Harry Dale's Jockey 'Wild Rose.' Her Life and Adventures

Front matter

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Chapter I. Ben Bolt, Detective

Benjamin Bolt, detective, or, as liis comrades generally called him, Ben Bolt, was a man of sound common sense. This was his own definition of his character. When asked how on earth he had been able to unravel a mystery the cleverest detectives had failed to solve, he merely put his finger to his forehead, and said, " Sound common sense did it." Ben Bolt was a good-looking man, not much over thirty, and powerfully and strongly built. He was a kind of pocket Hercules. He possessed great strength, although he appeared somewhat slight and slim. He was an athlete, and in his schooldays had generally managed to clear out his mates and take the bulk of the prizes in the running events. The sort of man to make friends, more especially with the opposite sex, Ben Bolt's latest success had i '. been in the direction of a jewellery robbery, in which a lady of rank was concerned, and the adroit and skilful manner in which he had brought the crime home to her ladyship had excited admiration for his powers.

It was not often Ben Bolt was puzzled, but to look at him now as he sat in his comfortable room in a large boarding-house in Macquarie Street, Sydney, it was easy to see that he was not satisfied with things in general, and himself in particular. He Fat in a luxurious easy-chair, with his legs carelessly perched on another chair, lower down in the general grade of furniture, and he was smoking an expensive cigar, which he hardly appeared to relish in proportion to its cost. • On the mat by his side sat an intelligent fox terrier, a well-bred little fellow, and sharp as his master. The terrier sat on his hind quarters, and his silky ears gently shaded his keen eyes as he gazed up into his master's face. The discontented mood of the master had evidently had an effect on his doggy mind, for he assumed a puzzled look, as much as to say, " Can't make it out at all, can you ?

" This little terrier evidently knew all his master's ways, but on the present occasion he was put out at the long-continued silence. He would very much have liked to jump on his master's outstretched legs, put his fore paws on his waistcoat, and lick his face in a consolatory sort of way, just to show how he sym pathized with him. But he was a well-bred terrier, and never took liberties. The silence at last became unbearable to him. He got on all fours, and then hesitated. Ho whined. No notice was taken of this hint, at which he evidently felt highly offended, for he took a turn round the room. At last his terrier nature could stand it no longer, and from under the table came a couple of quick, sharp barks. He had roused his master at last " Jacko ! " The little terrier crawled from under the table, looking quite crestfallen.

He had committed a breach of etiquette, aud he knew it. He came to his master's side, and glanced with his speakiDg eyes into his face. "Jacko, I am surprised at you. You ought to be ashamed of yourself," said the detective. Jacko maintained a discreet silence. " Don't let it occur again, sir. I acknowledge I may have been unsociable during the past hour, but that is no excuse for you. On this occasion you are forgiven. Have a lump of sugar, Jacko? " The mention of a lump of sugar had a remarkable effect on Jacko. He sprang erect at once ; then he sat on his hind legs and begged gracefully. His master took a lump of sugar out of tho basin on the breakfast table, which had not yet been cleared, and placed it on Jacko's nose, and at the word of command ho tossed it into the air and caught it in .his mouth.

"Jacko, 1 his is the queerest case I ever struck," said the detective. "Here have I been in this blessed V. 4 city six whole months, and haven't got as much as a single clue. When we left London, Jacko, I had an idea we had a very easy job on hand. It has turned out differently, this is a complicated affair. It ought to be easy enough to find an heiress to a hundred thousand pounds. I have found several young and handsome ladies anxious to possess that amount, but they are not the genuine article, Jacko. They prove a good deal, but they cannot prove enough to satisfy me." " Curious thing I should find Tom Danton out here. Hang it all, I should have been lost without him." Pulling out his watch he went on : " It's time he was here. He said he'd be iu at half-past nine." A knock at the door.

" Come in," said Ben. " You lazy beggar. Not done breakfast yet. Nice man you are to entrust with a difficult case," said a cheery voice. "Hallo, Danton. Good morning. Glad to see you." and Ben Bolt grasped his friend by the hand. " Had breakfast, I suppose." " Breakfast ! Hours ago. Well, Jacko, how are you?" Jacko in his own way, signified that he was well, thank you. " Jacko has just been forgiven. He actually barked in the room." Jacko looked sheepish. "He has promised not to offend again," said his master; "took his solemn oath on a lump of sugar." Thomas Danton, for such was his name, sat down iu a chair opposite the detective, and called Jacko, who jumped on to his knee. " Ben," he said, " you have not yet told me who engaged you to hunt up this missing heiress. How the deuce can I help you if you do not do so."

" I am not at liberty to disclose names yet," said Ben, " but you shall be the first to know." Thomas Danton was a man of independent means ; not a man with a large fortune, but enough to keep him in comfort and ease. He was an old friend of Bolt's in London, and the acquaintance had been renewed in Sydney. Danton wished to assist Bolt all in his power to find the heiress he was in search of. He was puzzled at Bolt's reticence in the matter, but he had sense enough to know the detective knew his own business best. "Going anywhere to-night ? " said Danton. " No," said Bolt, laconically. " Come with me. I've got a fancy for a new line of entertainment, and we're sure to see a heap of people there," said Danton. " What is it, and where is it ? " said Bolt. " There's a Wild West Show on at Moore Park, and I'm going there.

Will you come ? " "I might as well go there as anywhere," said Ben, " and as I prefer your company to anyone else's, old fellow, I'll go with you." "Ii's a bargain, then. They tell me there are > some clever horses there, one a real smasher, and you know I'm fend of horses." " They'll be your ruin one of these days," said Bolt. " Put not thy trust in horses or in jockeys." "Don't be a fool, Ben. I never bet much, but I like horses because they are such noble animals." "I prefer dogs, don't I, Jacko ? " Jacko wagged his stumpy tail in acquiescence. The friends went out for a stroll, and Ben Bolt, when he returned home, spent the afternoon in writing letters and summing up the evidence ho had obtained in the case he had in hand since he had been in Sydney. The result did not appear to satisfy him, for he closed his book with a smack, and muttered, " Not a step nearer; but I'll not be beaten if I have to stay here a couple of years.

I've plenty of money allowed me to prosecute my search, and this country is not such a bad place, after all." Danton called round for him at night, and they took a hansom to Moore Park. Tho Wild West Show, organized by Captain Finlay in America, was a novel entertainment. A huge palisading had been erected round the ground, and the show was lighted with the electric light. It was a wild, weird-looking scene, and the place was crowded with spectators. Indians from the wilds of America went through o astonishing feats of horsemanship, which fairly electri fied the audience, and Danton could not help expressing his approval in a forcible manner. " It's grand, Ben, isn't it ? " said Tom. "Rot," growled the detective. "I'm having a good look at the audience. Bv Jove, there's all sorts here." It certainly was a curious audience.

Ladies in riding habits, men in all kinds of costumes. Swells from the city, and rough-riders from the country. "Nice place to study human nature in," said Bolt. " I wish I could sketch." " I can," said Danton. " Then sketch me that man's face over there," and Bolt pointed to an individual who sat in a conspicuous place under the full glare of an electric light. Danton pulled out his pocket-book, and rapidly sketched the man's face. He handed it to Bolt. " Capital," said Bolt. " Why, man, it's life-like. I never knew you could sketch like that, Danton. You ought to draw for the papers. May I keep it ?" " Of course," said Danton. " Tear the leaf out." Bolt tore it out, and put it carefully in his pocket book. " What made you a3k me to sketch that man in particular," asked Danton. "Don't like his face.

He's a bad lot, I'll W;iger, although he is well dressed." " Yes, he is a bad lot, his name's " But there was a stir in the big enclosure that suddenly attracted Danton's attention, and he did not speak the name of the man whose face he had just sketched. " Look, Ben. Look. Isn't he a beauty ? By Jove, what a horse." This outburst on Danton's part was caused by the appearance in the riug of a magnificent dark brown blood horse, nearly black. He was, indeed, a splendid animal. His grand head was well set on to a shapely neck, which was firmly set on to his shoulders. A powerful back and loins, with a well-rounded barrel. Clean cut legs without a blemish, and a skin shining like satin. With nostrils extended and head erect he stood pawing the turf beneath him. Captain Finlay had hold of him by a long rein attached to his bit, and but for the bridle on his head the horse had nothing on him.

"Ladies and gentlemen," said Captain Finlay; "this animal is a purebred Australian blood horse. He is by Marvellous out of Pinfire by Yattendon, and I have called him ' Dead Shot.' He is, I think, the finest ' lepper ' I ever saw, and you will have an oppor tunity of seeing him ' lep ' to-night. I gave a big sum for him, but he's worth it. Now Dead Shot. Over, boy." The horse pricked his ears, looked round, saw the bar in front of him, and cleared it gracefully. The bar was put up higher and higher, and the beautiful animal cleared it with apparent ease. At last the bar was raised to a great height, nearly seven feet, and it looked impossible for any horse to jump it. " Over, Dead Shot. Over." The horse walked up to the bar, and could barely look over it. He then turned round, walked back, and stood still for a moment.

Captain Finlay never moved, but let Dead Shot take his time. Like a flash out cf a gun Dead Shot suddenly started off, and with oue bound cleared the great jump. For a moment there was stillness. Then suddenly a thunder of applause rang out on the night air, and the vast crowd cheered the splendid creature madly. " Glorious," said Danton. " Yes, it was a bit out of the common," said Bolt. Captain Finlay was bowing to the immense audience, as he stood at Dead Shot's head. "Ladies and gentlemen, he's a wonder, and I see you know it. He's one fault, though. I've never seen the man who could ride him, much less the woman." It was all done in a moment, no one knew exactly how it happened, but no one ever forgot the scene. In an instant a girl, she could not be more than twenty, sprang from the seat where she was sitting, and vaulted into the enclosure.

She had on a riding-habit, which fitted her elegant figure to perfection. Her hair was cut short, and she had on her head a coquettish-looking hat. Her face was rather of a boyish cast, and she had a determined countenance. Not pretty, but decidedly a good face, a face which denoted to a keen observer she was a girl to be trusted. In her hand she had a strong hunting crop, and her gloves reached, with gauntlets, a short distance up her arm. Sho looked a perfect Diana, as she stood in tho full glare of tho lights, close to Dead Shot. Captain Finlay was taken by surprise, aud could only ejacnlate : " Well, miss ? " "I will ride Dead Shot for you, if you will send one of your men to get my saddle, which is on my horse outside." Captain Finlay stared aghast. " Y ou don't mean it ? " ho said. " Of course I mean it.

I'm not in the habit of saying things I don't mean," and no one, to look at her, could doubt she spoke the truth. " He'll kill you," said Captain Finlay. " Nonsense. I am willing to take the risk," she replied. The audience were becoming impatient, and Captain Finlay said : " Ladies and gentlemen, this young lady offers to ride Dead Shot. Shall I allow her to clo so ? " A burst of applause, and cries of "Give her a chance," were heard from all parts of the vast enclosure. " Splendid girl, by Jove," said Bolt. " She's just my sort. Gad ! what pluck she's got. Some of the people seem to know her." " I should rather say they did," said Danton. " Do you mean to say, Bolt, you have beeu in Sydney six months, and don't know who that is ? " " No. Never set eyes on her besore." '• Then you're not so sharp as I thought you were," said Danton.

" Never mind that," said Bolt. " Who is she ? " "Who is she?" said Danton, enthusiastically. " Ben, old chap, you're in for a treat. That's the girl they call ' Wild Rose.' "

Chapter II

A FIERCE FIGHT, The girl Danton had called Wild Rose stood waiting Captain Finlay's decision as to whether he would give her a chance to ride Dead Shot. He evidently did not like to yield to her. Not that he hesitated because of his horse, but he thought it a pity such a fine girl should come to grief, as she most assuredly would do, so he thought. Wild Rose grew impatient. She hit her riding boot with her whip in a manner that betrayed her feelings. " Come," she said, imperiously. " Send for my saddle. Are you afraid of your horse ? I will not harm him. Eh, Dead Shot ? " and as she spoke to the horse she went boldly up to him and patted his velvety nose. " For God's sake keep away from him, miss," said Captain Finlay, " He'll bite you as soon as look at you." " Oh, no, he won't," she said.

" You'll never be so rude, will you, Dead Shot ? " [ » ] Strange to say the horse appeared to understand her. He rubbed his nose against her gloved hand, and seemed tractable and quiet enough. By this time the show hands had noticed something unusual was taking place. Tlie cowboys rode up on their mustangs and regarded the daring girl with respectful admiration. They admired bravery, these sons of the Wild West, and knew how to appreciate it. The Indians filed down, and stood watching her with their keen eyes. One dilapidated man stood somewhat aloof, looking on with an air of evident interest. From his appear ance one would have put him down as a jockey in reduced circumstances, who had attached himself to the show as a means of earning a livelihood. To this man Captain Finlay turned when he saw the girl was determined, and said : " Here, Tim, go and fetch this young lady's saddle.

It's on her horse outside. He's with the groom." " Right, sir," said Tim, and away he went. In a few moments he returned with a light, but strong, lady's saddle. "Put it on Dead Shot, if he'll let you," said Captain Finlay. Tim crept up to the horse's side while the animal's attention was attracted by Wild Rose. He slipped the saddle quickly but easily on to his back. Dead Shot took no notice of these proceedings nntil Tim commenced to tighten the girth, when he lashed out in a most unmistakable manner. "Look out, miss," said Captain Finlay. Wild Rose sprang quickly on one side just in time to avoid a vicious snap the horse made at her. The girl's mouth set firm, and she muttered, " I'll pay you out for that, my boy." It took ten minutes to securely place the saddle on Dead Shot's back. "All right now, miss," said Tim, touching his shabby hat.

Then he whispered to her : " Let him have his head, miss. He'll make good use of it at first, but it's the only way with him. I can ride him, although the captain don't know it- Mum's the word." "Here, you," shouted Captain Finlay. "Catch hold of the beggar's head while I help Miss Wilful into the saddle." Wild Rose came round to the horse's side. " Be quick with the lift, captain," she said. She caught hold of the pummel. Captain Finlay gave her the requisite lift, and before Dead Shot knew what had happened Wild Rose was firm in the saddle. The immense audience cheered frantically. " She's a stunner," said Bolt. " This is a treat." Dead Shot stood quivering in every limb. He did not move for fully a minute, and Wild Rose was on the alert watching how he would commence the fight. She was a splendid horsewoman, and she knew by the quivering of Dead Shot's body he meant mischief.

Suddenly without warning the horse reared on his hind legs aud pawed the air. Wild Eose sat him like a rock. She might have been part of the animal, and Captain Finlay, who was an admirable horseman himself, could not forbear applauding her. " Bravo ! " he cried ; " bravo ! " Down came Dead Shot again. Then he whirled round in a circle like a teetotum, but it was no good. His rider never moved an inch. Up again on his hind legs, this time he went too far. There was a cry of horror from the spectators as the horse fell backwards. Then there was a terrific burst of applause as Wild Rose slipped deftly from the saddle, and clear of the falling horse. Up again in a moment, and Tim was at his head. " Don't mount him again, mis 3, his blood's up," said Tim. " And so is mine," was her firm reply.

" Captain Finlay, I must trouble you." " Don't get up again, I beg of you," he said. " You have shown us what you dare do, is not that sufficient? " " No," she replied. " I mean to conquer." She was in the saddle again, and this time the fio-ht commenced in earnest. Dead Shot tried to pull her out of the saddle, but she struck him heavily over the nose with her whip, aud this kept him off, but enraged him. With a snort and a leap that would have unseated many a practised rider, he set off round the enclosure. Wild Rose, bearing in mind what Tim had said. let him have his head. Away he went like the wind, Round and round the immense ring. Would he never stop ? How would it all end ? The spectators were breathless with excitement. " The girl's mad," said Captain Finlay. " Beggar me if she's not thrashing him.

The brute'll kill her. Stop, stop," he shouted at her, but she took no heed of him. Dead Shot was covered with foam. After his desperate gallop he stopped. Then the struggle commenced again. He bucked, he reared, and he plunged. He whirled round first one way and then the other. He got down on his knees and bit the earth in his rage. All to no purpose. He could not unseat his rider, and her whip was lashing his reeking sides like a flail. " What wonderful strength she has," was the general comment. The show people were thunderstruck, and yet they were the most enthusiastic applauders in the crowd. It was a fierce fight and no mistake. Wild Rose's hat had come off, and as she sat there with her close cut hair, she looked very like a good-looking youth got up for the occasion. After half an hour's tussle Dead Shot began to calm down.

He stood still for a moment, and this was the girl's opportunity. She caught hold of his head with the reins, and turned him round like a flash. "By Heavens, she's setting him at the jump. Lower the bar. Lower the bar," roared Captain Finlay. " D it, they'll both be killed and ruin the show ' etarnally.' " A rush was made for the leaping-bar, but before the men had time to reach it, Wild Rose had set Dead Shot at the great leap. The horse knew what was required of him now. This jumping business was more in his line than the tussle he had just experienced. He pricked his ears, and in an instant set off at the terrible leap. It was the most daring piece of horsemanship the crowd had ever seen, and they were .awestruck. Several ladies fainted, and strong men shuddered as they saw Dead Shot rush at the terrific jump with the brave girl on hisback.

It all happened in a second. A wild shout from Tim, and Dead Shot seemed to rise in the air like a rocket. " Over, by ," said Captain Finlay. " That's the most daring jump I ever saw. I wouldn't have done it myself for all the show's worth, and I'm no coward." Wild Rose rode Dead Shot, who was quiet enough now, up to the captain, and as she leapt lightly to the ground, such a tumult of applause rent the still night air as had never been heard in Sydney before. Cheer after cheer came from the frantic crowd Men waved their hats, and women waved their handkerchiefs. In the midst of all this excitement Wild Rose was the coolest person in the place. HARR V DALE'S JOCKE Y. " Wonderful, miss," said Captain Finlay, ad miringly. " May I ask your name ? " " They call me Wild Rose," she said, with a smile.

" One name is as good as another, I suppose." " Wild Rose. A pretty name, and well deserved," he said. "If there is anything I can do for you, command me. Join the show," he went on. " It will make your fortune and mine." " Thanks, captain, I must decline. I have all the fortune I require. But you can do me a favour." " Command me," he said, with a polite bow. " Sell me Dead Shot," Captain Finlay was staggered. "I will give you more than he is worth," she said, noticing his look of surprise. "He's worth a lot to our show," he said; "I'm afraid I can't part with him." " Will five hundred be a fair amount ? " she asked. Captain Finlay gasped. Then he thought : " She'll give more than that. She must be rich." " Make it eight hundred, and you can have him," said the Captain. "It's a bargain," she said, without the slightest hesitation, and held out her hand.

" Tell the people you have presented him to me," she said. "I can't do that," he said. "What a darned good advertisement for the show such an act of generosity on my part would be," he thought. "Do as I wish. Please oblige me, captain," she said, with a smile. " I can't resist that," he said. Then Captain Finlay fairly surpassed himself in the art of speech-making. He electrified his audience by his eloquence, and when he finally wound up by saying he had presented Dead Shot to Wild Rose as a reward for her bravery, tliere was another outburst of applause. " He's telling lies," muttered Bolt to Danton. " Nonsense," replied his friend. "I'll bet she's bought him at a handsome figure, too," said Bolt. The crowd dispersed, and Wild Rose remained behind. "I have another favour to ask, Captain Finlay," she said.

" What is it ? " "Let me take that man you call Tim away with the horse." " Tim Slack. Take Tim Slack? You don't know what you're doing, miss, indeed you don't. He's no earthly use. I merely keep him here out of charity. He's a broken-down trainer, and he's drunk half his time." " I'll chance that. Will you let me take him ? " she said. " With pleasure, and glad to get him off my hands," said the captain. " Here, Tim ; come here." Tim Slack came slouching up, hat in hand. " This lady wishes you to go into her service. ao HARR Y DALE'S JOCKE Y. I've sold— I mean given her Dead Shot, and she wants you to go with the horse. ' Wild Rose saw the look of intense gratitude that came into the man's eyes- He could hardly speak for emotion, but at last he said : "God bless you, miss. I'll work for you till I drop.

You may trust Tim Slack after this, indeed you may." " I know I can trust you," she said. " Take Dead Shot to his stable, and bring him round to this address in the morning," and she handed him a card. Tim was leading the horse away, when a thought struck her, and she said : "Tim." "Yes'm." "Are you the trainer, Tim Slack, who got into trouble over Mr. Denman's horse in the Cup ? " " Yes, miss," he said ; " but as I hope to live, I was innocent in the matter." * " I know you were," she replied, quietly. "You know I was ? " he said, in surprise. " How can you possibly know ? " " Because Cecil Denman's a scoundrel, and I don't believe you are," she said, savagely. " He is, miss ; he is," said Tim, excitedly. " He's " " There, that will do," she replied. " We can talk over this some other time.