The Washington times., 1894-12-09
cade. She vas altogetber very pronounced

cade. She was altogether very pronounced
and very conscious of her lnery.
Mayme's attention was engaged just then
by humpbacked young man who came up
from the ring TO give her tip on the first
race. He was only one OF a half dozen Young
men who came up during the afternoon.
Dye see that girl over there?" he asked,
pointing to a rather hard-faced young woman
on nay left who had a touch of rouge on her
cheeks. That's the champion lady oars
man of the world
Mayme and her companion, whose name
l discovered to be Jen, were not at all favor
ably impressed with the female athlete They
even limited that she won her last race be-
cause her opponent tainted.
80, I'll have fit if don't get a lead PEN
ciln' exclaimed Mayme, as man wrote the
names of scratched horses on a blackboard in
front of the judges stand.
l offered her mine, which she accepted
gratefully. Her mother appeared just then
and moved along to make room for the old
lady. She was not lovely old lady. She
wore a small walking hat and a black vel
veteen Jacket trimmed with astrakhan. She
carried a small black bag and her gloves
needed mending badly.
The names of the jockeys and the numbers
carried by the horses were run up on what
looked like gallows just inside the ring and
my neighbors studied them attentiyely.
"Bobolink ought to come very near win
ming, said Mayme. sagely. Hes got a good
mount. But don't think I'll touch the race
The odds are to 5 on Bobolink, and that's
not enough to win."
Bobolink was n favorite, and a coarse
looking woman just behind me gave mes
senger IS to place on him. The messengers,
who are set aside for the use of the grand
stand. wear blue uniforms with little gold
lace Most of the bets, however, did not go
to the ring in the hands of messengers. Every
woman seemed to have a man friend or two
who came up now and then to give her the
latest information as TO the odds In the bet
ting ring below. Ny head fairly whirled with
the talk on every side.
81 like Bobolink TO win," said young
man whom Maymacalled Fenimore, ''and Ye-
nusberg for place."
I'm not going to touch the race" said
Mayme, but just then a man in the crowd
under the window called out to her with one
finger raised: Even money on Venusberg for
placer and Fenimore went off with dollar
to place on Venusberg.
The old lady had played a dollar on Venus
berg and one on Verse, whom she backed
to come in third, with a jumble of race track
slang that was worse than Greek to me.
Can you see who is Verses mount?" she
asked me-
Mount" repeated vaguely.
"Yes, it's over there. Who's going to ride
him?'
read the Jockeys name, and the old lady
shut her lips close together and nodded.
"Is this your first racer" she asked.
Eyes, | answered, hoping that / should
not be struck dead for the falsehood. "pye
been to trotting races before, but I've never
seen anyone bet, and l wish you'd tell me
how you do 1t. ="
''Oh, you mustn't get infatuated with it. y
she answered with mothefly air. ITS a
| great rlsk-a great risk. Why, here I've bet
money on Venusberg, but" plaintively-'I
don't know whether I'm in it."
ut must be fascinating. said, while all
the women near looked curiously at the
woman who had never seen betting, till 1 be-
gan to feel uncomfortable
''Yes. it is. I've been coming here for six
months. play very careful and come out
about even. o, Madam" she called, catch.
ing sight of masculine looking woman back
OF US whom l recognized as a fashionable
: dressmaker, who bears a name distinguished
In American history, what are you play
ing?"
''Bobolink to win, Yenusberg for place, E"
responded Madam.
'See, they're going to start now" said nv
new friend. I'm glad 1 played Venusberg.
Madam comes here nearly every day, and
she plays as careful as do. She loves it,
Somebody cried, They're otf!' and the
woman behind me- who had $5 on Bobolink.
leaned so far forward she seriously endan-
gered the plumes on my hat. which are the
apple OF my eye. Everybody stood up.
Look at yenusberg! Look at Venusbergr'
screamed Mayme. "She'll win! Come in!
Come inli'
1t was only dash of four and one-half fur
longs, and Bobolink won, with Venusberg