SIXTY YEARS ON THE TURF 



I soon met the detective I was in search of, and 

 told him what had happened, and that if the watch 

 was returned to 6, Old Burlington Street, ten 

 pounds would be paid and no questions asked. 

 He jumped on a stool, and took a rapid glance of 

 the occupants of his ring. 



" Mr. Hodgman," he said, " there's not a prig 

 here. Do you know where the watch was lost ? " 



"Mr. Weatherby was standing close by the 

 judge's box." 



" Oh, that's not in my ring. How long is it since 

 the watch was missed ? " 



" About an hour — perhaps more." 



" Oh," he said, " Boss Tyler's party would work 

 that. The watch by now is on its way to Bristol. 

 But I'll do my best." 



In a very few days the heirloom was returned to 

 Old Burlington Street, and the ten pounds paid. 



Not long after I met Mr. Weatherby, and casually 

 asked : " And how's the watch going on ? " 



" Oh, I forgot to tell you. It went again." 



" But you told me you would never take it on a 

 racecourse again." 



" So I did. But one day I forgot to leave it at 

 home, and it went. Still, I've got it back, though 

 it cost me another tenner." 



Nearly twelve months had passed when, in a joking 



16"4. 



