FIRST REAL TOUCH 



me : " Beg pardon, sir, but what's going to win the 

 Croydon Hurdle Race ? " I am sure that I turned 

 ghastly. Then he added : " I think Hesper is a cert., 

 although I suppose they'll back Lord Lincoln for a 

 bit after his win in that small race to-day." My 

 intuitions, therefore, were correct : I had not won my 

 money. " When's the race run ? " I faltered. " In 

 about three weeks, ain't it?" said he. The waiter's 

 tip Hesper did win the Croydon Hurdle Race. This 

 was all learning — and paying. 



