The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-06-23


meant to act straight by his girl; so what
more was there for him to say?
Well, by the spring of 1872 our engage
ment had continued for some months, and
was daily getting more deeply involved by
reason of my pursuit of luck. l betted on
every event, hoping to pull myself up that
way, but only with the result of throwing
away the best part of what | earned.
Things were in this state shortly before the
Derby l was going on in a bad way. l
knew that something must be done before
long | knew that | must carve out a new
path for myself somehow; that | must con-
trive some fresh PLAN or go without Lucy,
and go to universal smash. Yet what to 90
did not know. L waited in a hopelessly
hopeful condition, for something to turn up
put trouble and worry away from me, and
would have none OF it.
Do you know that curious dreamy condi-
ton you get into sometimes when you re-
fuse to allow yourself to think of the future?
You live in kind of unreal reality, to use a
paradoxical expression. The present you
make to occuy your thoughts entirely. You
wait for the unexpected.
Well, that was my case then; I was as gay
as ever. l made merry with my friends as
usual, and talked with my Lucy-God for
give MEAS if | were coming into ten thou
sand year the next week. Meanwhile,
threw off daub after daub, until even my ac-
commodating uncle looked suspicious and
hestating, and nearly all the resulting cash
was put on horses y rose names had been
nysteriously confids1 - me as those of GER
tain winners.
l Was not very heavily cooked for the
Derby as IL Zap )ened, not having much
available cash, ana having intended to put
something on" on tie day before the race
An uncomfortable assurance was with me of
impending trouble, / felt that the crisis of
my fortunes was close at hand
Al.. L.
CURED an unexpected something turned up
1t came in the person of my friend Mr.
James O'Hooligan.
Jimmy OHooligan was a boisterous Irish
man, very we'll known in the Bohemia of
London at that time He was middle-aged
man of somewhat handsome appearance, and
carrying himself with a military air. He
possessed glib tongue, an amazing fund of
anecdote, had musical voice and ear, and
all the social ADVANTAGES of one who has
kissed the stone of Barney Need | add
that Jimmy was extremely popular with
both the ladies and gentlemen of his ac-
quaintance?
He got his living in one Of those mys-
terious ways common to Bohemia Some
times he sat as a model in the studios of such
artists as could afford the luxury. In this
way he may have earned good deal at times
for models are very often very well paid
and he has figured In many a character on
the walls OF burlington House.
Jimmy seemed to be known by every
body. He hung about newspaper offices
particularly those of a sporting character.
He was admitted behind the scenes of
theaters. He was on the free list at every
music hall. He knew every prominent
member Of 1.-THE fancy" and the P. R., and
all over London he was hailed as a cherished
friend by publicans and bar-maids.
These characteristics threw a romantic
halo over Jimmy, to my young and some
what verdant mind. Moreover he was the
life and soul of every party he got among
though a rather vulgar coarse and disreputa-
BILE soul. it must be admitted. But he was
a frequent visitor to the studios of Camden
Town, and was quite one Of our free and easy
fraternity
1t was the Monday morning before the
Derby, that race, as every one knows. being
run upon Wednesday. | was sitting in
my studio at work knocking off one of those
thin experiments in color which took but a
day to complete, and upon which uncle
would advance me fifteen shillings or a
pound, half of that being profit or earnings
to me, the balance covering cost of canvas,
c0lors and frame. In the midst of my work
there entered to me the o. Hooligan.
Evidently there was something in the
wind. Jmmy's entrance was dramatically
impressive Cautiously protecting his head
and shoulders through the half-open door
way, he asked:
Are We aloneP'
/ was. and said so. Then he slid slowly into
the room, like snake. holding the door as
closely as was compatible with the passage OF
his body. Once inside he quickly closed the
door and locked it; then he turned and faced
me, standing still with his back against the
door, and summoning into his face look of
intense excitement. He seemed to be labor
ing under the pressure OF some tremendous
secret, which was struggling to force its way
out of him.
Suddenly he crossed the room toward rue
with long, slow strides, and on tiptoe, hold
ing up q warning finger the while, and liter
ally cleaning on me with fixed, meaning
eyes. Laying his hands on my shoulders, he
whispered, hoarsely:
"Our fortunes madei'
Then he stood back and eyed me-
''Oh, indeed, 4" said l. for l knew Jimmy.
Another strait tip, suppose"
Another" he shrieked. The straight
tip, me bhoy The straightest that liver
there! eighties to wanl a hundred to wan!
and sartin as the fate az sinnersl"
| struggled desperately against the conta-
gion of Jimmy's manner, for l knew by ex-
perience what it all meant. l said:
Look here old man, I've had about
enough of your tips, They never come of,
you know
"Ah now, see herel Ye've been playin at
and they didn't come off. That's partly the
reason why I'm givin We this, TO make up
for thin others. I'm in airnest, this timer'
He was, apparently. His eyes were dane
ing and glittering in his head, his hands
demonstrating, and his whole person indica-
tive of eagerness. He could hardly speak
SO strong was his agitation. / began to feel
the excitement extending to myself, and
knew that l was destined to give way to it.
''See now" he continued, ''Pve surprised
wan av the deadest saycrets av the turf, wan
ay the biggest things that's liver been. | tell
We we could make our fortunes if we'd ownly
enough to put on. It's a plant that's Just
goin' to make this Derby the most astoundin
wan liver rum"
'Ho! 1t don't matter how ! got it.
can't tell even you that. Bnt L sid to me-
self, we've got to keep this thing dark
There's Just wan chum we're goin to take in