78 STABLE SECRETS. 



Puffy Doddles gave a brief affirmative in reply. 



" I thought so," continued the peg-top figure ; " and he 

 didn't forget to couple with it a plump, pretty, little black- eyed 

 lass of the name of Matilda, did he ? " 



Robert Top's best lad thought this subject too delicate for 

 discussion. 



" Well, well ! " resumed Job Sweety, " perhaps it is, and so 

 we won't say anything more about it. But George never 

 forgave me for that Matilda cross. Ha ! ha ! ha ! Never for- 

 gave me for that Matilda cross ! " and then a laugh followed 

 which may fitly be described as both long and loud. 



Puffy Doddles feeling still more uncomfortable now that he 

 knew who the peg-top figure was, announced his intention of 

 leaving him to his solitude, and returning home. 



" Wait a bit," returned Job Sweety. " We mustn't part 

 so. We didn't meet by accident," continued he. " I've been 

 watching for the last three days for an opportunity of speaking 

 to you," 



" What for 1 " asked Puffy Doddles, with a gloomy brow 

 and dissatisfied air. 



" To be of benefit to each other," responded Job Sweety ; 

 " and not like two swimming Irish pigs, the longer they swim, 

 the more they cut their own throats. Now listen to me," he 

 continued. "That runaway dodge o' your stable gave me 

 i Jack up the orchard.' I as nearly went broke as a toucher, 

 and it's nothing, therefore, but as natural for me to try and get 

 some of my money back as it is for a cuckoo to suck small 

 birds' eggs. You're in luck. I'm out of luck. That's the 

 difference between you and I ; but you have learnt enough to 

 know by this time that in racing, as it is, I suppose, in most 

 things where money is to be made, it's every man for himself. 

 People may talk about robberies ; but those who talk the most 

 about being robbed are among the first to put their fingers in 

 the nearest unbuttoned pocket, i" don't complain of being 

 robbed by your runaway dodge. My sorrow is that I wasn't 



