44 CONFESSIONS OP A HORSE DEALEK. 



eared individual. He stands at a respectful distance in 

 the yard, playing with a goat. He was dressed in very 

 tight pantaloons, strapped down to a pair of what 

 appeared to be gentlemen's cast-off boots, until the 

 pantaloons fairly grinned again, a very long waistcoat, 

 and an upper garment, known as a " puzzle devil," or 

 a kind of cross between a coat and a jacket ; this attire 

 had evidently been made to the fancy of some ex- 

 flunkey, from whom it had been borrowed for the occa- 

 sion. Tommy's closely-cropped head was surmounted 

 by a flat-brimmed hat, and round his neck he wore a 

 light-coloured scarf, in which was prominently displayed 

 a Birmingham pin with a horse-shoe head. 



"Here, Tommy," said the coper. Tommy obeyed 1 

 with alacrity, and saluted them both with his forefinger 

 raised to the brim of his hat. "This gentleman wants 

 to speak to you," said coper. 



Gentleman to Tommy (alias Coper 2). " I understand 

 that you have had some experience in the care of valu- 

 able horses." 



" Yessir, I hought tu du, for I was brought up in a 

 racing stable." 



"Indeed, why did you leave it ?" 



" Why, sir, cos I was too heavy. 1 ' 



This and a few more questions were answered to 

 the gentleman's satisfaction, and Tommy was engaged 

 to go a month on trial, and at once installed into office 

 by leading to the victim's residence the pair of screws, 

 for which notes and gold amounting to HO guineas were 

 paid. 



