146 EACECOUKSE AND COVERT SIDE. 



it's strange to me if Capper isn't the richer for 

 it. No ! I won't hush, I'll say what I think, 

 and show me the man that'll stop me ! It's him 

 as done it, and Lomax says he'll have no beggars 

 round his daughter, and wants to force Capper 

 on the girl that hates the sight of him. No, I 

 don't care ; I will speak ! " 



The old farmer, who had got very red in the 

 face with excitement, puffed hard at his pipe, 

 oblivious of the fact that it had gone out. 

 Swaynton, who was near the candle, handed him 

 a spill, and for a moment there was silence in 

 the room. 



*' So Mr. Capper is thriving and poor Frank 

 Parker has come to grief? I'm sorry to hear 

 it. How do you suppose Capper gets his 

 information ? " 



" We can't for the life of us make it out," 

 the little barber answered. '' It's the strangest 

 thing that ever was known, the way he's always 

 right. As soon as ever the race is run he seems 

 to know what's won it — that's another strange 

 thing about it. It's only at the last minute, 

 like, that he makes up his mind, and comes in — 

 always on the afternoon of the day — two or three 

 hours before the news reaches us — he comes in, 

 and he's got it." 



** I suppose there isn't time for a man to 



