The Northern Pacific farmer., 1883-09-20
Moquis, D. T.. July 80, 1883.
TRICKS OF HOUSEKEEPING

TRICKS OF HORSERACING.
My companion was beginning to get
very excited.
Easy" said, Il have not finished.
Just when the conversation between
tile TWO came to the point at which I
stopped, the elder man turned round
and saw me: He started, and then his
companion turned round and stared at
me. The younger man, after studying
1te all over, said. in tone certainly not
meant for my ears, "pshaw! 1t is all
Greek to him. LOOK at his rig. He
doesn't know the difference between q
monkey and a pony" They both laughed
and seeing that they did not regard my
presence fayorably, I moved away.
"You heard all you tell me, and from
these two men?" queried Brown, q
slight tone of incredulity in his voice;
In! then hastily correcting himself, he
added, edo not blame me. You do not
understand the Importance of this.
Why, it is worth FL 900 Of any mans
mouey. Have you any cash about you?"
he added.
ayes" said. II have nearly all that
was saved from the wreck of my busi-
ness-about G13O."
"Under the circumstances" said my
friend, "the los7 of every penny of that
would not make much difference to you
now Will you take my advice?"
"What is il?" l asked.
"Put century on the mare, Queen
Bess, for the steeplechase."
IA what?"
"Oh, excuse me-" he said IL forgot
that you do not well understand these
terms. What intend to do myself, and
what wonld certainly do in your cir
cnnstances, after what you have told
me, is to back Queen Bess to win the
steepIechase. If can invest it, shall
put selOO on her, and hope you will do
the ssame."
"But what about this steeplechase?"
asked. "You speak of it as something
out of common"
80 yes" he exclaimed. est is the
favorite race down here. The horses
are all superior animals, far above the
average, and the prize is valuable. It
is, in fact, the race of the day."
"Well," said, "you know more about
it than do" and, taking el0O from my
purse, continued, if this goes with this
rest it won't grleve me. DO what you
like with it."
"Mind!' said he, ':you may never
see single tarthing OF this again. 1t
may be all swept into another mans
pocket in the fash of an eye. But, at
the same time, during your life, you
will never have such chance ofconvert-
ing ifg;v every s. sovereign of that sum into
Brown looked anxiously around.
"Where is this scapegrace Of son OF
mine?" he asked himself. "If did not
want him he wold be sticking to me like
bird-lime. There he is, by jove. Jack!
JackV
Jack heard him and joined us. He
was fine flashing young fellow, about 20
years OF age.
Jack" said his father, "mum's the
word"
"Yes, sir" said Jack.
"There never was such a chance,
jack" said his father, and he drew the
young man to him and whispered few
:, words.
alt cannot be, sir" said Jack. "They
are putting all the money they have on
Blueskin."
Not word more now. Jack, until all
is over, and then we'll see. Pm going
to put century on the mare. T. have
advised my friend here to back her for
the same money. Now, Jack, here is
my friends money, and you must put it
on quietly alter the next race. Put it
on in ponies-a pony means 925," he
explained to me-"with Cowes and
Malin and Sprat and Pointer; they are
all good for any money. When you
have finished meet us here; but
mind-dead silence! I am putting a
hundred On for myself and a flyer for
you."
Gail right, sir" said Jack, and he left
US.
The horses for the second race came
out; the usual excitement followed; tho
race was run, the winner declared, and
all so far concluded, A hush came over
Y the occupants of the stand and ring.
There was great deal of excitement
but it was all suppressed. Mems faces
were flushed, and there we're groups
talking in whispers all abou;v, and cards
Of the races were constantly referred to
for the purpose of settling some disput.
ed point or to give additional informu.
ton. The betting men, in their out.
landish and ridiculous garments, were
for the most part contemplatively sur
veying the scene. The bell rang, and
the whole crowd started as if it had re-
ceived an electric shock. The numbers
and names were just now run up the
board, and the horses and their jockeys
were publicly proclaimed. "Blueskin
runs away with it," said man in q
group near me. ''Who rides him?"
asked another. "Cluney." was the an
swer. COB, then he should not he lost
sight Of" said sharp-looking little fel-
Wit o,l 3
band and pencil in the other. "But is
Jove, mol" was the reply. "Galgey
C!uney has the leg up on Queen Bess.
That is strange. Cluney is the
best steeplechase rider in the kingdom,
and should be on Blueskin against the
mare" "The thing is over" remarked
another. IF any of you want to win
money go and put it on now. Captain
81 !ck, the stable commissioner, l konw
is piIins on every farthing he can act on
Blueskin." You know?" inquired q
keen-looking individual in the group
"How do you knowT, "Weli, I was
present when he put on pony with
Watts at two to one; and he said that il
was the last farthinx ne could invest fo'
the stable" The keen individual turned
aside. "That is good enough for me. .
he NUT cred. II know Black, and il
Blueskin was to win, he would not be
going round the ring taking buffers into
his confidence. Whatever wins, Blue:
skin won't win." And then after delib.
. Grating seriously, he audibly continued:
II put flyer on the m ire, Queen Bess
Clupey rides her. and am not able to
Ieau large PRINT II she Is not meant to
land heap of coin for the captain and
y his cronies.n saw him go to man in
q, suit of farming red, hand him q. e5
note, and get card in return, and then
he Nit cigar and appeared satisfied.
The horses were ndw being stripped
and \sadded and the jockeys weighed
My brother Harry ca no and asked me
to have a look at the horses. There
were twelve starters, he said, but there
was only ONE horse with chance-Blue-
skin. Blaekleg, his owner, had told
HIM 60. He had q mare, Queen Bess,
in it; but she was merely on trial, to see
what could be made out of her for few
hundred pound plates. And 50 we
/ found ourselves in the paddock. Horses
and grooms pred dominated. There was
NBlueskin, a splendid animal, liver-col.
sred, with.an eye all light, and shining
coat-the admired of the ring. Queen
Bess, "a grand looking steel-gray mare.
q trained to the hour, with the clean.cut
eairs and delicate nestrils which show
5lreeNllirsn had her circle of af1rlirnra "A