THE DEAD HEAT 



Xo, never had there been such a state of excitement 

 in any ball-room before, when it became known that 

 Captain O'Eooney had entrapped Lieutenant Charles 

 Fortescue, of the Stitfshire Regiment, into a thousand 

 guineas match P.P., owners up, twelve stone each, 

 and four miles over the stiff'est country in Galway. 



The match had been made at the supper-table, 

 after the ladies had left ; but nevertheless, the news 

 had been carried to them, and they were furious. 



" Fancy," said one, a tall, handsome brunette, 

 " that that little wretched bandy-legged O'Eooney 

 should have got round our handsome friend in such 

 a mean way. He is jealous and disgusted with 

 Fortescue's waltzing, and he is the best waltzer in 

 Ireland." 



" ril make him a set of colours to ride in," 

 returned the toast of five counties, the beautiful 

 Alice Gwynne. " I never made any before, but 

 * there's luck in odd numbers, says Eory O'More,' 

 and so he is sure to win in them." 



" Too bad," exclaimed the gray-haired Colonel 

 of Fortescue's regiment to some gentlemen standing 



I H ^°^ 



