AN OFF CHANCE. 215 



and Eed Ronald, who has been vigorously ridden 

 from the distance, can barely hold his own. 



In a moment more they are past the post, 

 and No. 15 is hoisted. Wynnerly has run away 

 with the race : Mavis has won by a length and a 

 half, Eed Ronald, second ; Osprey, bad third, is 

 the result of the race for the Southdown Cup. 



Wynnerly, a very imperturbable young man, 

 rode back to weigh in after this astonishing 

 turn up with a perfectly calm face, looking as if 

 he had expected to be beaten a hundred yards, 

 and had been beaten accordingly. This ceremony 

 over, he joined Flutterton, who was waiting for 

 him in the weighing-room with a whirling brain, 

 oscillating between hope and apprehension. 

 Tom Ball was there looking much amused ; 

 Atherton, not quite knowing what to make of 

 it ; and Crossley, unaffectedly savage. 



" Well, that's all right ! " Wynnerly said, as 

 he strolled away across the paddock with Flutter- 

 ton, an overcoat over the white and cerise 

 jacket he had put on to ride a subsequent race 

 in. '' Your J6150 was on an average of 15 to 1." 



"I'm bewildered! I can't believe it yet! 

 What made you think of that ? " Flutterton 

 said. 



"I hardly know, but the idea came into my 



