JOB SWEETY. 79 



in the swim, instead of being dropped in the hole. I don't 

 complain of old Sloper, or you, or any one. It was a good 

 game, well played, because successful. Everything in this world, 

 Doddles — you'll excuse me for dropping the great Mister just 

 now — i s measured by the rule and compasses of success or failure. 

 That which loses is the chalk ; that which pays is the cheese." 



Puffy Doddles could not stop to listen to much more. 



"In that case," resumed Job Sweety, "I'll come to the 

 point at once. Your hoss's next engagement, the Grand Duke 

 Michael Stakes, is a booked certainty for him. There is 

 nothing in the race that can make him even gallop." 



" That's just what I think," observed Robert Top's best lad, 

 with a glow of pleasure illuminating his \ features. 



" You'll have the mount, of course 1 " rejoined Job Sweety. 



"If I live and am well," returned Puffy Doddles, with 

 marked confidence in the promise he had received that he 

 should ride Sunshine in the remainder of his engagements, 

 either made or to be made. 



" It will be long odds on him," continued Job Sweety ; 

 " but as most books will be closed against him, there can be 

 but little betting. Sloper would make money out of the hoss, 

 if he could, or what I should say, perhaps, dare ; but to make 

 him safe this journey is more than old Sloper himself dare do. 

 It would render his place too hot to live in, and this he knows 

 as well as any one. Now, what I want is, to have one throw 

 with the dice which old Sloper has often played with before ; 

 but which he can't load this time. Do ye understand, 

 Doddles ? " 



Puffy Doddles confessed that he did not quite understand, 

 but should do so presently, perhaps. 



"We're, coming to the point by degrees, you see," said Job 

 Sweety. "There's nothing like coming to the point by degrees. 

 Now, suppose I was to lay you five hundred to nothing 

 that Sunshine won the Grand Duke Michael Stakes, and he 

 lost ; you'd have to take from me five hundred pounds, 

 wouldn't ye ? " 



