THE WHEEL WAGER 83 



A journeyman coaclibuilder had often been noticed 

 by Lord March trundling a wheel — a common sight 

 of every day even now; one which would hardly 

 furnish 'food for reflection' to an ordinary person. 

 His lordship, however, saw 'something' in it. An 

 acquaintance having been struck up between March 

 and the journeyman, the former discovered that the 

 man was singularly deft in running with the wheel 

 on a smooth surface such as the footpath ; this he 

 quickly tested by his stop-watch. Lord March also 

 knew a waiter at Betty's fruit-shop, St. James Street, 

 famed for his running ; and this man's speed he had 

 ascertained by personal observation. Here, then, 

 was the basis for a future wager when opportunity 

 served. This came in due course (as everything 

 does to the man who knows how to wait), when 

 his lordship broached the matter of his journeyman 

 coachbuilder. He spoke of this as though he were 

 convinced that the wheel assisted instead of retard- 

 ing the speed. The discussion led, as was intended, 

 to an argument, whereupon Lord March offered to 

 stake a large sum of money that the journeyman 

 would run with the hind- wheel of his carriage, then 

 at the door, faster than the waiter aforesaid. 



The bet was taken up by those present to a con- 

 siderable amount, and the time and place arranged. 



