Cinder Path Tales

PADDY'S PROBATION 89 by-jerks" gait, sure enough. Where he learned it, unless in cross-country running over a bog, is more than I can guess. As for Tom, he acted his r6le to perfec­ tion. He ran in beautiful form, but,appar­ ently doing his best, was unable to keep Paddy from gaining, and indeed the latter was showing an astonishing speed consider­ ing the way he ran. It was amusing enough to see the anxious expression on Tom's face as Paddy drew up and passed him. The latter.swung into the stretch, a good ten yards to the good, his face beaming and con­ fident. He was throwing away no chances, however, and the moment Tom started to run him down, he answered with a spurt of astonishing vigor,considering the distance he had come and the speed at the start. How he did work, bumping along, in a strange contrast to Tom's clean performance; but all the same, do all he could, Tom missed catching him by a scanty yard, and Paddy had no sooner broken the worsted, than he set up a shrill yell to show that his wind was still good, though he was badly done up, and nothing but his grit had pulled him over. He received the congratulations which were showered upon him with a very open and unconcealed satisfaction. The joke was certainly on Tom, who en-