158 Chjue ^olti. 



in a horse-box, duly bound for his native Shire once 

 more. On his arrival at Brassington, the loose hair 

 strewn about the bottom of the box plainly testified 

 to Tom's industry during the journey, and his sore 

 finger-ends still more feelingly endorsed the fact. 

 For no sooner, in truth, had the train left Chelten- 

 ham, than Mr. Scorer did, with considerable agility, 

 climb through the little door communicating between 

 his horse's compartment and that he himself 

 occupied, and there and then proceeded to con- 

 vert, as far as was possible, with the aid of resin 

 and scissors, that rough Irishman's legs into four 

 bearing a closer resemblance to those of the game 

 little horse at home. Later, when that much-desired 

 haven was safely reached, his mane was neatly 

 correspondingly hoged, and after a further and more 

 careful '" titivation," he really was a ver}^ fair match 

 indeed for the bold little fellow in the adjoining stall 



The day was waning when the latter reached the 

 Squire's stables, and the Irishman, ''his double," 

 those of Mr. Vane ; and it was a matter of no small 

 relief to Mr. Thomas Scorer, when, very considerably 

 later on, the two lads whom he had despatched 

 returned safely with the respective " cheques " of 

 the gentlemen above-named for the amounts bar- 

 gained for. 



So far as I know the Stock-broker never really 



