Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1889-01-01
TON cLask.s poNA1lon.


He psssivsd FAsss YeanS Ladiss 81 2a9
- Pay for L.
Thomas Clark keeps . liquor salocn near
tie Brooklyn City ball he Is . renowned
practical Joker. and takes particular delight
In detailing some Of his side splitting ex-
ploits. " TIL all their dangers and dimcui,ieA
Shortly after be left stone cutting and took
to WHISKY for a living. be was brought into
heap Of trouble by three young Lsies and
one old no; Sc.
AT that time preparations were going On
for . fair for the benedt OF one Of the
Catholic churches, in the outskirts OF Brook
lyu. Tom Is Catholic, a sort Of . wan
a. he says himself. and the proceeds OF this
fair were to be devoted to the purchase Of a
grand organ or . bi; bell, Tom doesnt re-
member which
Somewhere near the top Of very cns
morning in June thres black eyed Celric
beauties entered his store They smiled al
him and asked him bow be was he IN
formed them politely that be was very well
indeed, and thanked them for their kind IN
auirieA Tom wasn't rich then, but be was
hospitable, so he brought the ladies INTO his
reception room, gave them some sweet wine
aud crackers, and apolosixed for the absence
OF ice cream The tallest Of the damsels
drew from some one of the mysterious folds
Of her Emery O weighry document, which she
presented TO Thomas with a most oewltch-
ing smile and q request for his signature {.
O. D. Tom scanned the document, and, 10
bis horror discovered that II was most
formidable paper containing the names OF
subscribers for $40, s25. $50 and $40. all
marked paid For q moment be was almost
Knocked out by the blaze OF the SIX black
eyes and the attraction OF the ali conquering
sruiles But be regained CONSCIOUSNESS.
ladies said he. Il won't give you any
money; bu, III do better, III give you fine
horse You can rattle him. and he'll bring
you In q great deal more than could afford
to give you in cash" So he procured the
necessary writing materials and wrote in the
subscription list: Thomas Clark, one bay
mare"
Tie girls went OF rejoicing Tom grinned.
He had no bay mare, aud be thought be had
hit upon q splendid plan to get out OF bis dif-
fculty.
Time wagged along. and Tom had almost
forgotten all about the ladies and his dona-
ton when one fne day reverend gentleman
entered the store, his face beaming with good
fortune and the happiness that Is born OF .
big collection.
mir. Clark" said be, al won that horse"
"IIoly Mosesr' exclaimed Tom inwardly,
Is the truth dawued upon him
"Id Ike to have him this afternoon added
his reverence.
well, Father" said Tom, hes at grass
now, but I'll send him TO you in a few days
A dark cloud Of suspicion gathered upon
the reverend sentleman's brow, and he left
the store, but not without sternly givin. Tom
orders to make 10 unnecessary delay. Tom
scratched his head. and brilliant idea was
the result He proceeded to the pooshouse
grounds, where at that time there was sort
of asylum for aged and nfirm horses
Nick said he to the official IN charge Of the
animals, whats the price OF that ould horse
over there-the fellow with the long hair
and how much do you think it would take to
get him shayedr
THAT fellow is &c. replied Mick, but you
might as well go u and get good one"
"Weil, whats the price Of that one over
there by the apple treeH
"Oh. that one is a.
"Dear!" said Tom. seriously.
Cheap rejoined tine official. earnestly.
'Give him to me for So and I'll treat, said
Tom
The bargain was made and duly cele-
brated Then Tom hired a man to take the
horse to the residence Of his winner at the
fair and went home once more u happy man.
When the man arrived with the prize at
the residence of the priest. the latter gave
him 81 to take the animal back to Mr Clark
and to tie him to the lamp post in front of
the store. The long and weary pilgrimage
was made and the knot tied at the post agreed
upon
What the divil are you doingF shouted
Tom. Didn't tell you to take that bloody
ould horse to the priestf'
Faith you did, SIR" replied the man, land
he gave the s. to take him here"
Tom scratched bis head again. "rll give
you e. more If you take him to Mr. Hanway
and tell him that he won him at the fair. He
lives ut"-
mo matter where he lives, sir. | wouldn't
take twinty dollars and tow that old horse
another block. My heart is broke with him
already"
Tom scratched his head once more He was
in bad fix now, but at last he hit upon new
plan. He borrowed a fine horse from a neigh
Dor, a friend OF his. and had him driven off to
Coney Island, where he was stabbed. Then be
struggled his own thoroughbred into his
friends stable, and eft him there to enjoy the
Injuries Of high living. The owner came
back the next day, enjoyed the joke, and got
his own horse back What became Of tho
poorhouse horse Tom doesn't know He
never saw him afterward, and he supposes
that he finally went to decorate the shores Of
Coney Island or Staten Island, according to
the turn of the tide and The whims Of the
wind-New York Sun