PAYING OFF A BIT 



who, I am glad to see, has plenty of work in a private 

 capacity in connection with racecourses, said : " Well, 

 what is it to be ? " I had only six pounds left, and 

 the pass-book was " multy " — ^an Australian expression 

 meaning rotten. *' Go and get me fifty pounds to five 

 at once Americus Girl if you can," I asked him, and 

 knew that he would. Soon after up went the numbers, 

 and she was at six to one, and in another minute or 

 two we knew that Maher and Americus Girl were 

 drawn No 1 ; on the rails it was difficult to get threes. 

 Someone who knew I had backed her begged me for 

 thirty pounds to ten pounds ready, and extending the 

 bank-note I accommodated him, much against my 

 convictions ; still, a tenner ready and a well-hedged 

 bet had its attractions. She won all the way, and there 

 was a nice little finish for Doncaster, a " nap " in the 

 Express and over two hundred and fifty pounds net 

 for Willie ! 



It was a great week that, and there were a number 

 I owed a bit to nearly had heart disease when, during 

 the next few days, they got a cheque. Mr Peebles was 

 quietly elated, but the owner had a tear or two of 

 excitement in his eyes. 



There was a mare named Ignorance trained by 

 Peebles, and I happened to run across him some few 

 days before the Champion Sprint at Hurst Park. 

 I told him that I was going bald-headed for her. I 

 didn't ask him for his opinion, the only point about 

 her necessary to know being whether she was well. 

 He convinced me on this point, knowing from experience 

 that I would not ask him too many direct questions. 

 She was never better, but day after day, without seeing 

 him in the interim, I hammered away in the paper 

 speaking about Ignorance for the race to be run on the 

 following Saturday. Mind you, one stands to have a 



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