2i8 iRiMno IRccoUections ant) TLwvt Stories 



suppose everyone thought he knew they had backed 

 the colt ' Land Tax ' for a ton of money, and that he 

 was the one they wanted to win with. Nothing, how- 

 ever, was said to Salter, who went to the starting-post, 

 jumping off three lengths in front. Arthur Edwards, 

 who was riding ' Land Tax,' did not take any notice 

 of this filly. He thought she would be sure to stop, 

 as he was under the impression they had declared to 

 win with 'Land Tax' (but it appears they had not done 

 so), consequently he let the leader get too far away, 

 and when he called on his mount, he made a grand 

 effort, but just failed to get there by a neck. The 

 first man to run up the course and lead his filly 

 back was Mr. Starkey, caressing her on his 

 return to the paddock to weigh in. John Day 

 and his friends were furious, but there was Mr. 

 Starkey leading cross-eyed Bob Salter back, both 

 of them smiling happily, not knowing or thinking 

 how many good men they had broken or bent by 

 their extreme cleverness, although they had not won 

 a penny — in fact, had lost money on the race. It 

 was in the real plunging days of the Marquis 

 of Hastings and his party, so it can easily be 

 imagined some money changed hands. 



