The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-09-25
SKIMPSEY.

head, and his miserable thin legs in theil
dirty white breaches, all doubled up, sal
SkimpseY. From under plentiful crop Of
bright red hair shone his blue eyes-eye.
that had merry twinkle in them in spits
of the fact that this was big race day and
a stake day at Monmouth park, and as yet
Skimpsey had no hope of a mount.
For Skimpsey was a jockey and made his
living on the race track He had been g
stable boy from the time he was old enough
! to lead horse, and now he was eighteen
and full fedged jockey. Tom Ferrars
was his name once, and Ferrars was the
| name run up on the track when he rode;
but among the jockeys and stable boys and
| the thousand and one loiterers about the
| track, he was Skimpsey. They had called
I him Skimpsey, in their own expressive
| fashion, ever since his father died and Tom
| had taken to saving money. This is very
unusual in boys about the race track, and
when Tom suddenly ceased betting and
treating his friends to cigarettes and other
various designations in which he had pre-
viously INDUCED, they regarded him with
| distrust if not with absolute dislike.
But if his unpopularity ever troubled
Skimpsey, he never allowed himself to
show it. Always cheerful and good
natured among the boys, and willing and
respectful to his superiors, he soon won
for himself reputation as conscientious
and capable lightweight jockey. Conse-
quently, his services were often in demand,
and once or twice week Skimpsey made
his way to the city and laid in the lap of
his mother, who lived in the hum blest of
fats in the poor part of the city, very
TcCD n n 10 If = Ho,
enough to resist the many temptations at
the track, to bear the jokes and taunts of
the other boys, but when at last he would
place the money in his mothers hand he
would feel fully recompensed.
Skimpsey's mother was a seamstress,
and, as her wan face and bent form at
tested, industriously strove to do her part
with Skimpsey in the brave struggle. OF
Skimpsey's father, perhaps the least said
the better. He had been trainer of race
horses, and finally attained an official posi-
ton on the race track. Dying suddenly, it
was discovered that be had robbed the club
of over $780, and it was to make up this
deficiency, to restore honor to his dead
fathers name and to his own, that Skimp-
sey, with his mothers assistance, was
working so industriously. The sum at
first seemed, to these two poor people,
enormous but the earnings of a good
jockey are surprisingly large, and now, the
amount almost completed the money lay
in savings bank on Broadway
And so it was that Skimpsey whistled
cheerily as he sat all by himself on the
board fence. He thought of his mother,
and how glad she would be when the debt
was paid. She need not work any longer,
he thought, for he could earn money
enough to support them both easily. He
would find her a pleasanter home than
that miserable fat, and he would buy her
green velvet coat, like Mrs. Hinton, the
trainers wife, wore Then when he could
save up some money he would buy him
self new suit of clothes, and, JOY of joysl
silver watch chain with a big silver
horse hanging from it, and perhaps some
day big beaver hat like Dan McCarthy's.
With all these bright visions chasing
each other through his brain, it is not sur
prising that Skimpsey did not hear the
saddling bell for the first race. He did not |
even heed the trumpet calling the horses
out, and later the roar of the vast crowd as
the cry went up, They're off They're |
offP' until suddenly be heard d voice say |
ing, Here he is" and Skimpsey jumped |
down from the fence as two men ap-
preached him.
"Ferrars, said Mr.. Hinton, the trainer,
here's Mr.. Melville, as wants you to ride
Maid Marian in the Seaside stakes"
What me?" cried Skimpsey in delight
full surprise, for be had never ridden in
such an important race.
"Yes; what's the matter? Don't YOU
want the mount"
Skimpsey tried to say something, but
failed dismally, and his freckled face
turned redder than ever in his delight
Its $50 to ride, and $50 if you win"
said Hinton; and Skimpsey's mind revert
ed TO the money in the savings bank, now
only short $500 of the So, 900.
Mind, Ferrars" said Mr. Melville, Maid
Marian's owner you're TO ride to win.
Get well off and stay near the front till the |
last turn, and then let her out for all she
is worth"
"Nows the time, Skimpsey," added
Ito make a reputation for your.
self The mares well in it at ninety-eight
pounds and ought 10 win There are no
other lightweights free; that's how you
got the mount"
Skimpsey didn't care how it came about.
He only knew that he was to ride Maid
Marian for the Seaside, to make fifty dol.
airs anyway, and perhaps two hundred
and fifty. His blue eyes fairly danced for
10y at the prospect. How his mother
would bless him if it could only put the
arge sum into her hand
The Seaside was third on the pro-
sramme, aud there was still another
ace to be run off before it. Skimpsev
'trolled over 10 where three or four stable
boys lay on the grass discussing the vari-
)uS topics of interest to themselves.
Here comes SkimpseyP' cried one
Hello, Skimpsey, amt ridin today, I seer
Coin TO" said Skimpsey sententiously.
What in2"
Seaside"
What onf"
Maid Marian"
She's no good; you're not In e."
We'll, wait and see!' answered Skimp-
ey. Hinton says she's TT, and l guess ,
Hinton knowsp'
That's soi' said one of the bows. and ,
he group dispersed TO watch the race
which was going on.
Meanwhile Maid Marian, superb chest ,
tut lilly, wss being led around the sad.
ling paddock. and the second race having :
o@eh decided, SklmpSey, IN Mr.. MelvIIle's {
,olors, with his saddle on his arm. made
us way to the weighing room to be
Weighed in.
As he was leaving the place he felt a
land Iaid upon his arm, and looking up he
eeognlzed Grips. the bookmaksr.
Hello, SkimpseyI' said that worthy
'leasantly Il see you're goin TO ride Maid
darian" c
Yes" l
ITO winy" I
"Yes"