"'Why don't you 'ave a bit on, Mr. Smith?' ses Dicky.
"'Oh, I dunno,' ses Smith, wiping down the bar with a wet cloth.
"'It's the chance of a lifetime,' ses Dicky.
"'Looks like it,' ses Smith, coughing.
"'But 'e can't win,' ses Sam Jones, looking a bit upset. 'Why, Mr.
Bunnett said 'e ought to be locked up.'
"'He's been led away,' ses Bob Pretty, shaking his 'ead. 'He's a kind-
'arted old gen'leman when 'e's left alone, and he'll soon see wot a
mistake 'e's made about me. I'll show 'im. But I wish it was something
more useful than a gold watch.'
"'You ain't got it yet,' ses Bill Chambers.
"'No, mate,' ses Bob.
"'And you stand to lose a sight o' money,' ses Sam Jones. 'If you like,
Bob Pretty, you can 'ave your bet back with me.'
"'Never mind, Sam,' ses Bob; 'I won't take no advantage of you. If I
lose you'll 'ave sixpence to buy a rabbit-hutch with. Good-night, mates
all.'
"He rumpled Bill Chambers's 'air for 'im as he passed--a thing Bill never
can a-bear--and gave Henery Walker, wot was drinking beer, a smack on the
back wot nearly ruined 'im for life.
[Illustration: "Some of 'em went and told Mr. Bunnett some more things
about Bob next day"]
"Some of 'em went and told Mr. Bunnett some more things about Bob next
day, but they might as well ha' saved their breath.
Pages:
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25