EPISODES IN THE LIF E OF A Millionaire ORINOEA. (To be published shortly.) RED ROVER.
In the commodious stable at Woinerella two men were standing, eyeing a handsome cheanufc colt, who, quietly enjoying his morning meal, looked every inch a racer ; his bright golden coat shining like satin, and his fine clean lega and intelligent head denoting both the power and will to carry his owner's colors creditably over the fences, when, on the following Saturday be faced the starter in company with half-a-dozen other gallant animals for competition in the great jumping race of the year. " Well, Harry," queried the owner of Womerella and of the horse, " what do you think of him?" " Think of him ? What I always thought of him ; he's as handsome a horse as ever looked through a bridie, and as game as a pebble. lam only afraid he's just a little too fine." " Well, I have been thinking that, but he did a splendid gallop this morning. I sent him the whole way with the full weight up, and the Boiardo colt for a companion; he beat him easily, and finished pulling double." " What does Joe think of his chance ?" " Ask him ; here he comes." " Wot does I think," said Joe, knocking the ashes carefully out of his pipe before entering the box, " I don't think nothink. I know he's fit to run for a man's life, and my advice is let him carry all you're worth. He's in light, and if he don't skip home a fence ahead of his hosses darn me if I don't eat his shoes." " Well, Joe," said the youthful owner of Womerella, as he turned with his friend to leave the stable, " I hope you won't have to make your breakfast on the Eover's plates. Look well after him, old man, v ell send him down on Wednesday." " Look after him," said Joe derisively, " ain't I slept with him this last three months ? Steady, my beauty," as he entered the box and pulled out from under the feeder an antiquated navy revolver. " One o' these pills is a dose, and anyone as tries to get nigh this hoss gets his medicine administered by me. Trust me, Master Jack, I'm on the key veeve as you told me once afore to be." " That's right, Joe ; you won't need to look after him so closely when Saturday is over." Jaok Dalton and Harry Eivers were both what is commonly known as sporting men. They never missed a race meeting of any importance in the colonies, and were generally seen together on the course, where they were well known to the metallicians, who were never afraid to write them down for any amount. " Itsh good money, s'help me," said the Hebrew and his satellites, as they booked a long shot for either of the gentlemen, and generally prior to the start for any event some of the traternity would approach, inquiring, 1 ' now, Mr. Eivers, Mr. Dalton, better let me give you another fifty ; it's robbing me, but I must lay another wager, and I'd like you to win, s'help me, I would. I'll lay 500 to 200 Oountess just once," and he generally retired with a wager. The stations of Womerella and Oorella joined each other; and the young owners, now inheriting the fruits of their parents' labors, were, as they had been in boyhood, at school, and at college, fast friends, and no step seriously involving pecuniary or other interests was ever taken by either until after consultation and grave deliberation between the two. A two years' drought had just broken up; and, despite their heavy losses of young stock, they were in no danger of becoming bankrupt, though strict economy was necessary for a few years, to relieve the stations of the heavy mortgages and accumulated interest on them occasioned by the necessity for well-sinking, dam building, and erection of machinery to prevent a total loss of their stock. Lottie Eivers, a, bright, intelligent young Australian, and the sister of the owner of Oorella, was the affianced wife of Jack Dalton, and this probably accounted for the i more than ordinary friendship existing between the young men. As they walked towards the house,' after 1 leaving the stables, Harry, noticing a look of anxiety
on his friend's face, said, jocularly, " Meditating on the responsibilities of married life, Jack?" " No, old fellow, not the responsibilities, so much as the uncertainties of single life." " What do yeu mean ? " "Simply this, Harry: I have more money on Bed Eover than I onght to have, and if he loses this race, I will be pretty nearly ruined." " But even so, why should you allude to any uncertainty ? Do you think the fact of your being poorer than you are now would 'vHgh with Lottie to your disadvantage ? " 41 No, bless her, I know it would not ; but I could not ask her to live in a cottage like a laborer' 3 wife. No, Harry, if the Eover loses this race, 1 shall free Lottie from her engagement, sell out, and go to Queenslaud." " Oh, that's your programme, is it. Well, Jack, I have a small interest in this matter, and I simply advise you that if you don't marry my sister she'll break her heart, and in thai ease I should be under the painful necessity of breaking your head. Let that idea be discarded, my boy. Oorella can stand another £20,000 ; and if it comes to the worst, we can work the two stations together. Three good years would clear everything off. Besides, you don't stand to lose much on the Eover." . "Not much if the station was clear. £3,000 would oover my wagers." " Strange how he never came down to anything like a price in the betting. I never got better than 5 to 1 about him." " I could only get 4 to 1 two months ago, and lately I have taken 3 to 1 for want of a better price. I don't know, but I half fancy that boy isn't altogether right. Joe swears by him, but I cannot help suspecting him. He writes too many letters to his mother for my fancy." " Hang it, Jack, don't suspect the poor devil of infidelity or trickery because of that. Is there any harm in his writing to the old woman?" " Not a bit, only I don't think his mother could afford to stay at an hotel which charges £4 a week for accommodation, and that is where the letters are addressed." " Whew I " whistled Harry, " that accounts, if not for the hairy exterior, at least for the milk in the cocoanut. He has been keeping the books posted aa to the horse's work." 44 Just so." " When did you find this out ? " " Last week. I went into his room to call him, and saw a torn envelope lying on the floor addressed to Mrs. somebody — I forget the name — and giving, as the address, a leading city hotel." " Then he may ride on the cross ? " " No, I do not doubt him as far as Lh-it goes, he will win if he can, but he has evidently been got at by some of his friends of the ring who heard I had the horse in work, and keeps them posted a& to his chances." 44 When do you send him down ? " "I'll take the boy with me the day of the race ; Joe takes the Eover on Wednesday, and I shall start on Friday. I don't want to be in town before the races or I may be tempted to put more money on. I have unbounded faith in the horse, and yet I think he has enough of my money on him now." " To-day is Monday. I shall wire to Lottie and let her know when I'll be down; and you can come and see us on Friday night. And now as I have to got out on the rim to-day, I'll be off. On Yfadnesday I'll come over and go down with Joe and the Eover." The days which intorvened till the Saturday, big with the fate ot the hois^ and his owner, came slowly. Dalton was the victim to continual doubts and anxieties. With a feeling of confidence in the horse came a doubt as to the honesty of hia rider, then the glorious uncertainty of the steeplechase would present itself ; and often in his sleep he started from his bed, the victim of a realastie dream in which the crash of breaking rails and the thunder of hoofs as the horses came at the last jump was the prelude to a hoarse roar "he's down," and he couU mark his colors as the jockey tried to extricate himself from beneath his fallen horse. " I wish it was over," he would mutter as he turned in his bed to dream perhaps before morning a similar scene. The race-day came at last and midst the hundreds of "fair women and brave men" were our friends Harry, his sister, and Jack. The two former watched the events which preceded the steeplechase with listless indifference, and until the approach of the hour for saddling, they wandered aimlessly about the paddock, a change of demeanor not unnoticed by the metallicians who, wary before, were now doubly cautious as to how they wrote the name of the dark horse, who attended by the watchful Joe was walking about in his. clothing, and evincing as little interest in the unusual scene before him as the veteran racers who paraded near him. "He means to win with that nag," remarked a member of the ring as he noted Jack's anxious glances towards the horse " I shan't lay him again." " Nor I," said another ; " he's very fit, and they say he jumps like a buck." 41 They're going to strip him now, let's see how he looks." As the saddling bell rung the horses were being stripped and saddled, each one finding favor with a few of the spectators, while Eed Eover was the centre of an admiring crowd. " What a quarter he's got," remarked one sportsman, aB he critically surveyed his proportions. " Ay, and vot a arm," observed a wizened dried-up trainer as he approached, " muscle like a giant, and fine as a lady. Vot's his price ? " turning to a ' book ' near by. " Not writing him, eh. Looks good for them as has money on him. I must get a pound or two on him someways." In the dressing-room the jockeys were getting ready for their ride, and the room was crowded by all sorts and conditions of racing men. There were jockeys, other than those engaged in the race, trainers, books, and friends all eager for the latest tip, and the latest news as to the probable winner, and more than one sovereign changed hands as a whispered message conveyed the " straight tip " to the ear of some one credulous enough to back the opinion s, rider. In a corner another scene was being enacted, and an earnest conversation carried on in low tones between Eed Eover's rider and a stranger on the course. Harry, who was looking on, called the boy to his side and asked who the man was. 44 Oh, he's all right, sir," said the lad. " I used to know him before ; he's trainer for Johnson, and wants to know whether it's good enough to back the chestnut." 44 All right, look sharp and get weighed. Where's your saddle ? " 41 It's in here, sir. I'm looking after it." 44 Your weight's all correct." 44 Yes, sir, I'm OK. Only got to get on the scale." As Harry withdrew the jockey hastened to dress, and the other party continued his conversation. 41 It's as safe as a church, five hundred quid for you, anyway, and you know it's no certainty you're going to win. He may come down." 44 Not he, he can't. He'll hop over them fences. It ain't good enough. They know what he can do, and if I took a pull at him they'd pipe me. No, I won't do it." 44 Well, look here, work it with the weight." 44 How ? " "Will you do it?" . 44 If I can without being found out and disqualified."
" L hat's the tickel, go on dressing. I'll fix it," and quickly opening the saddle cloths he took out a couple of pieces of lead. "Heie, steady," said the boy, "that'll make me too light by seven ponnds." " Yen, that's just it. Slip these inside your jickct ami into the band of your breeches. Wnon you got 10 the back of the course you might lose 'em. I have heard of such a thing happ3ning." The boy's glance of admiration denoted his entire approv al of the arrangement, and as he saw Harry again in the doorway, he snatched up hia saddle and hastened to the scale " What name ? " asked tho clerk. " Rivers." "Horse?" I " Eed Rover." " Weight, here's your ticket." A few seconds sufficed to complete the saddling, the boy was lifted on, and the Rover i taken out tor his preliminary gallop. A few of the other horses were on tho course, and the crowd in the stand and on the hill and flat were watching with much interest". 1 " The mcasmed tiead on clastic sward, [ Of the steed, thieo parts extended, Haid held ; the insli of his nostrils Lioad, With the golden ether blended." And prior to backing anything mentally, compared the chances of the competitors. A little wagering was being done, though Red Rover had displaced all the horses in the betting, and as hG came up the home stretch in his canter, his long winging stride and perfect condition made him a host of Mends. The ring was in no way anxious to lay against him, and as the bell sounded to go to the poat his price was level money, and little of that obtainable. As the horses walked to the starting poat a change suddenly catne over the ring, and frorr/ offers to back the field against anythiug the cry varied to " 5 to 4 against Red Rover." Harry and Jack wore paralysed a3 the books commenced io lay freely against the horse, and walking to where the metallicians were plying their avocation, the latter indignantly asked cue of the best lino ;?n. "Arc you laying against my horee." "Yes, Sir," said the man addressed, " laying against anything in the race. Shall I book you for another thousand, Mr. DaJton." " Yes, at 2 to 1." " Can't do it, Sir ; too ■short a prico. I'll give you £1500 ro £1000." "Ri'jht, i'Jl take it," said Jack, lenuiking to Harry as they entered the stand once more, " There's something crooked on the boards; I am afraid that boy ha<? sold us, and if so Tihe public will blame me; the hoise is being ba r ked at any price. Halloa, thoy'iv off I" The }oar from thousands of throats, always heard when the flag falls, was not wanting on this occasion, and almost as soon as the horses goi away their positions weie marked and reported by the onlookers. " All over" as the field came at the first fence, and then a few seconds of comparative quiet, " Here thej come,' 1 and a crash and clouting or timbers h heard aj pome unlucky animal comes down. Opposite t3ie stand Red Rover is in the second detachment, going calmly, and jumping without a fauX, r,he boy fitting him with excell'mi judgment. A3 they round the turn one or two exchange-, a^e made, and another iall takes place, and now the whipts are dt wor; as the leaders raoe at the jump. Side by side they seem to fty ii,lon<',and rising simultaneously land side by side, and make the pace to the next fence. The shouting continues— "Lucy wins;" "The Don, The Don ; " " What'b this* coming up ? " " Red Rover for a thousand," as the gallant chestnut, challenging the leading pair.nhoots ahead at the stone wall, and clears the jump a length in advance. The race io now virtually over, for the lead he has securod he keeps to the finish, and, entering the straight a couple of lengths ahead of his field, wins, as the jockeys say, " with a bit in hand." His victory is a popular one, and when coming through the gateway horse and jockey are cheered to the echo. Taken charge of by the clerk of the course, Red Rover ia brought in, and dismounting, the jockey sieps on to the scale. Harry and Jack, naturally anxious, stand near him, and with a .start notice that he fails to tip the beam. The clerk of the scales, somewhat surpiised, looks at the weights, refeis to his list, and then announces the fact that the rider o? the winner is 7 lba. light. Dalton reeled, and would have fallen but for his friend's support, and tottering to the refreshment room he sank into a seat. Recovering his self-possession in a few moments, he walked to where the boy was standing, and asked him how he accounted for the loss of weight. " I don't know, sir," said the lad, " they must have made a mistake the first time." This seemed feasible enough, and Jack was forced to accept it as the only explanation, simply remarking, " Well, whoever made the mistake it has cost me more than I care to lose. Just go to Joe and help him. We'll start back to-night." A few days in town were necessary for the completien of business arrangements, by which, al his own request, Jack transferred Womeralla, with its encumbrances, to Rivers, the latter securing an additional mortgage on the property, and furnishing Jack with funds necessary for payment of his wagers. The public, ever ready to bo " taken in," were persuaded the race was a swindle, the papers waxed righteously indignant, sporting scribes pointed a moral, showing that a "moral" does nob always come off, and in a fortnight the affair was forgotten, save by the recording angels who treasure up such events for quotation on suitable occasions in future years. Red Rover returned to his paddocks, where, thrown out of work, ho was allowed the " run of his dover." Joe, nearly maddened by the " 'ard luck " which attended his favorite's first appearance, sought comfort in the flowing bowl and " 'ad a bust," as he expressed it, until the Christmas holidays were over. Jack Dalton, feeling his position as" only a nominal one, though the station was in the hands of his best friend, discharged the overseer and as many of the hands as he could spare, and worked as he had never done before to clear off the debt he had incurred. Chridtmas had always been a season of merriment at Worneralia, the weary swagman'knew that here his '• bluey " might bo laid down for a week, and the hands looked forward to their Christmas on the station almost as eagerly as to their annual spree in town. This year Jack had decided that the usual station laces and the annual dance must be done away with, and one evening, entering the hut, told his men of his intention. "I am very aony lada," he continued, "to alter the custom of the station, which dates back as far as I can remember, but, as you all know, I have had two bad seasons, and lost heavily on Red Rover. Indeed, the station is out of my hands now, and Mr. Rivers, who owns it " " We'll see that Christmas is no different at Womerella this year," said Harry, entering at this moment. " Jack, I'm surprised at you. "Wait till Christmas cornea, lads," he continued, turning to the stockmen and station hands, " we'll have a time this year. Any of you that fancy your horses better get them fit now. If we don't have some races this year, and a high old time generally, it's no man's business." " Why, Jack, old fellow ! " he exclaimed, half savagely, as they returned to the homestead, " what the deuce do you mean by this reckless economy ; anyone would think you had a blood-sucking Jew to deal with. My dear fellow, take things steadily. I am contented ; a few months will pass away quickly, and then the chestnut will make up all our losses."
" No, Harry, I told you I shall not race again ; it is not that I fear your foreclosing on mo, or anything of that sort ; but I mu«>i work till I got the place clear." " Will you sell Bed Eover to me?" " No, old man ; T won't part with him. The horse was honest, who was otherwise, I cannot say." " Will nothing induce you to change your mind?" "No." " And you have decided not to race again ? " "Yes." " Very good ; now to talk over generalities. We are going to invite a lot of people— Lottie has sent invitations to all the girls she ever knew, at least so I suspect from all the writing she has done lately. lam asking all our mutual friends, and I think we can arrange for some good sport with the guns, riding parties for the ladies and non-shootists, and I am going to have a cattle muster to wind up the year. I would like another interesfcirg eveni to come off at the same time, but you have made up your mind otherwise." " Yes, old fellow ; Lottie, like the goou little girl she is, has consented to wait till the station is clear again, and then to make mo as happy a man as any in the colony by be- , coming my wife. As we agreed on that point, it is no use trying to make us hurry matters up I am glad you are going to have a Christmas gathering ; it would have seemed lonely to see the old place dull and empty at such a time, and as there is only a fortnight now to Christmas Day, we will have to get ready at once." The times passed rapidly away and, occupied getting horses broken in for his guests, harness looked after, and buggies and traps in order, the two stations were kept busy until the guests began to arrive, then work was laid aside and a round of festivities* commenced, the aay time being devoted to driving and riding parties, picnics, sport with dog and gun, kangaroo hunting, and the varied enjoyments which only an Australian station can afford, and the evenings spent in dancing, amateur theatrical performances, and extemporised concerts concluding with a suppei which might almost be termed a banquet. Is was at one of these that Harry set a trap to catch his friand. Eising from his seat at the bead of the table, he asked those present to charge their glasses and drink to the " future victories of Eed Eover, the grandest steeplechase horse in the colonies." Tne toast was drunk, and Jack in responding, said. " I scarcely expected my horse to have been thus honored by my Mends, indeed his future victories I never thought of, for I had not meant to race him again. But Miss Elvers has asked me, and I have altered my mind, so sext yepr the amber and blue will appear on the turf again, and carried by my gallant chestnut." Harry was satisfied, and his object attained, devoted himself to the amusement of his guests, until tho last one had departed and, then sending for Joe, gladdened the old mm's heart by stating that the Eover would be at once got in and put in woik, and during the months which followed, no mother was more attentive to her firfat-born than waa Joe to hid equine charge. The time was drawing near for the transporting of the horse to his metropolitan quarters, when the same party of three, to whom we were first introduced, stood one morning in the stable talking of the race. " I say, Mr. Dalton," broke in Joe suddenly '■ who's goin to ride him this time." " Come up to the house Joe, and I'll tell you." Over a glass of the liqor he loved, "not wisely but too well," Joe was informed of a scheme developed by Mr. Eivers, which seemed to meet with his fullest approval, judging by the sparkle in his eyes, and the eagerneys with which he filled oue another nobbier. "So you think it will do Joe," said his master as he was leaving the room, " The very thing sir, I know he'll be glad to lide him again." "Lord what a lark," he chuckled as he walked to the stable, " if they don't rake in some coin this time, I'm a furriner." " And you think he really sold us, Harry," said Jack, as they sat alone when the old man had left. " I do ; indeed lam &u:o of it now. -After what you have told me I see it all as plain as day." " Then I had better write at once and ask him if he'll ride, and you go down and get as much money on as you can. The books will lay freely if they know he is to pilot him again, though I stand well now at a good price." The same jockey who had ridden the horse the previous year was offered the mount and jumped at it. Arriving personally at the station, as a reply to the letter, and writing, as before, frequently to his "aged mother," ha managed to post his city friends in the doings of the stable, the consequence being a shortening of the Eover's price, and a coiresponding rise in public favor. The eventful day at length arrived, and wita the exception that twelve months have passed since we were last on the course, there is little difference in the scene. Many of the same faces are present, and all have exactly the same feelings in common as the gathering of the previous year. The saddling bell has rung for the steeplechase, the boys are dressing, and the Eed Eover, standing in nearly the same place as on the occasion of his last appearance, is receiving the finishing touches to his toilet. The boy ia just about to step on to the scale, when Harry, stepping to his ! side, said, " Hold on, Jimmy, Mr. Dalton will ! be here in a second ; " and as he sees his i friend approaching, says, " Hurry up, Jack." Turning into the dressmg-room, the lattor , throws off his coat, vest, and pants, and stands before the astonished jockey, ready for the race. " Wot, ain't I goin' to ride? " said the boy, sulkily. "No, thanks," replied Jack, quietly, "we had enough of you last year." "Who split on me? '' " Never mind, just pull off those colors and go where you can get a good view of theivice, but first go and tell your friends in the ring I'm going to ride." " No, I'm if I do. They've gone back on me, let them pay for it." In a few moments Jack was on the course, while the ring, all unaware of the change of jockeys, laid freely against the horse, until the boy, advancing to his accomplice, remarked, " So you gave me away, did you ? well I hope as how every one of you will get skinned; that hoss '11 win in a walk." Panic stricken, the bookmaker closed business at once, and, instead of the vociferous- " 6 to 4 against Eed Eover" came faint offers to back the field, while the usual odds, " bar one," were offered without takers. At the fall of the flag the horses got well away together, Jack contenting himself with a position just a length behind the leaders, and J holding it without efforo until two fences from home, when, sitting down to his work, he raced passed them, made the running, and finished fifty yards in front amidst frantic cheering from backers of the horse, and an ominious silence, from the ring. There was no mistake about the weights this time, and on settling day Jack found himself the richer by £10,000, while Harry, with more confidence in the horse, netted a smuoh larger | sum. - ! Womerella is no w no longer a bachelors' hall. Kosy-cheeked, fair-haired romp on the lawri*in front of the handaomejbuilding ; a bright young wife cheers Jack's contented life, and in a comfortable paddock, laid down
with English grasses, a handsome chestnut horse feods calmly and happily, frea from work of whatavcr kind for tho icnia^..-i of his natural life, while in a hut in one oorn6r of it, and within easy distance of tha homestead, may be seen an old sun-tanned trainer, who is ever ready to pour into the listening ears of Mr. Eiver3 and Mr. Dalton his private opinion of the man who could lose a race on Eed Eover.
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Waikato Times, Volume XXII, Issue 1857, 31 May 1884, Page 5
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4,819EPISODES IN THE LIFE OF A Millionaire ORINOEA. (To be published shortly.) RED ROVER. Waikato Times, Volume XXII, Issue 1857, 31 May 1884, Page 5
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