104 THE DEAD HEAT 



twinkle of his blue eye, " is Fortescue in the ball- 

 room. Be jabers, he is seated in the card-room 

 alone by Alice Gwynne, playing with her bouquet 

 and fan. I'll go and fetch him; but it's a pity to 

 disturb him. I'd almost take my oath he has 

 been asking her to be Mrs Fortescue, and by my 

 soul I don't think she has said no." So saying, 

 the young man, without giving the other time to 

 answer, vanished from the room. 



" What is it. Colonel ? " said Fortescue, coming in 

 almost immediately after. 



" See now," said O'Piooney, interrupting him ; 

 " the Colonel says this is a foolish match we have 

 entered into, and proposes that ye should pay me a 

 hundred down to-morrow to let ye off. What d'ye 

 say? 



" What do I say ? " replied the young man ; 

 " why, I'll do anything the Colonel likes. I think 

 it is a foolish match. I was excited and out of 

 humour when I made it. I'm better now, and if 

 you like to take a hundred and draw, why I'll send 

 you a cheque to-morrow morning for the amount, or 

 run you for a hundred, which you like." 



" See, now," said the Captain, his naturally red 

 face getting purple with anger and excitement. 

 " I've heard ye both — the Colonel and yourself ; now 

 both of ye hear me. If ye were to offer me nine 



