The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-01-02
"A Good Tip" aud what Came Of I

"A Good Tip aud what Came Of II.
BY REV. JOSEPH sHENToN.
!. VIII Walker was tempted by the
offer of "a good tip" and he fell into
the tempter,s snare. This was how il
happened. On Tuesday, about noon,
he was passing the "Waggon anu
Horses,pp and he saw Il man with u
bo,k In his hand, standing at the
corner of The stableyard. Just at that
moment Tom Needall came up, and
poinling towards the mall with the
book, said
"Es con tell us something worth
knowin'. if ee loiks."
He gave Will q nudge with his
elbow by way of emphasis.
"Wot con ee tell us worth KNOWN"
Will asked.
tIEe Knows the winning horse, an
con tell US if &c loiks."
. Tom slapped Will on the shoulder.
ZEE con put lots O. money in your
pocket " :,
-, Wills eyes slistened with unnatural
excitement. He stuck his hand in his
pucket and began to count over the
coin he had. They >idied up towards
the place where the tookmaker was
standing.
snow. my hearties, Il car. give you
q good tip" He produced a Card with
7 the names of the horses printed on IT,
"If YOU want to make trif1e of money
for yourself, to pay your expenses for q
seaside holiday, or to buy Mary Jane
q new bonnet, put your money on
this horse. Ha, you thought was
guiug to tell you. Out with your
money and YOU shall know the secret.
l can spot the winner"
- .'Wui ee TAX half a-crown? Will
sked in a whisper. ,....
MAX 1t five shillin's Tom sug-
gested.
Will beganto turn over the money
in his rucket, and tried to count II
without exposing il to view. he
Knew he was not worth five shillings
Hence he hesitated, aud seemed i'll
clined to go on his way.
3 q53nI Idunner iuoind goin shares, Will"
: Tom suggested. Can we make five
shillin's Between 80" =
Will hesitated no longer. He took
the money out of his pocket and held
: II in the palm Of his hand, and count
ed it up to three shillings and three
pence. Tom held in bis hand TWO
SsbiIlings. They agreed to put the five
= .tshillings OH the b0ok-maker's favorite
horse, and spend the threepence in a
pint of beer and drink to their own
good luck. ..
"Three-fifths and two-fifths, eight
to one offered and taken," said the
expert betting man. "You put your
money on .Lucirer.' That is a splen-
. did horse. my country cousins |
have never in all my experience of
racing had 50 good tip TO give my
customers. Lucifer is sure to win the
race, wait till Thursday and you will
See" He winked knowingly. "You
will, as the lawyers say, OH Thursday
$liear of something to your adVan-
etage.n ~ -
- F5r two days Will thought Of moth
ing but, the horse Lucifer. IN imagi-
nation he saw the horses running and
always Lucifer to the front. He had,
= however one.ur two fits of despon-
2 dency. Perhaps the book-maker had
deceived him. ii was certain that
everybody could not win. If he won,
then somebody must loose; and if he
lost, some other man would win. His
conscience became troublesome. He
ought not to put his money to risk
and lie would never do so any more
dent that Luciier would win the race.
If ne did wlny then by q sudden stroke
of fortune his three shillings would be
:zI -. Ia l,o ri
liear the cash jingiing in his pocnet.
-, "It will be money taken out Of the
pocket of another man." whispered
conscience.
Will WINGED. He could make nc
answer. In his heart he knew he hat
been guilty of acting fuolishly.
= Outhe Thursday his master sent him
:; into the field with the horses. HI
!. followed them up and down the fur
7: rows all the morning. Then he took
them to bait. aud 10 get his own lunch
On going back 10 the field it was about
the time the race OH which he had
staked his money would be run. He
kept steadily at his work for half-ar
hour, but all the time he was think
ing more of the horse named Lucifel
" than of Dobbin and Jerry that he was
following; up the furrow. By-and-by
he saw Tom Needall running as fas
as he could to bring him the news
Will stopped the. horses and put his
fingers to his mouth and sent out {
shrill whistle to attract Toms atten'
tion, and let him know where le was
Tom sprang OH the ditch bank, anc
made his way over the fence. He wa!
the bearer of what he considered goo(
? news. Lucifer had won the race.
!: Will turned,the horses at the top o
the field as though he intended TO g
on down again. Then he threw thu
reins out of his hands and lett th'
) horses standing, aud went back will
Tom to the public house. He did no
mean to stay, at least not more THAI
five minutes. He was, however, sur
: 4rounded by yOkeIs who considered
him the most fortunate man in tn