I/O A Good Thing 



' I haven't put that money on for you. Shall I ? 

 They're laymg 7 to 2 on the other. What's the mean- 

 ing of it ? ' he asks. 



' Oh, it's all right,' York quietly replies, with just a 

 shadow of vexation in his tone, however. • Barnes has 

 sprained his ankle, and got Hawke to ride for him.' 



' But I thought it was owners up.' 



' I thought so too. That's what I meant, and I 

 assumed that he meant the same ; but nothing was really 

 said about it when the match was made, and, of course, 

 he can get anyone to ride that he likes. It's certainly 

 my fault, if there's any fault at all.' 



' I don't believe in his ankle — it's an infernal piece 

 of sharp practice — not but what you'll hold your own, 

 old chap, only of course we w^ere — at least I was— going 

 on the knowledge that Barnes is a rank duffer on a 

 horse. However, I'll put it on for you, shall I ? All 

 right. Good luck ! I do hope you'll win. You're good 

 enough if the horse is,' Southey said, thinking that it 

 was not complimentary to his friend to show too much 

 vexation and regret because he had to ride against a 

 first-rate jockey. 



' No ! Haw^ke's a goodish bit in front of me,' York 

 answered, with a smile. 'We'll have a good go, though, 

 all the same ! ' and he trotted off. 



The lightness and ease with which Fisherman 

 skimmed the hurdle in the preliminary, and the firm, 

 but gentle hands and graceful seat of his rider, showed 

 that they were far from a pair to be despised ; still, if 

 the mare were what was now evidently believed, she 

 must be desperately dangerous wdth so superb a horse- 

 man as Hawke on her back. However, Southey exe- 

 cuted his commission, took 300L to lOOZ. for his friend. 



