d Arthur sententiously; "the worst thing that could
happen to you would be to win. I'm glad you'll have a good lesson."

"Thanks," said Dig, and went out to try to sell Blazer for three stamps.
But no one would look at him, and Dig finally crushed the paper into
his waistcoat-pocket in disgust, and wished he had his stamps safe there
instead.

A fortnight later, just as he and Arthur were marching down proudly to
the cricket-field, in order to take part in a great match--the first of
the season.--between an eleven of Ainger's and an eleven of Barnworth's,
he was struck all of a heap by the amazing announcement, conveyed by
Simson, that Blazer had won the Derby! Dig turned pale at the news, and
convulsively dug his hand into his pocket to see if he had his paper
safe.

"Not really?" he exclaimed.

"Yes, he has! Roaring Tommy was nowhere. Jolly lucky for me I sold my
ticket to Tilbury for eight-and-six! I wish I'd bought yours for
threepence when you asked me."

Dig laughed hysterically.

"Then I've got the ten-and-six?" he asked.

"Rather."

Dig made two duck's eggs, and missed every ball that came in his way
that afternoon, and was abused and hooted all round the field. What
cared he? He had Blazer burning a hole in his pocket, and ten-and-six
in postage-stamps waiting for him in Mills's study. As soon as he could
decently quit the scene of his inglorious exploits, he bolted off to
claim his stakes. Mills was not at home, so he took a seat and waited
for him, glancing round the room carefully, in case the stamps should be
lying out for him somewhere. But they were not.

In due time Mills returned.

"Hullo, kid! what do you want?"

Dig grinned and pulled out his paper.

"How's that, umpire?" demanded he.

Mills stared at the document.

"What on earth is the row with you? What are you driving at?"

"Ten-and-sixpence, please," said the beaming baronet; "I've got Blazer."

Mills laughed.

"You're not in much of a hurry. Has Blazer won, then?"

"Yes; a rank outsider, too. Do you know, I tried all I knew to sell my
ticket for threepence. Just fancy if I had."

"It's a pity you didn't," said Mills, taking a chair, "The fact is,
there's been a bit of a muddle about Blazer. That ass Simson, when he
wrote out the tickets, wrote Blazer twice over instead of Blazer and
Catterwaul. They were both such regular outsiders, it didn't seem worth
correcting it at the time. I'm awfully sorry, you k