other day." "Well, never relax care for a second," admonished the baronet, and giving his favorite an admiring glance and a farewell pat, he walked thoughtfully away.

Derby day had arrived at last, and, as usual, Epsom Downs presented perhaps one of the most wonderful sights in the world.

People were pouring in from all directions, and the hoarse cries of the bookmakers, mingled with the incessant hooting of motor-horns, the more musical horns of the arriving coaches, and the continuous roar of the countless spectators, formed a din which was wellnigh deafening. Tom Oates, in the jockeys' room, was donning his mauve and green jacket. He felt certain of victory; nut none the less the jubilant attitude of Ted Secgar, whose horse, Merrymount, was a rank outsider at a hundred to one against, puzzled hnn greatly. He put it down, however, to mere bluff on the owner's part, and decided to ride as he had never ridden before to bring Tantalus first past the winningpost. ' . • ' Tantalus was now hot favorite at two to one, and many an admiring glance was cast at the magnificent animal as he was led up the course for the parade. Now he is at the starting-point; there is a slight delay of a minute or two, a bell rings, and they are off. Sir James Bendon, glasses in hand, watches the bunch of horses thundering along the turf. The mauve and green jacket 1 Will it never detach itself from the crowd? Now Minerva forges to ' the front, closely followed by BruceV Spider, a twenty to one horse. Now Merrymount detaches itself; it seems as if Oates is purposely keeping behind.

Round Tottenham Corner they come, and) Merrymount is leading, Minerva second, and Tantalus third. Sir James, in an agony of suspense, sees through his glasses that Oatcs is now straining every nerve to get ahead. Tantalus responds splendidly.. He is now neck and neck with Minerva, now he is in front and is catching up with I Merrymount. The crowd gasps with astonishment— Merrymount, the outsider, will win unless a miracle happens. Minerva has now dropped behind, and both Oates and Merrymount's jockey are riding their hardest. Again and again the two whips come down on their horses' sides. The winy ning-poet is perilously near, and still Merrymount is ahead. On and on, the gap between the horses and the post over getting [Smaller; then, amid a thunder of voices', Merrymount comes home a winner by half a head. One of the most sensational races ever witnessed is over, and Sir, James Bendon's last hope has failed. iMerrymount's jockey is already in the scales', his saddle across his knees, waiting for the "All right." Suddenly a figure bursts into the weighing-in room and pushes his way straight up to the presiding Jockey Club stewards.

"The winner's disqualified, sir; Merrymount didn't run at all." It was Jim, the apprentice, who delivered this bombshell into the midst of the company present. Hardjy were these words out of '.is mouth.than, with an oath, Ted Seegar, who was standing near, brutally, struck the apprentice across the face, sending him down with a crash on his back. The jockey had turned white as death in the scales, and the nest minute, at a signal from the Jockey Club steward, Seegar was secured and the apprentice helped to his feet. "What's this, my lad? You've made an extraordinary statement," said the steward.

"It's true, sir; Merrymount is in Mr. Seegar's stahles now. You caa sec fOl yourself." Outside oh the course the crowd wondered at the delay. Then gradually the news leaked out: Seegar had substituted another horse for Mcrrymount, and the stewards l were going over to his s'tables.

At the last statement of the apprentice, Seegar made a desperate and nearly successful attempt to escape, hut lie was quickly overpowered and placed in safe custody, while a party of officials made a journey to the owner's stables. Hardly had they arrived there than Jim pointed excitedly up the broad drive that led to the stables,

"See, sir, there's Watts', the apprentice; he's riding Merry mdunt; he's heard •the news and k trying to get away with the horse.".

The whole party hurried forward, and, unfortunately for the horsemw, they were 'between him and the gate, thus cutting off his retreat.

For a. moment it looked as though he were going to attempt to gallop right through them, but catching sight of the Jockey Club steward, lie saw that the game was up.

Reining in, in obedience to the, steward's command, he dismounted. Hardly had he done so, than the winner of the Derby was |ed in at the gate; then it was seen how remarkably alike were the two horses,

Pointing to live nc«- arrival, Jim cried excitedly!

"You'll lind a small blaze between his eyes that's been dyed, sir." Immediately all eyes were directed to the animal's forehead, and after n close scrutiny, the officials declared that it was indeed the ease.

An* adjournment .was then made to] the apprentice's' apartments to hear the whole of Jim's evidence; meanwhile, word was sent down, amid tremendous excitement, to the course that Merrymount was disqualified, and that the winner of the Derby was therefore Sir James Bcndon's Tantalus, At the proceedings which were immediately instituted by the Jockey Club, it transpired that jim, having been warned of possible tricks on the part, of Seegar, had taken to strolling quic'tlv down to 3lr. Seegara' place whenever opportunity occurred.

'lie was watching unobtrusively qnc day when a magnificent i|or«e with' a small blaze between tins eyes and a curiously deliberate habit pf putting down his feet was being exercised, lie took particular notice of the horse, and when a few days later the same horse again appeared, hut with the blaze totally dis-

cernible, thus making him wonderfully like Scegar's Derby runner, Merrymount, Jim began to have suspicions'. A few words w'liicTi he chanced to overhear KccgMr's trainer address to ' Watts, the apprentice,- confirmed his suspicions.

That the disguised horse was antfibsolute flier, Jim soon had an opportunity of witnessing for himself; but it was .Merrymount itself which took part in the private trials. Seegar ricrhtlv gurs.!ing that word of his bad form would soon get about by this means. On Derby day, Jim, from a secure coign of vantage, hitd. watched Jlert'}'-

mount's substitute leave for the racecourse. He had again noted the deliberate stepping ot the horde. Then he, too, had gon« down to witness the Derby. Of his' actions on Merrymount's substitute coming home the winner, the reader already knows. The Jockey Club naturally and justly took the gravest view of the matter, and both Seegar and his jockey wer» permanently warned off the Turf. It is perhaps hardly necessary to add that Jim, the apprentice,' was so generously rewarded by his grateful employer that so long ag he lives he is never i'kely to forget Seegar's "day of reckoning."—By John Reed Wade,"in M.A.P.