THE SWEEP WINNER'S HOME
Glen Leigh was taken to the Kangaroo and nursed by Mrs. Prevost. His
chest was crushed, his arm lacerated, but he made a wonderful recovery,
and in a week was removed to Sea View, Manley, where, needless to say,
he received every attention.
The terrible fight between Glen and Lion was the topic of conversation
for several days. Many trainers who were present were firmly convinced
the horse had been drugged, or he would never have been so savage, or
possessed such strength and staying powers. Nothing however, was
discovered, and Sam Wimpole, in order to extract his money from
Bellshaw, had to threaten him with exposure.
Glen was of this opinion. He, too, thought Lion had been dosed, but as
he won the wager he thought it best to make no enquiries.
Craig Bellshaw was beaten. His temper was not improved. He heard Leigh
was at Manley, and decided to go and visit Mrs. Prevost. Some years ago,
when he was infatuated with her, he had made a will in her favour,
leaving her Mintaro and all the stock on it; this he decided to alter as
soon as possible. He would tell her when he reached the house.
He landed from the boat, walking along the street to the sea-front. As
he turned in at the gate he looked up at the bedroom window. What he saw
caused a shock which almost deprived him of reason. He stood staring at
what he thought was the ghost of the woman he had left to die of hunger
and thirst. It was Clara looking out. She saw him enter. Her face
changed rapidly. The seat of memory was no longer vacant. She recognised
him, and with the recognition returned a flood of recollections. The
horror on her face made it look unearthly. She fixed her eyes on
Bellshaw with a glassy stare which he returned; he dare not move. Leigh
told him the woman was dead and this must be an apparition.
What did it mean?
Of one thing, in his confused state of mind, he was certain; he must fly
from the spot. But his feet were rooted to the ground, and he could not
take his eyes off.
The woman swayed to and fro, pointed at him with her hand. Then suddenly
the thing vanished. She had fallen on to the floor in a dead faint.
Bellshaw knew nothing of this--he was horrified. His mind gradually
became unhinged. He imagined the ghost disappeared suddenly in order to
come out to him, perhaps seize him. In his frenzy he attributed
supernatural strength to the apparition. It might carry him off, take
him away to some dreadful place.
Bellshaw turned and fled, running along the sea-front like a madman,
then turning towards the landing stage; reaching it, as the steamer was
moving away, he ran on, and despite all the warning cries made a
desperate leap. His head struck the paddle box; the wheel spun him round
as he fell into the water. The boat stopped, assistance was at once
rendered, but Bellshaw had disappeared. After waiting a quarter of an
hour the captain left one of his men behind to report to the police, and
proceeded on his journey to Circular Quay.
Craig Bellshaw's body was recovered later on in the day. His head having
struck the paddle box, he was rendered unconscious and he sank like a
stone.
When Clara fell with a thud on the floor of the bedroom, Mrs. Prevost
rushed upstairs and found her insensible. A severe illness of some weeks
followed. When she recovered she remembered everything in her life at
Mintaro, and how she came to Glen Leigh's hut. It was a pitiful story,
and Glen Leigh, Mrs. Prevost, Bigs and Jim listened to it in sadness. As
a young girl she recollected being with Lin Soo. How he obtained
possession of her she had no idea. There were other girls about her own
age, and they were kindly treated for several years.
Then one day she recollected Bellshaw coming to Lin Soo's. She did not
like him; she shrank from him when he touched her. She only had a hazy
idea of how she was taken to Mintaro. She must have been drugged in
some way. At first Bellshaw treated her kindly, doing all in his power
to ingratiate himself with her. She refused all his advances, and this
changed his whole actions towards her. He attempted to force her to his
will and failed. Garry Backham assisted her as far as he dare. He
smuggled a revolver into her room, and with this she felt safe. For a
long time her life was one constant, unceasing watchfulness. She dare
not sleep. When she dozed she awoke in a fright fearing Bellshaw was
near her. She shot at him once, wounding him in the arm. It was soon
after this he said he was tired of her and offered to drive her to
Bourke and send her to Sydney.
She related what happened when they reached the water hole; how he
thrust her out of the buggy, sprang after her, and tried to push her
into the muddy water. She struggled, then fainted. When she came to
herself she was alone, lost in the great spaces surrounding her. She
struggled on for several days, until at last she staggered into Glen's
hut, and fell on his rough bed.
In answer to questions she said she had no idea who her parents were,
nor did she seem to remember any home other than Lin Soo's. It could do
no good questioning her further, so the subject dropped. She explained
how she saw Bellshaw looking up at the window and he recognised her.
Glen expressed the opinion that Bellshaw must have thought he had seen a
ghost and the sight turned his brain.
At the inquest held on him, death was stated to be caused by drowning,
and that this was brought about in the manner already described. Craig
Bellshaw's lawyer had his will. He came to Sea View. Great was Rosa
Prevost's surprise when she discovered that Mintaro and all the stock on
the station was her absolute property. Looking at the date of the will
she knew he must have forgotten to alter it until too late. She
consulted Glen Leigh as to whether she should take advantage of it, and
he left it entirely in her hands. The lawyer strongly advised her to
take over Mintaro as there were no direct heirs to it. This she decided
to do, more for Glen's sake than for her own.
* * * * *
Ten years had gone by since Bellshaw's death and other happenings. Glen
Leigh and his wife, Rosa Prevost, lived at Mintaro, where everything
prospered with them. They had five children, three boys and two girls,
all well grown and strong.
The hands at Mintaro found Leigh a very different "boss" from Bellshaw.
Garry Backham sold out at Boonara and came back to Mintaro as overseer,
and very glad he was to be there under such a master. Glen mustered all
the stock on the station and found thousands more cattle and sheep than
he anticipated. Many of the wild horses were shot, others tamed and used
on the station. He bought a small stud-farm near Albury, and sent horses
to be trained by Ivor Hadwin. There was a prospect of a successful year
before the stable at the end of five seasons when Glen had a score of
horses, most of them bred by himself, in training. The sweep money came
in very handy to run the station and tide over one or two bad seasons;
when rain and the good times came Mintaro cleared a fortune for them
every year.
Jim Benny and his wife, the woman who suffered so much at Bellshaw's
hands, and whom Jim helped Glen Leigh to save, came to Mintaro, where
Clara acted as nurse and governess to all the children until such time
as the two elder boys went to school in Sydney; she then took charge of
the three at home, and Mrs. Leigh found her a great help and a genial
companion.
It took a lot of persuasion to get her to come to Mintaro, of which she
had so many unpleasant memories, but eventually they prevailed when it
was pointed out how advantageous it would be for her husband.
The show was sold as a going concern; Lion had to be shot; he never
recovered from the blow Bill gave him. A post-mortem was made at
Gerard's request and the veterinary surgeon said the horse had been
heavily dosed with a powerful drug, which undoubtedly caused him to be
in a frenzy in the ring when Glen rode him.
Lin Soo was tackled by Glen and Bill Bigs, and compelled to pay a large
sum of money to Mrs. Benny in order to avoid criminal prosecution.
Moreover, he was forced by them to leave Sydney and return to his own
country. Chun Shan was installed as head cook at Mintaro, a position he
worthily filled.
Sea View, Manley, was not sold; the Leighs used it as their residence on
visits to Sydney.
It was a great day for Ivor Hadwin when he won the Sydney Cup for Glen
Leigh, whose white jacket, black belt and cap, were immensely popular.
Horatio was the horse, and, as he started at two to one, the enthusiasm
was immense. Later both the V.R.C., and A.J.C. Derbies fell to Glen's
share, and he had hopes of landing a Melbourne Cup with a son of
Barellan's, who was at the Albury Stud, and a most successful sire.
Glen never forgot the keepers of the fence, and when he came to Mintaro
they soon discovered they had a friend in the man who had once been one
of themselves. Glen sometimes rode there and chatted with them,
rendering their lives less lonely.
One day he drove his wife to the glittering wire and showed her where he
had stood for long hours in the terrible heat and drought.
"What an awful life, Glen," she said, with a shudder.
"I stood it all right," he replied, "but I was glad when it ended."
When Barellan's son won the Melbourne Cup, Bill Bigs, pointing Glen
Leigh out to a friend, said, "He drew Barellan in the big sweep, and now
he's won it with his son."
"That isn't likely to happen again," was the reply.
"No, I don't suppose it is," said Bigs.
Luke Nicholl came to Mintaro for a change, which he thoroughly enjoyed.
Jerry Makeshift came with him; both were heartily welcomed.
"I shall never forget it was owing to you, Jerry, I bought the ticket in
the sweep, and drew the winner," said Glen.
"You've made good use of the money, anyway," was Jerry's reply.
THE END
JOHN LONG, LIMITED, PUBLISHERS, LONDON, 1920 BRISTOL BURLEIGH
LTD., AT THE BURLEIGH PRESS
* * * * *
The Novels of CURTIS YORKE
_Morning Post_: "Whether grave or gay, the author is a
_raconteur_ whose imagination and vivacity are
unfailing. Few, moreover, have in the same degree the
versatility which enables her to provoke peals of
laughter and move almost to tears. The writer is
natural, realistic, and entertaining."
DELPHINE
ENCHANTED
ONLY BETTY
MISS DAFFODIL
OLIVE KINSELLA
WAYWARD ANNE
THEIR MARRIAGE
THE OTHER SARA
MOLLIE DEVERILL
THE GIRL IN GREY
THE WOMAN RUTH
ALIX OF THE GLEN
QUEER LITTLE JANE
IRRESPONSIBLE KITTY
DANGEROUS DOROTHY
THE WORLD AND DELIA
PATRICIA OF PALL MALL
THE GIRL AND THE MAN
THE VISION OF THE YEARS
A FLIRTATION WITH TRUTH
_These Novels are published in various editions._
_Prices from the Booksellers and Libraries._
London:
John Long, Ltd., 12, 13, 14 Norris Street, Haymarket
THE NOVELS OF NAT GOULD
THE AUTHOR WHOSE SALES EXCEED 20,000,000 COPIES
Odds On
The Flyer
A Cast Off
The Roarer
The Smasher
Racing Rivals
[1]A Great Coup
One of a Mob
Lost and Won
The Head Lad
The Silver Star
Never in Doubt
A Straight Goer
A Bird in Hand
The Top Weight
The White Arab
The Buckjumper
The Lottery Colt
The Lucky Shoe
The Dapple Grey
Whirlwind's Year
Won on the Post
Fast as the Wind
At Starting Price
The Stolen Racer
The Steeplechaser
The Lady Trainer
A Stroke of Luck
A Northern Crack
A Bit of a Rogue
Left in the Lurch
Queen of the Turf
The Little Wonder
The Sweep Winner
Good at the Game
The Selling Plater
A Race for a Wife
A Reckless Owner
[1]A Turf Conspiracy
Charger and Chaser
A Sporting Squatter
[1]A Gamble for Love
[1]A Fortune at Stake
The Phantom Horse
A Member of Tatt's
The Rider in Khaki
Breaking the Record
The King's Favourite
A Chestnut Champion
The Jockey's Revenge
The Trainer's Treasure
The Pet of the Public
The Pick of the Stable
The Best of the Season
The Wizard of the Turf
A Hundred to One Chance
[1][2]The Chance of a Lifetime
[1] _FILMED_ [2] _DRAMATISED_
These Novels are published in various editions
Prices from the Booksellers and Libraries
JOHN LONG, LIMITED, LONDON
Exclusive Publishers of all Mr. Nat Gould's New Novels
SOME APPRECIATIONS OF MR. NAT GOULD
Among all lovers of sport the name of Nat Gould has become a household
word. As sportsman, journalist, and globe-trotter, few men have gone
through more varied experiences, and still fewer have used their
experience to such excellent purpose. Since Whyte Melville and the
immortal "Jorrocks" no writer has depicted with so spirited a pen the
romance of a racecourse, the surprises of the cricket-pitch, or the
hairbreadth escapes of the hunting-field. Writing in _Longman's
Magazine_, Mr. Andrew Lang said: "A Sixpenny Academy would be a lively
Academy. For President, I would, if consulted, select Mr. NAT GOULD, who
shines by a candid simplicity of style, and a direct and unaffected
appeal to the primitive emotions, and our love for that noble animal the
horse."
_Nation_, 9th August, 1919:--"In the way of sale, his wares surpassed
all others. To millions they were the breath of mental life. We have
heard that a newspaper purchasing the serial rights of one of his
stories could promise itself an increased circulation of 100,000 a day,
no matter what its politics or its principles."
_The Times_, 26th July, 1917:--"Of Mr. Nat Gould's novels more than Ten
Million[3] copies have been sold; and when this can be said of an author
there must be qualities in his work which appeal to human
nature--qualities, therefore, which even the most superior person would
do well to recognise. 'A Northern Crack' is one of those tales which set
you down in an arm-chair and keep you there till it is pleased to stop."
_The Times_, 26th July, 1919:--"If art in any sphere in life finds a
basis in the pleasing of a multitude, then Nat Gould was an artist with
few above his shoulders."
_Morning Post_, 26th July, 1919:--"He was the most widely read of all
modern story-tellers, and a genius in his downright way."
_Athenaeum_, June 10th, 1911:--"All living writers are headed by Mr. NAT
GOULD, and of the great of the past, Dumas only surpasses his
popularity."
_Truth_, January 22nd, 1913:--"Who is the most popular of living
novelists? Mr. NAT GOULD easily and indisputably takes the first place."
Miss BEATRICE HARRADEN, one of the Honorary Librarians to the Military
Hospital, Endell Street, London, writing in the November, 1916, issue of
the _Cornhill Magazine_, states: "We had to invest in any amount of NAT
GOULD's sporting stories. In fact, a certain type of man would read
nothing except NAT GOULD. However ill he was, however suffering and
broken, the name of NAT GOULD would always bring a smile to his face.
Often and often I've heard the whispered words: '_A Nat Gould--ready for
when I'm better_.'"
[3] Since this was written ten million more copies have been sold to
December, 1919, totalling over Twenty Millions.
* * * * *
Transcriber's Notes:
Punctuation has been normalized.
Page 10: "more more than" replaced with "more than."
Page 71: "We'll make things gee" retained as printed.
Page 136: "too and fro" replaced with "to and fro."
Page 215: "No doubt it was Leigh who called" retained as printed.
Page 227: "suprised" replaced with "surprised."
Page 269: "convalesence" replaced with "convalescence."