186 HOW I WON MY HANDICAP 



he showed me his watch that he had won in a handi- 

 cap. There was a long hand which jumped four 

 times in a second, and he could start it or stop it by 

 pressing a spring whenever he liked. Then I held 

 it while he ran, and found he was just 1 1 sec. doing 

 his 100 yards. I tried, and was " ten and a beat," 

 which he told me was reckoned first-rate time. 

 While I stopped with him I found out all about 

 " sprints " and " quarters," and how long a man 

 ought to be running different distances. I asked, 

 too, about tlie last race ; why he could afford to 

 give me £2 when I lost ? He said the two " fivers " 

 he had bet were with " pals," and he lost nothing 

 but my stake. Then he told me about the little 

 man and Lanky, whom I had met with him and run 

 against. The " long 'un," he said, was a very good 

 " trial horse," who could keep his tongue in his head, 

 and would " stand in " if I w^on anything. The 

 little un had been on business in the north, and 

 came round to see him (Locker). It was all chance 

 his being there, but I should see him again, farther 

 south, where he kept a running ground. Well, the 

 day for our race came at last, and we went to Ken- 

 ham. I was wrapped in a blanket after we stripped, 

 and a stout man, called Woldham, who stood referee, 

 whispered something to Locker, who replied tliat I 

 was fit and sure to win. They laid 5 to 4 against 



