The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1869-05-15
THE JOCKEYS TRTCK.
by EMERSON BENNETT.


ters--gentlemen, jockeys, sporting men
gamblers. pick-pockcts and thieves-al
hoping to profit by an occasion Of 80 mucI
public Importance. The two inns in tn
place were doing tremendous business il
their small way, and the landlords wer
secretly rubbing their hands and chuck
ling over the prospect Of getting rid of
large quantity ef bad liquor at nm i'm
mense profit, to say nothing of crowded
tables, two in bed all round, and mum
bers on the floor.
Late in the afternoon, when the piazz.
of one of these inns was filed with
miscellaneous crowd Of all the difIcren
classes named--some discussing the quail
tiles and merits of the entered horees
others booking bets, aud others devisinl
and perfecting plans for fleeing and rob
bing the inexperienced and unwary-ti..
attention Of all was attracted to a greer
looking coEntryman, who was mounted
on n skinny, long-necked, sharp boned
rough. haired horse, with an old toggled
up saddle under him and hempen strings
for bride reins, who was shouting land
lord at the top Of his lungs, notwithstand.
ing two negro boys were ready, as
they expressed it, ito glib dc gemman i
boss dc best feed dat dar aninlilo had
ever saw" A loud and general laugh
from the amused spectators was heard in
response to the stentorian efforts of "coun-
| try" as several had already dubbed the
rustic stranger, and in the midst Of the
new excitement the inn keeper made his
appearance aud inquired what was want.
cd.
Dye see this yore hoss ?" said coun.
try.
Reckon does SEQ so thing as has Il
hossy look" facetiously replied the land
lord, with sly wink at the spectators,
who responded with a regular shout
"Wall, landlord" pursued country as
he deliberately dismountcd, Il don't kcer
nothing Mt all about myself; but this
yere critter must be took keer on, aud
the best keer that can be gin him. bekasc
I'm agwine to put him on tho race.course
to run agin all tho scrubs to. morrcr, and
| wants him rubbed down beautiful, and
fed up TO the lions strength, | don't keer
a dern about myself amt nowhar
alongside of this hoss; ken eat any
thing from billed tater to a turkey-I
ken sleep anyvhar, from the cellar to the
garret; but I'm Lgwinc to go my pile on
this yere hoss, aud | wants him to have
good kcer."
These injunctions were given in tone
loud enough for all to hear, and were re.
ceiyed with shoutsa aud screams Of laughter.
Country merely cast cOntcmptuous look
at the spectators, and then duie.ly re.
marked toth=c aa,ost that hc would go alo:s
with his boys and see justice done to his
"hoss."
The main race of the following day was
to be succeeded by n scrub race, in which
any one could join on payment of the Gu
trance fee, and this Country was prompt
to do. TO the great delight Of those who
were bent on amusement as well as specu-
lation. Considering him iit subject for
sport aud ridiculc, quite crowd collected
around him in the evening, and teazcd,
quizzcd and bantered him in all sorts Of
ways.
GLOW much is that animilo of yours
worth Z" inquired one with n very serious,
speculative look.
81 don't knov-I've never set no price
onto him % as seriously replied Country.
"Don't you want to sell him p
"Rayther 'spect | don't"
allow fast can he trot, or run 7" in
quired another.
"Don't know that-but | guess about
as good g anything you've got in these
parts"
Couldn't go mile in minute, could
he 2"
"Don't know bout that !" answered
Country, with look of serious calcula.
ton; "that's purity fast amt it 2"
"Rather."
81 never tried him that quick that fur" !"
pursued the other; "but l spun him over
hundred rods onct, on straight road,
and tell you l thought the sculp was
comm right off the top of my head,
/ did p
"Do you expect to win the race to-
morrow 2" inquired third.
"Wall, yes, that's what 'spect to do
eff | didn't, what did | pay my money
and go in for ?"
"Sure enough y
"Mavba v""'1 . IKE az to bet something an o.,
,,r r. salo one VINO naG t&us far taken nc
part in the conversation.
"Wall, yes, l don't keer, if l kin get
an even thing" replied Country.
"What do you call an even thingT :,
"Why, you see, stranger, my hoss u
have to take his chance agin all the 10th.
er hosses-say thirty of 'em-and ct
bet he'll win, / ought to hev thirty to one
hadn't I now-hey p
eff your horse were an ordinary one
perhaps that might be fair" answered th'
! other, "but beast that can run you
, scalp off in hundred rods, ought to bea
anything and everything in these parts.
sYoure right thar, stranger" laughe'
4 Country; ''you're right thar-and, atwee
: me and you, he's agwinc to do it-bu
YOU see, tho I knows that myself, it woul
look rather green for me to bet even
= wouldn't it-heyW
r "Well, perhaps it would. suppos
| then offer you odds Say two to one
: "For how much y
# "Oh, as much as you like"
!. Reckon it wouldn't pay" replie
o Country, after serious calculation, coun
IS ing up on his fingers. "No, two to OF
It wouldn't do. I'd want as much as f'
id to one"
d aWell, suppose we say five to one thenl
le reioined the other; anything for bet
7e 1--WE got a thousand dollars III put