VV A RACE TO THE SWIFT. ¢ 299%%%% The year was—well, I can’t tell you ; that without disclosing my identity, which for obvious reasons, I am de- barred from doing. The season was spring. The occasjon was the five mile amateur championship of the world at Lillie Bridge. I had just run and won that event, and having donned my sweater and overcoat, was walking back to the dressing room when I was accosted by an elderly gentleman. “Pardon me, sir,” he said in tone C2 enthusiastic commendation, “but you ran superbly. The way you lost those other fellows in the last lap was a treat to witness. And you don’t seem much distressed by your efforts, either,” he added, regarding me criti- cally with his keen black eyes. “Oh, not worth speaking of,” I re- plied. “I'm in the very pink just now. And I finished with a good bit up my sleeve, as I generally do.” “That was evident,” he answered. “You had the other fellows in hand all the way. Excuse my asking, but I am informed that you are one of the junior clerks in the office?” “You are informed correctly,” I re- plied, somewhat surprised by this in- quiry on the part of a total stranger. “And that your salary is only £750 a year?” “Really,” I answered, for I naturally resented this sort of catechism from a man on whom I had never before set eyes in my life. “I aon’t see that my salary is any concern of yours. How- ever, there's no secret about it. You can find it for yourself in any direc~ tory, and it is the precise amount that you have mentioned.” “Forgive me,” he exclaimed quickly. “I had no intention to offend. But the idea crossed my mind that a man like you—such a perfect specimen of health and vigor—ought to be worth more money.” “There I quite agree with you,” I laughed. “And if you can persuade her majesty’s government of the fact I shall be extremely obliged to you.” “If you'll give me your attention for five minutes I'll explain,” he answered gravely. “Oh, I'll give you my attention right enough,” 1 laughed rather flippantly. “I'm always ready to do that when there are thousand poundses flying about.” “First, let me tell you who I am,” he replied, ignoring my sarcasm. ‘I am a man not altogether unknown in the medical world. My name is Jasper Harvey.” “Sir Jasper Harvey! surgeon?” : ,» “The celebrated surgeon—since you are good enough to use the phrase,” he answered modestly. I looked at him in some suspicion. ‘Was he speaking the truth, or was he merely an imposter with swindling de- signs upon me that would peep out later on? He saw my suspicions and answered them: “I see you doubt my bona fides, and I am not surprised, since you have only my bare word for my ideatity with Sir Jasper Harvey. However, I can easily satisfy you on that point. Are you engaged this evening?” I replied in the negative. “Then will you dine with me at my house in Brook street at 7.30? You will thus be able to satisfy yourself that I am really the man I represent myself to be, and we can further dis- cuss the matter to which I have re- ferred. What do you say?” After some slight hesitation I said I would go. “For at worst,” I thought to myself, “If this man is an imposter trying to hoax me I shall find it out when I arrive at Sir Jasper’s house in Brook street. ‘While, on the other hand, if he is really Sir Jasper, and is kind enough to wish to put me in the way of making a thousand pounds it would be rather foolish on my part not at least to hear what he has to say. Ten to one, of course, there will be con- ditions attached that I can’t possibly comply with. I've always heard that Sir Jasper is a bit of a character, with some rather cranky ideas, and I dare say this is one. However, I may as well go and take the offchance of being put on to something sound.” When I arrived at the famous sur- geon’s house on Brook street all my doubts as to his identity with my in- terlocutor at Lillie Bridge were in- stantly dissipated. He received me in his library with a polite and courteous greeting; then we repaired to the din- fngroom and discussed a simple but admirably served repast, tete-a-tete. Sir Jasper’s conversation was pleasing and interesting. He talked and talk- ed well, upon many public topics. But not until we were seated over our wine, and the servants had withdrawn, did he touch upon the particular matter which was the object of our inter- view. Then he said, with almost startling suddenness: “I told you this afternoon that I could put you in the way of making a thousand pounds.” I nodded. My heart began to beat. To me, who had not a halfpenny of capi- tal, a thousand pounds seemed untold wealth. What was I to be called upon to do in order to qualify for such af- fluence I waited with eager impatience Jor Sir Jasper to proceed. “And when I speak of a thousand pounds,” he continued deliberately, “I must give you to understand that this sum, handsome though it is, does not represent the full pecuniary emolu- ments that are latent in my proposal. You will get your thousand down in any event. But if the matter in hand turns out successfully—as I hope—you will be a further two thousand in poc- The celebrated SCIP AS BRL. 1 said—as, indeed, I felt—that such a sum of money was beyond my wild- est dreams. “But,” I added, cautiously, “I know enough of business to be aware that speak) given away with a pound of tea; and I surmise that some pretty stiff if not impossible conditions are attached to this very tempting offer.” Sir Jasper smiled. “The conditions are certainly not im- possible,” he replied. “For my part, 1 should not even call wem stiff. How- ever, you shall hear them. Pray give me your most careful attention.” “You may be sure of that,” I eried. Sir Jasper went on: “The facts of the case are these. I have a patient in the country wuo is suffering from a severe attack of ner- vous collapse. I have tried many rem- edies. They have all failed. It occurs to me, however, that the transfusion of blood into my patient's system from the body of a healthy, vigorous man will give a very good chance of com- plete recovery, and I have singled out you, because you are healthy, vigorous and fit beyond any one I have ever come across. This is the whcle matter in a nutshell.” We were met at Leicester station by a smart brouwgham, and presently drew up before a large and imposing coun- try house. An imposing butler usher- ed us into a reception room leading out of the entrance hall. “I will tell my lord that you have arrived,” said he to Sir Jasper. After no more than a minute's in- terval an elderly man in evening dress made his appearance. He shook hands with Sir Jasper, then he looked keenly at me. f “Is this the gentleman of whom you spoke?” Sir Jasper nodded. “I am extremely obliged to you, sir, for coming,” said the cther to me cour- teously. “You will excuse us, perhaps, ior a minute or two.” The room in which I stood was a spacious and magnificently furnished apartment, suggestive both of wealth and taste on the part of its possessor. So he was a nobleman. ine “my Lord” had told me that. But of what rank —duke, marquis, earl viscount or baron? I looked about me for possi- ble indications of his identity, any let- ters or papers addressed to him, any books that migh bear his name writ- ten upon the front page. While I was thus employed (to no purpose, I may add), Sir Jasper, by himself, reenter- ed the room. His face wore a tense and excited expression. An eager light glittered in his dark eyes. ’ : “I have just seen my patient,” said. “The operation of transfusion must be performed tonight.” ‘“To-night?”’ “Yes, tonight; in fact, at once. I am afraid I must ask you to submit to be- ing anaesthetized. I suppose you have no objection.” ‘““Anaesthetized? sary?’ ‘“Absolutely—for two reasons. In the first place, because it will greatly fa- cilitate the operation. In the second, because—I may as well be quite can- did with you—the circumstances are of a peculiarly delicate character. The patient is a young lady, and the opera- tion has to be performed under condi- tions which make it—ahem—essential that you should be unconscious of what is going on. I need not enter in- to details. What I have already said will show you the necessity of the course I propose.” he But, is that neces- how it had never crossed my mind that your patient might De a lady. Is she the daughter of Lord—Lord—" Sir Jasper smiled rather grimly. “No use smelling for information,” he said. “I am not at libery to disclose his L.ordship’s name or to tell you any- thing more than I have already done. Some day, perhaps, I may be able to enlighten you. But not at present. And I will ask you, as a gentleman, to re- spect the secrecy with which this case is, for good, sufficient and perfectly in- necent reascns, surrounded, and not to ask any further questions.” Then, after a short pause, he re- marked: “May I ask you to take off your coat and waistcoat, and to unfasten your collar?” “Eh?’ I exclaimed, as I began to carry out his request. ‘‘Are you going to perform the operation here—in this room?” “Never mind. That is my affair,” he answered, rather shortly. And he rang the bell. The butler answered it. “Tell Dr. Jenkins that I am ready for him.” “Yes, Sir Jasper.” The butler went off on his errand. In the course of a minute or two, Dr. Jenkins who was, it appeared, the an- aesthetist, came in. “Now then,” said Dr. Jasper to me, “kindly lie down, upon that sofa.” I did so, my heart beating with ner- vousness and excitement. Dr. Jenkins came and stood over me. He adminis- tered the chloroform. And then—a dead blank. When I recovered my senses, I found myself in bed. A young woman, in the arb of a hospital nurse, stood beside me. Sir Jasper leaned upon the rail at the foot of the bed with his shrewd eyes fixed upon my face. “Well, how are you feeling, now?” he inquired, kindly. “Awfuily limp—and—sick,” I mur- mured. “Just so. Loss of blood—chloroform. ket What do you say to that?” But that will soon pass off. Lie quite “I am in your hands,” I said. “Some- | : 3 ? 1 the way, I promised, when the time 3000 sovereigns are not exactly (so to | | for more than a week. still and don’t :alk. No fatiguing your- self on any account. See te that, nurse, won't you?” And he went away. There was no need to tell me to lie quite still and not to talk. I felt for too weak and ill to have any inclina- tion—even if I had had the strength— for either indulgence. Indeed, it was full three days before I found myself equal to the exertion even of moving in bed; and I was not able to sit up Sir Jasper looked in to see me twice or thrice daily. With returning strength, my curiosity and interest reasserted themselves and I asked him eagerly: “How did the operation go off?” “Very well,” he answered, briskly. “I trust that the desired effect will have been produced on my patient; though I can’t speak with certainty at present. It must be a matter of time.” “I am glad to hear that. Tell me this, though—for I can’t get anything out of the nurse—am I stul in Lord—Lord— What’s-his-name’s house?” “Yes, ycu are still in Lord What’s- his-name’s house; but I propose to move you in an ambulance tonight.” ‘“Where to?” “20 one of my nursing homes London,” But why—why—do you want to move me at night?” “For the same reason that I brought you here for at night,” answered Sir Jasper, frankly—‘“in order that you may not be able, by employing your ge- ographical instincts, to discover the locality of his Lordship’s house, which would be the same thing as discovering his Lordship’s identity. I have no doubt that you are dying of curiosity. But, owing to the circum- stances, at which I have already hint- ed, it is undesirable that your curiosi- ty shoula be for the present, at any rate, satisfied. You must not think us unreasonable; especially as you have been so handsomely paid for your ser- vices. And all being well, that is to say, if the result of the operation upon my patient is such, as I hope, I shall enlighten you in due course. So with this promise I was fain to be content. . The same night I was removed in an ambulance, via Midland Railway, from Leicester to Sir Jasper’s nursing home in North Audley street. Here I rapidly became convalescent, and within a month I was, as he had foretold, back at Somerset House. Before I left his home, Sir Jasper had exacted from me a promise to say nothing to anybody of what had occurred, adding that the further 2000 pounds, which he hoped, in no long time, to be in a position to pay over to me, would be contingent upon this promise being onserved. i assured him that I would keep my promise, and I was scrupulously care- ful to do so. But time went by; the weeks grew into months, the months into years, and I heard nothing more from him, until I was driven to the conclusion that the operation had been less successful than he had expected and that those 2000 pounds would not come my way after all. But at last, three years later, when I had long abandoned all hope, Sir Jasper himself looked in one evening in to see me. He was in the best of hu- more and spirits. His very look be- tokened it. “How do you do?’ he said. “I’ve just come to tell you that operation has turned out successfully—most suc- cessfully. So here’s your 2000 pounds, you lucky fellow.” As he spoke, he handed me his check for that amount. “By Jove! I am glad. Thanks aw- fully,” I exclaimed, feeling in the mood to stand upon my head for delight. “You had need to be glad,” smiled Sir Jasper. “I doubt if 3000 pounds was ever so cheaply earned before. By came, to enlighten you upon certain matters. Well, the time has come now. There is no longer any reason for se- crecy, seeing that the operation has turned out so well. The house to which I took you on that memorable occasion was Bishopsford Castle.” “What! The seat of the Earl of Carshalton?” “Yes. And the patient into whose system your blood was transferred was’— “Lord Carshalton’s daughter? The beautiful Lady Constance Rosehill?” No,” ansewered Sir Jasper, quietly, “hut Lord Carshalton’s beautiful three- year-old filly, Runing Track, who has today realized for his Lordship his life’s ambition and won him the first victory in the St. Leger.” In the course of rurther explanations of this astonishing statement Sir Jas- per said: “The idea was Lord Carshalton’s. He has always been, in his eccentric way, a bit of a physiologist, and it some- how crossed his mind that, if the blood of a man was transfused into the sys- tem of a mewly born foal, some of the physical and nervous qualities of the man might also be communicated—the superior to the inferior. Lord Carsh- alton is a very old friend of mine, I must tell you, and at the outset of my career, laid me under obligations which, even to this day, make it diffi- cult for me to refuse him anything. So when he pressed me to co-operate with him in the scheme which he had in view I felt bound (though I considered the scheme wildly chimerica:) to lend him my assistance. That scheme, in fact, was nothing less than to try the experiment upon the little filly foal with which his famous brood mare, The Abbey, had just presented him. «