en feasible.

If he had a better side to his nature Jane Thrush seemed likely to find
it, but even she would have to walk warily if in his power. Jane's
pretty face had won a sort of victory over him; he acknowledged his
submission with a wry grimace, thinking she would be called upon to
submit in her turn.

Meanwhile Jane hesitated as to what she would do if he asked her to be
his wife, as she believed he would. To solve her doubts, she asked her
father. Tom eyed her curiously; he was sleepy and barely grasped her
question.

"What did yer say, lass?" he asked.

"If Mr. Meason asks me to be his wife what answer shall I give him?"

Tom was awake now. This was important.

"He'll ask, you reckon?"

"I believe he will."

"Then please yourself, lass. He's a well-favored man, seems well off,
he'd make a good husband," said Tom.

"Perhaps he would," said Jane doubtfully.

CHAPTER XVII

THE LAY OF THE LAND

Race meetings gradually dropped out, they were few and far between;
there was more important business on hand.

Fred Skane had sole control of Alan Chesney's horses during his absence
and picked up a race or two to meet expenses. Alan had given no
instructions to sell any of his horses, but Fred used his judgment and
let three or four go in selling races. Alan impressed upon him to
prepare a couple of horses to match against Bernard Hallam's Rainstorm
and Southerly Buster, for he was anxious to demonstrate the superiority
of the English horses.

Mr. Hallam brought his trainer from Australia, and Jack Wrench--his
name--was granted permission to train at Newmarket. It was not long
before two sterling good horses, Catspaw and Bellringer, four and five
years old respectively, were purchased to lead the Australians in their
work. Both horses had won good handicaps and came into the market on
the departure of their owner for the front. Mr. Hallam paid a stiff
price for them, but Jack Wrench had been advised they were worth it.
The Australian trainer was anxious to prove that Rainstorm and
Southerly Buster were equal to the best handicap horses in England.

It soon got about in racing circles that there was likely to be a match
between horses of Alan Chesney and those of Bernard Hallam. This news
spread far and wide, and the Australians in the fighting line were as
eager about it as anybody. The Anzacs had a terrible time in
Gallipoli, and the Dardanelles generally, but they were always eager t