Making the Running 273 



' We are on all right, I suppose ? There's no mistake 

 about that ? ' he asked, suddenly growing serious. 



* Oh, no, it's all done right enough/ the friend replied. 

 * I wired up, " Good for a monkey," and he won't make a 

 mistake. They can't return it at less than 12 to 1 

 —you win 6,000/.' 



Odd rumours get spread on racecourses, and in odd 

 ways. A story was, for example, whispered about that 

 Bedford had hit on a splendid piece of roguery — to square 

 the only dangerous horse in the race, to get an outsider 

 to make running for him, and to take care just to be 

 beaten, apparently by miscalculation ; and it was said 

 that he had 500/. starting price on the winner. Certainly 

 the conversation just quoted seems to give some colour 

 to the story. 



Cecil got his money from Stebbing. When, two 

 years later, a turf scandal came to light, it became 

 tolerably evident that the Captain's simple game had 

 been to induce silly young men to let him put large 

 stakes for them on horses which he declared were good 

 things, though he knew that they had no chance. He had a 

 long mental struggle before he made up his mind to part 

 with the large sum — 2,875/. it was, for Chimney Corner's 

 starting price was duly returned at 100 to 8 — which 

 Cecil imagined he had won. It was, however, a question 

 of paying up or disappearing from the turf altogether, for 

 Edwardes and Douglas were witnesses who would have 

 been able to confirm Cecil's story. Greatly struck with 

 Stebbing's knowledge and perspicuity, these two young 

 men had shown much deference for his opinion when he 

 met them afterwards, and it occurred to him that, starting 

 with such a reputation in their eyes, he might turn 

 them both to profitable account, as they were both 



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