74 



The Great Downshike Handicap 



' I shall go and take 1,000 to 80 more, in spite of the 

 sharps and what they know,' Cecil said. ' Dick's confi- 

 dent, and I believe he'll win.' Howard endeavoured to 

 dissuade him, but he was resolved, and going to the rails 

 booked his bet, returning just in time to see the advance 

 flag raised. 



' The chesnut swept by in his canter 



Meantime, if consternation had overtaken the friends 

 of Fortunatus, the Puzzle partly were jubilant. 



* You're sure it's all right ? ' Scully, a chief of the 

 gang, asked Hough for the twentieth time, for he had 

 betted more than he could pay if he lost — things had 

 been going badly of late, and this was to be the grand 



