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TOD SLOAN 



He said to me : 



" I never bet but I've come down here to see Sibola 

 win and to put five pounds on her." Then he looked 

 me straight in the eye. 



I'll win all right, my lord," I replied. 

 Mind you do," he snapped, and gave me another 

 glance. 



Lord William was rather amused when I added : 

 " And you can have a bit more on too if you like." 



We got to the post and there were three or four 

 false breaks. I must admit that I was trying to beat 

 the starter and he didn't half give it to me for what I 

 was doing. At last he let them go with me not ready 

 and left standing. I was mad with rage and in my 

 furious temper I did what I had always told young 

 boys never to attempt. It was the worst race I ever 

 rode in my life and never shall I forgive myself for 

 allowing my vexation to overcome my better judgment. 

 / made up all the lost ground going up the hill, and when 

 I got to the top Sibola was a tired mare. I ought to 

 have allowed a mile to recover the distance I had lost 

 at the post ; then we couldn't have lost. Certainly I 

 got a steadier at her a little time afterwards, and 

 Madden on Musa and I rode a desperate finish. 



After we passed the post and got down to the 

 paddock to turn back to scale Madden said to me, 

 " I think you won it, Tod," and I was sure I had. We 

 were both surprised when Musa's number was seen 

 in the frame. There seemed a fate against me that 

 day — at least the mood I was in made me think so. 

 First the starter and then the judge. However, one 

 mustn't think too much of the ideas formed at a time 

 like that. Anyhow I am telling this story all against 

 myself, making no excuses at all. 



Lord Charles altered towards me after that. It 



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