LUCKLESS FRIAR'S BALSAM 309 



day, for I am now managing a few horses for 

 Mr. F. Gretton, a son of Mr. John Gretton, and 

 a nephew of the owner of Isonomy. 



The mention just now of the Lincolnshire 

 Handicap reminds me of a story about Mr. Fred 

 Gretton. He went to the Lincoln meeting one 

 day with a valuable diamond pin in his tie. As 

 he was passing through the turnstile into the 

 stand one of the " boys ** managed to snatch the 

 pin and get away before Mr. Gretton realised 

 what had happened. When he discovered his 

 loss, Mr. Gretton came to me and asked what 

 steps he should take to recover the gem. I 

 suggested we should consult Charlie Rayner. 

 This we did, and later in the day Rayner told us 

 we could have the pin by paying ^2^, Mr. 

 Gretton at once gave him the money, and pre- 

 sently received the diamond, which had been 

 unscrewed from the pin. The following day 

 Mr. Gretton was standing in the paddock with 

 his hands clasped behind his back. He felt 

 something prick his hand, and bringing it in 

 front of him to see what was the matter, found 

 there the lost tie-pin, wrapped in a piece of 

 tissue-paper ! Having got what they asked, the 

 thieves were apparently anxious to restore the 

 whole of their loot. 



At one of the meetings held at Four Oaks, 

 Birmingham, George Graham, of Yardley, was 

 accompanied by a friend who was displaying a 



