A RACING ROMANCE.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2131, 6 March 1886, Page 2 (Supplement)

A RACING ROMANCE.

Onk raw Spring afternoon, Cnptain H*«nry Willoughby, of Her Majesty* Life Guards, strolled leisurely into the room* of In-* cousin, Arthur Pcnnell, in .Tonnyri street. Willoughbr was in appoiirauco a typical Kunrdscnan. Hi* ii^uro was tail and well proportioned, with that peculiar swinging gait was never yet successfully borne by a cavalryman. Hi* face; was a handsome one, with aquilino nose, (ujuaro chin, and a long, drooping, litjbt moustache. He | was a member of the Army and Navy Club as well an of the Guards* Club, and his polished manner* and calm, assured address, showed plainly his iutitn icy with the best people. But with all those adriintages in Inn favour, Willoughby had been gradually sliding down the moral, social and financial scale, until at tho present writing" ho was barely tolerated by society, and had but few friends among his brother officers. Ho was a confirmed gambler, and, it was hinted at the Clubs, Wan not any too particular about tho way he played as long as ho won. Corning into a good fortune when hp came of age ho had squandered it in horse-racing, cards and fast women, until hi; at last came to such a pass that he adopted the tactics of the men who had •punged on and robbed him, and became a sort of genteel blackleg, who always managed to be wary enough never to commit himself too far. Arthur IVnnell was an entirely different kind of man. He had a modest income of £500 a year, [ and managed to get a lot of real enjoyment out of it in a quiet way. He never gambled, and though by no means a I "prig,'' was what Society called » steady, reliable man. Pennell was a I year older than his cousin, being thirtythree. He was a reading man, and also did a little scribbling for the magazines, which not only helped out his income, bat brought him among literary men of similar tastes to himself. " Well," said he, as he gazed up from some manuscript he was writing, " what ii the matter now, Henry ? Yon need not scowl at me in that diabolical way. I can always afford to be pretty certain that when you deign to honour me with a visit there is something gone wrong with you." 11 You've struck the right nail on the head this time, my boy,'' said the captain, as he helped himself to a cigar, lit it, and ensconcing himself in an armchair, continued : " You know, Arthur, that out of my onco pretty large stable, I have only got one horse left—' Magnet,' I've stuck to him because he's a good 'un, and will pull me through all my troubles. Well, here is a letter from Jennings, my trainer, in which he says that unless he receives £50 on account he shall hive to sell the horse to settle his bill. Now, in a week, 'Magnet' run 3 for the Chester Cup, carrying eight stone six, and every shilling I have iv the world or could raise from my friends. lam morally certain that he will win, for he is one of the best four-year-olds of his year, though he has been unfortunate so far. Now, you will not let me go to tho dogs for a paltry fifty ?" 11 Look here, Henry," replied Ponnell, M I am by no means a rioh man, and have, over ani over again, helped you out. I will oblige you this time, but — let it be w ell understood — this is the last. "Thanks, old boy, a tbomand thanks !" ••aid Willoughby, as he took the proffered cheque from his cousin's hand. •• If you want a really good thing you back •Magnet 'at 30 to 1 for next Wednesday's race." "Much obliged, but as you know I never put a shilling' On a horse in my life, your tip is not much uso to mo. Goodbye." « * ♦ * * It was now five days before tho Chester Cv? was to be run for, and thc.->e were anxious days for Willoughby, for his all depended upon the race. If "ho lost ho would be a defaulter to a large amount, in he had quie'ly backed the horse for over three thousand pounds, at prices varying from 40 to I to 30 to 1. It meant for him either a rotum of the old days of wealth or a t-jtil cill.ips", when honour, his position anl all w<»nl 1 be lost. Hi; spoilt the whole time at Jemima's pl.ico in Berkshire, and never loft the house except when he went to bed. As Tom Jenning* remarked, after 'Mijrnet ' had taken his last gdllap, " he looked as fit as a fiddle." At last the eventful day arrived, and after three minor races had been run the (Middling bell rang for the Cup race. Willouprhby had engaged Touipkins, a not very well known jockey, to ride his horse. Tompkiun w« a Itifht boy, and no had to carry dead weight in load to make up his Bst Gibs. Tho lead weighed 10 pounds, and on a promise of £1000 if he won, Willoughby had peisuided the jockey to hand him the lead in the crowd after weighing out, while on his return after the rice, the le'id whs to be haid<*d back so as to weigh in with. ' Magnet's ' jockey was the third to go to the ecales, and managed to pass the 1- a"h« r-bonnd lead 89 quietly to Willoußhby that imoue «n«pected the fraud which wai being perpetrated. There were twelve ntnrter.<», an«l after two attempts they got off to a splendid start, with "Magnet"" iv the lead. This position he held for a mile or so, when Totnpkins eased him a little, and he fell int-» third place. As they came into the home stretch " Magnet " wns seen to close on the leaders, and a fine utrnggle took place. At lust " Magnet wins ! Magnet wins !" rang out from ten thoimud throats, and Willoughby's che-tuut hon*e passed the judge's box half a length ahead. Willoughby was breathlessly awaiting the result, clo«e to the judge's box, and as t-oon as the horses came in rushed to where " Magnet, 1 ' all flecked with sweat, pulled up. He wore a long driving coat, which well concealed the weights he carried, but just as ho had reached his horse through tho crowd, which had now closed in on the track, a hand grabbed his shoulder, and he was brought to a sudden standstill. Palo with rage ho turned upon his detainer, when a voice he knew only too well hi-sed in his ear, "It's nil up with you, Captaiu Willoughby. I saw your little gurae, and am hero to stop it !" Trembling like a leaf, Willoughby allowed Henry Chaplin, for he it was, to tear open his coat and take possession of the fraudulently-obtained lead. Willoughby sprang through the crowd to get away, and came face to face with young Lord Ponsonby, who had just started ou the turf. "By Jove, Willoughby," said the young nobleman, " that's a <rraud horse of yours. What, will you take for him ?" "Two thousand down," replied the desperate Captain, who now saw a glimpse of hope. "Give you three monkeys," said his lordship, as he held three five-huwlred-pound notes out in his hand. Eagerly Willoughby cried, " He's yours," and clutched the money. An hour later he was on an express train bound for Liverpool. ♦ • • * * Of course " Magnet's jockey could not weigh in his HOlbs. with lOlbs short, and there was a tremendous row. It would have gone hardly with the Captain had he been there when his horse's number was taken down, and that of the second horse hoisted That night the attempted swindle was tho chief topic of conversation at all the clubs in town, and Willoughby was voted a despicable scoundrel. Un arrival at Liverpool Willoughby took the first steamer for New York, and from thence, under the assumed name of Ernest, ho drifted on to San Francisco. Here he was dined and feted as a social lion until his antecedents leaked out, and even then some of the " Society " young Indies were loth to drop the fascinatins; guardsman, although he had been a blackleg. As one of them feelingly observed, " It's no worse than heaps of things paa done.' 1 However, two or i three shady card transactions at tho

Club made it advisable for the gallant Captain to seek other climes. When last heard of ho was using his blandishments to fascinate the signoiitas of Mexico, and his shaip practice, to beat the signors at montc. As some yuan have elapsed aiucc any news was had of him it it highly probable that the keen blade of some jealous husband or duped gambler has forever closed his career. — \V. Lovel Kyre, in San Francisco News Letter.