The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1871-11-03
MY FIRST AND LAST BET
BIZ JUDGE CLARK.

History, going back to 1852 seems like
q recurrence 10 antediluvian times
Yet that was the year it happened.
Jack W. was the fastest youth we had
in the Miami valley-I don't mean NOR.
ally, but physically the fastest. He had
made his hundred yards in a race in
9 500 1000 seconds, or thereabouts-the
watches, like those that timed Gold.
smith Maid, weren't exactly agreed on
the fraction.
One evening belated stranger ap-
piled for quarters at the farmhouse OF
Jacks father, q worthy, genial gentle
man, of whom Mr.. Bonner has often
heard as the man who first introduced
to the public the most noted PAGER in
the world.
OF course, the wayfarer was hospit-
ably received. From Mr.. WIS door
none was ever turned empty away ;
and the uniform invitation to ali who
left it was to ''call again, if they CHANGED
to come that way"
1 forget by what name the stranger
introduced himself-Squibbs comes
near enough to il. He hailed from
Kentucky; and the latter circumstance
was itself sufficient to bring host and
guest into active sympathy. The old
gentleman's soul warmed on the sub
JCOb Va DlOOAC0 BCOCAy A1AS O-A tSSSNS
theme what Eentuekian's was ever
cold On it they talked away the hours
till bedtime, the youthful stranger mod
estly acquiescing in the matured opin-
ions of his host, and gracefully suffer-
ing his own to stand corrected in seve-
raj points.
Next morning Jack was taking an
early run over his fathers training
track, just to keep his legs in, when
Squibbs made his appearance.
"You run q pretty good lick" he re-
marked, as Jack came to q halt, and bid
him good morning.
"Ohi that's nothing" said Jack; "I
wasn't half trying"
81 used to do little that way my
SELF" limited the other; "but l guess
you could beat me easily"
Suppose we try; it'll give us an ap-
petite for breakfast" said Jack, chuck
ling at the establishment in store for the
stranger. -
The latter had no objection. A hun
dred yards were stepped of, fair start
was taken, and as Jack had anticipated,
Squibbs was beaten out of sight. In
fa0, Jack felt q little ashamed of beat
ing him SO badly. 1t looked like q
breach of hospitality, and the stranger
seemed to take it to heart SO.
Like most beaten men, Squibbs was
full of excuses. He WASN'T in plight,
was out of wind and practice, ETC., etc. !;
but If Jack had q mind to risk it, he'd
come back that way in q month or six
weeks, and run him a hundred yards
for two hundred and fifty dollars.
Jack saw the stranger was excited,
and not wishing to take advantage of
his fathers guest, he privately limited at
his own previous exploits, never doubt
ing but the information would cure the
other of his folly. On the contrary, it
only seemed to pique Squibbs. He in
sisted that Jack should either accept the
challenge, or 'back square out"
That word settled it. They adjourn
ed to the house, and after breakfast the
were arranged. Old Mr..
W., as Jack had done, tried to reason
with the stranger, but finding him in
left him to take the conse-
quences.
The five hundred dolIars-Jack's faith
er furnished his half-were deposited
in the hands of neighbor, for whose
trustworthiness Squib6s expressed him
self satisfied to take his hosts assur-
ance. A time and place were fixed for
the race, and the rash and headstrong
Squibbs departed.
avn NOnI INV
ran q mile every morning before break
fast, ate raw beefsteak, and wore lead
in the soles of his boots, that his limbs
might feel the lighter when the weight
was removed. 1t was OH the same
principle, suppose, that Demosthenes
sought to give suppleness to his tongue
by declaiming with his mouth full of
gravel. Not that Jack felt the slightest
necessity for these precautions, so far as
Squibbs was concerned. 1t wasn't
Squibbs he felt solicitous of beating,
but his own recorded time" He only
that, instead of an obscure
antagonist, it wasn't Shultz, the renown-
ed professional foot-racer, he was pitted
against. a
A beautiful plain adjacent to the
town of H., then arural village now
q fourishing "city of the second class"
the Miami between Cincin-
natl and Dayton, was the place selected
for the race.
At early dawn on the day appointed,
the rural population began to assemble.
They ali knew jack and liked him, and
to add what ecldt they
could 70 his victory, by coming out in
force to witness it.
But when the ten o'clock train from
Cincinnati came, it brought a crowd
that fairly astonished us. We had no
idea that the people down that way
we had previously looked upon as
purely local. A glance at the new
corners added to our surprise not q lit
tie. Such odd-shaped hats. hashy vests,
and queer cut coats we had never seen
before. Thimble-rig, chuck-a-luck aud
roulette establishments sprang up, as if
by magic, on every hand. There was
one popularity about these games all
the strangers seemed to win at them !;
all our people to lose.
Eleven o'clock was the time fxeo for
the race. Prompt to the minute, jock
made his appearance at the starting
post and his bow to the judges. The
ground had been already staked of, and
a lane opened through the crowd.
Betting had been lively all morning.
The f1ashy strangers backed SQuibbs.
Our folks, who knew Jacks record,
smiled at their simplicity, and not only
took the proffered bets, but offered odds.
They had no idea city people were so
green.
an bet you," said a snub-nosed indl-
vidual with a harelip, one eye, a red
blotch on his face and complicated
stripes on his trowsers, an bet you
fifty dollars" he said, accosting me
without ceremony, "Squibbs wins the
race"
my dear sir" expostulated, you're
carried away by your feelings. Mr..
SQuibbs may be friend of yours but
I'm posted, and happen to knolc he has
no more chance of winning than-you
have added, with downward glance
at the gentleman's highly ornamented,
but rather stumpy and handy legs.
"Bet or funk :" he rctorted. "Guess
you're afraid, after all, to back your
judgment"
had just received fifty dollar re-
tainer that morning and mad no parti-
cular objection to doubling it, seeing
the stranger was bent on il. Besides,
my local patriotism was up.
Enough said,"I answered, and put
up the money.
Jacks appearance was hailed with an
enthusiastic shout. He looked in prime
condition. In his brilliant costume
with his golden locks floating in the
breeze, he seemed the picture Of manly
grace and agility.
Would Squibbs come to the scratch
! We half feared he wouldn't To stay
away was evidently the most sensible
thing he could do.
In the midst of these conjectures tn,
subject of them stepped forward, NJ
one saw from whence, and after shakinI
hands with his competitor, took posi-
ton at his side.
Squibbs, it had to be admitted, was
wirY looking fellow. But, pshaW =
he wasn't to be compated with Jack
and in point of dress looked positivel!
shabby beside him.
First the tYo trotted gently down tn