OCR Text |
Show The Inconstant Suitor Ey J. A. WALDRON (Copyright.) F ALL her suitors Cora Loveland liked Jack Burnall best when Harry Hazel wasn't around. And vice versa. It was nip-and-tuck between these two, although Berry Hall was a good third and might have won a better bet-ter place if he had been attentive. Cora rode with Jack and Harry impartially, im-partially, for each had a "best" motor that would win almost any female heart. And each had other elements of attraction. Harry belonged to the preferred team of the new polo club which purposed pur-posed to win back a certain trophy, and Cora with other young women who played favorites admired the skill and daring of Harry and his fellow-players fellow-players when privileged to witness practice games. On the other hand or perhaps on the other horn of a sentimental dilemma dilem-ma Jack had a racing stable long on blood and training, and Cora delighted to see Jack astride of one of his own horses of a morning, while knowing ones clocked his performance and wagged their heads significantly. He made ordinary jockeys look like very ordinary persons, as most gentleman riders do. "I've entered Mercury for the club stake, $5,000," said Jack to Cora, as he encountered her on Broadway just before be-fore the Willowdale race meeting. "I shall wager a thousand, as I shall ride. And if I win?" He looked at Cora loverwise. "It'll be a lot of money for these times a lot to pick up," she replied. "With a lot of glory." "Yes. I know. But you rememhpr what we were talking about yesterday. I asked you if yorj'd " "Hello!" Harry Hazel walked up. interrupting. "Why, hello, Harry !" Cora's smile was far more free than the modish handshake she negligently assisted. "Howdy !" said Jack, extending his hand. Cora changed her smile to a duplex pattern quite difficult to make effective, effec-tive, but doubly charming when successful. suc-cessful. "I hear you've entered Mercury for the club stake, Jack," ventured Harry. "Yes." "And Jack's going to ride." volunteered volun-teered Cora. "Then I'll have to lay a little money on the race," said Harry. "Do I intrude in-trude here?" He was looking at Cora. "I mean, would I break up any serious scheme if I should invite this lady to luncheon?" "Both of you'll excuse me, I hope," said Cora. 'Tve a dance date." Her smile still carried to both. And Cora, still smiling Impartially, left them. Jack and Harry had nothing noth-ing to talk1 about and parted. Society monopolized the Willowdale races on the opening day. Jack, who had been busy in the paddock, ranged about a bit before dressing for the stake event. In hope of glimpsing Cora. He discovered her with Harry, who was just leaving her for a brief excursion excur-sion to the mysterious precincts where money might be risked without violating violat-ing the law. "If I win this race," said Jack, "will you go to dinner with me?" He was nervous. '"Why not?" replied Cora. "And then ah but I must know now, dear girl ! If I win, will you marry me?" "Why, Jack!" She thought a moment. mo-ment. "I'll become engaged if you win. Will that satisfy you?" "Yes," he replied. The bustle of the track as minor races were run and the changing moods of the crowd didn't interest Cora. She liked both Jack and Harry, and she could marry but one of them at present. Harry came back smiling. smil-ing. The bugle sounded for the stake event, and Jack swept down the track on Mercury toward the starting post. "Doesn't he look lovely?' exclaimed Cora. "See how splendidly he rides I" "But I like Billy Swift on Dynamite, Dyna-mite, the favorite, better," said Harry. "In fact, I've bet a thousand on Dynamite." Dyna-mite." "Against Jack? How could you?" Cora was inclined to pout. "Just my judgment, you know. If I win, will you go to dinner with me?" Jack and Jerry couldn't both win. "Why yes, of course." "And will you consider seriously the question I asked you a few minutes ago?" "I'll think about it." Cora was Indeed In-deed sorely pressed. The starter was trying them out. Harry was all excitement. "Excuse me a moment," lie said, rushing away. lie wanted to get another thousand down on Dynamite if possible. The crowd was In a frenzy, and Cora was in t, fever. "Hello!" Somebody took her arm. It was Berry Hall. "Why, Berry, why are you so excited?" ex-cited?" J "Must be because I've found yon here. I've a lot of money on a dark j horse, and my Rf-i.anli is down in the ! park. Come to d:nnr with me if I ' win romp wbrrl f - I win or not and afterward we'll !,mre. el:?" ; "Oh !" Cor;, s!!i!l-d at him. "But how is the rare coins?" j "Hi! Hi!" cried Berry, swinging his 1 hat in exultation. The horses were ! plunging down the home stretch. Dynamite and Mercury were In the 1 ruek. "Come on. Comedian !" cried j Berry. And Comedian, a rank out- j sider, was the winner by a head. |