[Illustration: Cover art] GAY LAWLESS BY HELEN MATHERS _Author of "Comin' thro' the Rye," "Pigskin and Petticoat," "Bam Wildfire," "Griff of Griffithscourt," "Love, the Thief," etc._ AND PHIL REEVES _FOURTH EDITION_ LONDON STANLEY PAUL & CO. 1 CLIFFORD'S INN, TEMPLE BAR, E.C. CONTENTS CHAP. I. INIGO COURT II. A MAN OF SCIENCE III. "TROTTING _VERSUS_ RACING" IV. "A RACING MAN" V. TWO GIRLS VI. AT KEMPTON VII. THE ESCAPADE VIII. GAY TRIUMPHANT IX. AT THE "TROTTING NAG" X. THE NOTORIOUS GAY XI. GAY DISPOSES XII. RENSSLAER _PACE_ MACKRELL XIII. SANDOWN GRAND MILITARY XIV. A BEAUTIFUL CASE XV. THE GOLD VASE XVI. GAY DISGRACES HERSELF XVII. TWO LOVERS XVIII. MIN TO THE RESCUE XIX. "FIGHTING" GAY XX. A TICKLISH MOMENT XXI. AUNT LAVINIA XXII. KING OF THE ROAD XXIII. AT ELSINORE XXIV. AN EQUINE PARADISE XXV. THE TUG-OF-WAR XXVI. CARLTON'S "LITTLE BILL" XXVII. A _MODUS VIVENDI_ XXVIII. THE EPIC OF THE HORSE XXIX. LOVE OR STEEPLECHASING? XXX. TOO LATE! XXXI. A DEBT OF HONOUR XXXII. DEAD SEA APPLES XXXIII. THE GODS DECIDE GAY LAWLESS CHAPTER I INIGO COURT "It's the prettiest sport in the world," declared Gay Lawless. "I think Mr. Mackrell _just_ got up, don't you, Chris?" The man looked at his companion amusedly. "I hope so, but I'm no judge of _this_ game, you know." There was a shade of contempt in his voice. Gay's eyes were fixed on the number board, and she clapped her hands when No. 6 was hoisted. "He's won all right," she said; "he is having his horse cooled out." Then she had time to remember the sneer in Chris's voice. "Of course I know you're mad on steeple-chasing," she said, tilting her nose in the air, "but you needn't be bigoted; it's not the only sport, and anyhow you can't deny that Mr. Mackrell can drive; almost as well as you can ride," she concluded generously. Chris bowed. "Carlton Mackrell is a brilliant whip," he agreed, though he made a mental note that it was about the only thing Mackrell could do. "Let's go and congratulate him." They left the members' enclosure, and made their way by the side of the track to the stables, where they found Carlton Mackrell talking to one of his swipes. He came to meet them, and his dark face showed the pleasure he felt at Gay Lawless' congratulations. "Thank you," he said, "I expected to win my heat. Did you back my horse?" "Of course," cried the girl. "Evidently others besides you expected Billy Q. to win, for everyone was backing him. Although I got in early, I had to lay five to two on, to five shillings," she laughed. "It doesn't take very much money to paralyse the market, does it?" Carlton Mackrell shook his head.