100 A Short Head 



me to give you this. It's all right, I suppose? He 

 wants you to do something about Bowsprit to-day. I 

 have not a second — shall miss my train.' So the new 

 comer, Frank Harvey, hurriedly spoke, as with a nod he 

 turned to leave the room. 



* Why, it does not go till half-past twelve,' Clifton 

 remarked, assuming that the Sandown train must be 

 meant, and he followed his visitor to the door. 



' I'm not going to Sandown. Weymouth and I have 

 to run down to Purbright. Back by dinner. Send him 

 a line to say it's all right ! ' Harvey spoke as he 

 descended the stairs, evidently in the greatest haste, 

 and going to the window Clifton saw him jump into a 

 hansom that was waiting ; the driver whipped up his 

 horse and disappeared round the corner at speed. 



' What's this, I wonder ? ' Clifton said, turning round 

 and opening the letter which the flying messenger had 

 brought. It ran : 



' Dear Clifton, 



' I want to have a dash on Bowsprit to-day, 

 and should like to see what you can do for me. I want 

 you to put me on 5,000Z. You won't get anything of a 

 price, of course ; but please do the best you can. Send 

 me a wire ' — was it ' wire ' or ' line ' ? the word as written 

 might be either — ' to say what you have done. 



' Yours very truly, 



' H. Weymouth.' 



Clifton sat down to consider the situation. He 

 looked at the entries for the Maiden Plate, and so far as 

 he could make out nothing had a chance of beating 

 Bowsprit, though a speedy filly named High Street was 

 perhaps likely to be backed, and another animal called 



