Adrien Leroy

"Miracour" rose for the leap, and clearing it, cantered in the winner by

sixty lengths.

For a moment there was tense silence, broken by a roar of surprise, rage

and disappointment, as the crowd broke away and swarmed over the course

to the spot where the jockey still lay. A murmur of horror had also gone

throughout the length of the grand stand; but whether of disappointment,

or at the fall of the rider, it was hard to say.

All eyes were turned on Adrien. His face was rather pale, but quite

calm, and closing up his field-glasses he said: "'Miracour' ran finely. I can't understand the 'King' falling at the

last jump. Jasper, let us go down and see if the fellow is hurt."

Making their excuses to the ladies they hurried down the steps, and

strode swiftly over the course, the crowd making way for them in hushed

silence, for they recognised Leroy as the owner of the defeated

favourite.

Reaching the spot from which the crowd was being kept back, they found

two men bending over the little heap of scarlet silk and leather.

Shelton, who had been one of the stewards, looked up as Adrien

approached, and shook his head.

Adrien bent down beside him, and gazed at the thin, shrivelled face of

the jockey.

"Have you sent for a doctor, Shelton?" he asked.

"Yes," replied his friend in a hushed voice. "But I think he will be too

late, his spine----"

At the sound of Adrien's voice, the heavy eyelids raised themselves; the

bloodstained lips parted as if about to speak.

"What is it?" said Shelton, bending closer.

"Where--where is he?" gasped the man in disjointed words. "I

want--to--see him."

"Whom?" asked Mortimer Shelton gently. "Whom do you want to see, my poor

fellow?"

Mr. Vermont pushed his way forward, his face alight with eager sympathy.

"Perhaps I can be of use," he said, "I know him; perhaps he wants to

tell me----"

The jockey raised his head. It seemed as if the soft, smooth voice gave

him strength to speak. He glared at Jasper, then his glance fell on the

pitying face of Leroy. With a sudden light in his eyes, he stretched out

his hand.

"Him--him, the swell--I tell him the race--was--sold! He--Mr.

Vermont----"

His breath came fast in great sobs; he glared from Adrien to Jasper,

then back to Leroy, as if seeking to convey some warning, but in vain;

with the last words, he fell back.