The Portland daily press., 1895-01-05

Ill bet yer SiU, ali l. We SoI, aluOSt
shrieked the exasperated rustic.
The negro coolly stated that he
wouldn't waste time to run for that
paltry amount. and turned away.
Just at this juncture two strangers
stepped forward and expressed sentiments
in sympathy with those of the rustic.
They were well dressed, but in that
fashy style that proclaims the profess
ional sport. One Of them declared that
he also believed that 10 niger could
beat white man, and that The race was
unfair. He would be glad to see the
gentleman from the country" try con-
illusions with the colored victor, and felt
sure that the former could win.
"Perhaps you've got some money that
says he cam" suggested prominent Bett-
vile citizen, who had won neat little
sum on the darkey.
"PvE GOT $1,000 SAYS SO"
was the startling retort, and from his
own and his companions pockets he
Immediately counted out that amount of
money before the eyes of the astonished
crowd.
Now if there are two things that ap-
peal to the true Western sense Of honor,
they are loyalty to their city and the
"nerven to take a bet. The men of
Bettville were no exception. However,
they were not wholly without caution,
and before responding to the strangers
challenge they made inquiries. as to the
identity of the man against whom they
proposed risking such large sum as
$1,000. 1t was soon learned that several
people had recognized him as Hi Tut
tie, that works fer Sim Hawley, an al
ways was er queer sort of chap. Didn't
q, nose h0 WAS crazy though
Farmer Hawley himself soon dispelled
all doubts by pushing his way forward
and demanding sternly Look here, HI,
are you drunk, or what's the matter
with yer?" But Hiram calmly told him
to .shet up" for he knew what he was
up to-" and would show yer somethln
that'll astonish yer"
In few minutes many OF the chleI
citizens of the city, which is really
hardly more than prosperous town, nao
ised the $1,000 and covered tue stran-
gers money. The preparat1ons Ior tne
race Immediately followed, and Hiram
suddenly appeared in handsome suit OF
tights, which, strange to say. be had
brought with him in paper bundle I'M
der the seat of the wagon. Even when
he appeared thus unaccountably pre-
pared for q race, and displaying form
of unusual muscular development and
symmetrical proportion, the crowd sus-
pected nothing, but when the signal was
given and he shot ahead of his colored
opponent, winning the race, without APP
parent effort, the men who had wagered
their money began to feel decidedly
foolish, when Hiram walked up to the
vanquished negro and exclaimed See
here, you black rascal, do yer know
who I am? Why, Pm (namlnR a name
we'll known as that of one OF the fastest
sprinters in the country they realized
that they
had BEEN DUPED, CLEvERLY
DUPED.
and were, in fact, the victims OF
carefully arranged plot, that had just
come to a successful issue.
And when Hiram forced the BUNDLED
darkey to run with him again, just to
show the superiority of a man who can
fly over 100 yards of earth in one tenth
that mum Der of seconds, the chagrin and
resentment of the Bettvilleites gave
way somewhat to their admiration.
They could acknowledge a defeat and re-
pect victor, and they could also appre-
ciate til clever persistency OF the man
who had concealed his identity for
whole year under that of farm hand,
while all the time he was watching for
the opportunity to strike the blow which
only his established position in the COM
munity could have rendered posslbl
The two accomplices, whom of course
Hiram had notified to he on hand with
the money, soon left the town, but the
latter remained with his share of The
plumber, which he spent literally, and
became quite the hero of the hour.
Scarcely more than week after the
race the news came to Bettville from the
neighboring and rival town that
stranger had appeared in "sprinting"
circles there, who had beaten all the
local amateurs with amazing ease and
claimed to be the champion of the entire
section.
This was good news to the people Of
Bettville, who were not slow to perceive
the opportunity to retrieve theiI fallen
fortunes, an d at the expense of rival
town as well.
A request was Immediately made to
Hiram futile flor by that name he
is known to the reader) that he should
silence the boasts of this upstart
IN THAT BOASTFUL RIVAL TOWN,
and by SO doing allow them to 1eGll the
pockets which ne himself had emptied
Hiram readily agreed to do his best, but
warned them not to depend too much
upon him. However they paid little at
tention to his warning. They had seen
him run and were confident.
Very soon negotiations were entered
upon. date was fixed, and on the ap-
pointed day the "upstart" Splinter and
many of his admirers from the rival
town, arrived in Bettville. The citizens
were of course free to wager their money
upon Hiram, but found few takers"
except one man, who seemed willing to
cover all the money they cared to risk.
By the time that everything was ready
for the race, the stranger had wagered
some $4,000 with the Bettv1illtes, and
their rage and CONSERVATION can be i'm
agined when they saw that Hiram was
apparently unable to equal the hot pace
of his antagonist, who won the race by
last mighty effort, and thereby sounded
the financial
DEATH KNELI.
of the Bettville "plungers."
Whether these unfortunates discovered
that Hiram's opponent and the man that
won their money were the two accom-
Il G...k ~-.-4.. Ill