Part 33 (2/2)

”Don't think so; that was a terrific run of Bandmaster's,” replied another.

The numbers seemed a long time going up, then number one was slipped in; before the roar of Bandmaster's supporters died away number two appeared alongside it. The result was a dead heat--a mighty struggle--a dead heat over two miles. The owners were not likely to run it off, so which was the better horse was not settled and there would be much food for argument.

CHAPTER XXI

THE RAID

”We shall have to make another match to settle the question,” said Mr.

Hallam.

”I'm willing,” laughed Alan, ”but give me time. I must go back at once; there's some tough work to be done before long.”

”When you like,” replied Mr. Hallam. ”I am not going back to Australia at present. I have no wish to be sent to the bottom of the sea.”

Alan said good-bye to Eve at The Forest. Before leaving for London he saw Duncan Fraser. Everything was going well, no cause for anxiety, and the manager spoke hopefully of the future.

Alan was surprised when he heard of Jane Thrush's marriage and rated Tom soundly for ”throwing her away” on such a fellow.

Tom remonstrated in a sullen way, saying he thought it a good match for his daughter.

”You'll find out it is not,” said Alan sharply. ”The man is probably in the pay of the enemy, and will be laid by the heels before long; then she will come back to you and you'll be glad to have her.”

Alan suspected Tom had been bribed by Meason; he knew his fondness for money but did not question him on this subject.

Tom Thrush thought over what Alan said. It caused him some uneasiness.

He had a great respect for him and his opinions and knew he would not make an a.s.sertion without good grounds for doing so.

Carl Meason and his wife arrived at a small resort on the East Coast and stayed at an hotel. She wondered why he came here; there was not much to see, it was dull. Once she had been to Scarboro' and enjoyed the brief stay, but H---- was a different place.

Meason left her alone a good deal. The excuse was he had work to do; he did not explain what it was.

After a week in Meason's company Jane already began to repent her hurried marriage. Carl was rough; some of the veneer wore off rapidly.

He gave her money and told her to amuse herself, but there was little chance of that in such a place.

”Why don't you take me with you? I'd like to see the country,” said Jane.

”Can't be done, my dear; not yet, at least. Wait a week or two and I may be able to do so,” he replied.

”What are you so very busy about?” she asked.

He declined to gratify her curiosity and said a wife ought to trust her husband; to which she responded that he didn't seem to trust her.

”Perhaps you'd rather go back to your father?” he sneered.

”You are unkind; you know I would not, but I think you might be with me more; it's lonely here,” she said with tears in her eyes.

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