230 A Lucky Mistake 



I took 1,000 to 70 three times and 1,000 to 60 twice, but 

 it closed up, and it was all I could do to get tens for the 

 last money.' 



Why, Ashdown wondered — and Cranleigh shared 

 the sentiment — was Smith going into these details? 

 What did it matter now ? 



' Well, you got good prices at any rate,' Cranleigh 

 said, the other being too puzzled to speak. ' I had no 

 idea they laid anything like that.' 



' Yes, sir, that's it, and I was bringing along the 

 cheque to hand you yourself, Mr. Ashdown, if I found 

 you in — it's 17,480Z. in all. Should have been earlier, 

 but I was kept waiting at the club,' Smith said. 



* The cheque ! Seventeen thousand pounds ! Good 

 Heavens, man, what do you mean ? ' Ashdown cried. 

 ' Why, the horse was beaten — I lost ! ' 



' Why, what do you mean, sir ? ' Smith replied, in 

 as great a fog as the other. ' Beaten ? If she was 

 beaten, they've paid on her and I've got the money— 

 that's all I know ! ' 



' What message did you receive ? ' Cranleigh joined 

 in, desiring to trace the mistake to its source. 



' Why ' — Smith felt in his pocket, pulled out a note- 

 case, and produced the pink telegraph form—' there it 

 is,' and he handed the paper to Cranleigh. It read : 



' Please put me 1,500Z. on Projectiles Meadshire 

 Handicap. I know you ivill do best you can. Gerald 

 Ashdown.' 



Ashdown looked over his friend's shoulder, and they 

 gazed at it blankly. It was some time before either 

 could speak, but at length Ashdown broke the silence, 

 though he could not quite realise it all. 



' But I wired you to put the money on Koquelaure ! ' 



