ONLY THE MARE 147 



" And yet I'm backing of him." 



" This young Peyton's mare can't be worse ? " 

 said the younger man, interrogatively. 



" That mare, it's my belief, would be fancied 

 tor the Grand National if she was entered, and 

 some of the swells saw 'er. She's a real good 'un ! " 

 replied the man with the collar. 



" I see. You've got at her jockey. You're an 

 artful one, you are." 



As the jockey to whom they alluded, I was 

 naturally much interested. 



" No, I ain't done that, neither. He's a gentle- 

 man, and it's no use talkin' to such as 'im. They 

 ain't got the sense to take up a good thing when 

 they see it — though, for the matter o' that, most of 

 the perfessionals is as bad as the gentlemen. All's 

 fair in love and war," says I ; " and this 'ere's 

 war." 



" Does Blankney know how bad his horse is ? " 



" No, bless yer ! That ain't Phil Kelly's game." 

 (Kelly was, I knew, the man who had charge of 

 my opponent's horse.) 



" Well, then, just explain, will you ; for / can't 

 see." 



From the recesses of his garment the elder man 

 pulled out a short stick about fifteen inches in 

 length, at the end of which was a loop of string ; 



