184 HOW I WON MY HANDICAP 



£100 if I'd nobbut stick tu him." Weil, we agreed 

 that I was to do just as he directed, and receive a 

 sovereign for myself if I won by just a foot, and 

 two pound if I ran a dead heat, letting the " novice " 

 who was to be my opponent catch me at the finish. 

 I never " split " to anybody except Sikey, and he 

 went to see the race. Over a hundred people were 

 tliere, and off we started. Everybody thought I 

 was winning, but I " shammed tired," and he beat 

 me about three inches, the judge said. Locker 

 swore it was a dead heat, and as he had laid 2 to I 

 on me I thought he'd lost a lot of money. As we 

 went home, he said, "There's £2 for thee, lad; thou 

 did it wonderful well ; I shall match thee again 

 next Saturday for £20 : we might as well have it 

 as anybody else." Well, during the week I was 

 out with him every night, and he said, " Stick to 

 me, and we'll mak these coves sit up. Thou'rt a 

 thunderin' good un, and we'll gan to Sheffield together 

 in less nor six months if thou can keep thysel to 

 thysel." Of course I was pleased, and I bought a new 

 pair of running-shoes with spikes in. He showed 

 me The sporting Life next week, with a challenge 

 in that " ' Locker's lad,' not satisfied with his late 

 defeat, will take a yard in a 100 from the 'Stockton 

 Novice,' for £25 or £50 a-side. A deposit to the 

 editor and articles sent to Mr Locker's running- 



