The Big Stone Gap post. [volume] (Big Stone Gap, Wise County, Va.) 1892-1928, 1895-01-24
a faEheH .JoMAM.
.sevs,1ttias III pat Ms MONEY Ca Wits
! : - es,,rs ttst Fail Dead. ~ ~


h Sufe to- Fall Dead: - -
| Isis no wonder that MEN ,sho Sol
low the rsiccs- belisyc. in ,'llc;eAioca'
and '.ionahs. . There are people who,
when about to make q bet win turn
awgayy from 8 bookrnaker's stand when
thew see s'hoodoo' in front OF 10 In
tending tobet on certain horse they
change their plans instantly. and
would NOT touch That horse with a ten
foot pole when they learn that Q
.tioan.ahr has made bet on him. They
condemn their luck when they meet
the "hoodoo," and they shiver when
they see him making q bet for fear IL
should be on their horse.
Now the writer does not believe IN
'.hoodoos," but ne does know man
who has an astonishing faculty for al
ways 'sbeing on the wrong thing He
is well known to the public as
an opera singer. Born where the
sun shines with warmth, his heart
Flows With enthusiasm. His friends
like him for his excess OF citation when
he is cheerful. and for his deep, mourn
,fnl. enshrouding despair when he IS
gloomy. They like him because he is
SO warmly attached to his friends, and
so satanically opposed to his enemies.
They admire his enthusiasm, they are
proud of his loyalty, they delight In
his singing, and they applaud his fnith
in the impossible. hut they weep
when he tries to pick winner.
A man who does not often 20 to che
racetrack meets him early in the sea-
son. He stands against o supporting
post OF the grandstand. A melancholy
light plays on his dark face, and deep
FIRE burns in his eye. There is q sad,
reminiscent expression around his
plant mouth.
How are you, signor; what luck7"
says his friend.
''I sue them" he answers, briefly.
"Sue them? Sue whom?'
at ees robbairee," he answers, east
ing his dark glance lonRinRly In tho
direction Of Sing Sing.
"What is?"
"Yes," he said, with a deep sigh, II
bet on Faithless. After get my ticket
they scr-r-r-atch him! Yes, get not
even any money for my run. All, ha!
sue them" t
Making another trip TO the track, the
friend finds the signor pacing the walk
after the first race. His eye is cleaning
savagcly. Now and then be, catches
his breath quickly. His dark face is
almost pale.
"Ah, ha" he cries. dramatically,
catching sight Of his friend, "havs you
seen him?''
"Seen him?"
Eyes, my horse. He ees sure weener,
and he has been leave at the post! That
star-r-r-ter! All, ha! He can not star-r-rt
hcrse-cars!"
Yet another time, and the signor's
face has changed. A bright light
flashes from his eye, his mouth is
wreathed with smiles, end his white
teeth show brilliantly as his lips part
in ecstasy.
"Ah, signor, you have won bet?'
ayes, / have ween. He ees sure
thing. I know it we'll! Ihave q ticket
in the mutu-el."
Two minutes. later black cloud OBJ
scures his brow. His eyes have stsely
glitter. .s
"Ah, hal Have you seen it7" he cries.
Seen what?"
THAT mutu-el ticket, he says, grind
ing his teeth. "Hc pay mo thirty.ave
cents! All the world buy HIM"
Yet another day and another track
find the undaunted signor.. fait hful TO
his passion, at the track.
"Ah, ha!" he cries, with a burning
glance, have you seen it?"
Il just got here, signor Haven't
seen anything"
''Atropine! Have you seen him7 He
hurt his leg in the race, and have bet
Oh him"
Still another time the signor and his
friend meet. This time it is not at the
racetrack, but in broadway. He is
striding along with an impatient step.
His. arm swings rapidly, his lips are
closed tightly, the fire in his eye is
deep red. ...-,......
IS "Ah, ha!" he cries, espying his friend,
and clutching his arm in fierce grip,
"have you seen it?"
Haven't seen thing to-day, signor.
Too busy. to see anything. What is it?"
s ~ have the teeth-ache," he says
grimly. II can not 60 to the track.
And, here-have you seen it?. All, ha!
Thees banknote when at feefty to one,
feefty to one!"
well, know. signor, but
"Ah, ha! but eef have gone have
ten dollars on him. He was 'dade sure,
dade sure! My teeth ache have cost
me FIVE numbered dollarv'
Poor signor," as his friends have
said, 1--WE love him for the bets he has
lost"
But with undaunted courage, I'M
wavering faith and hope that shines
eternal he goes and goes and--!-N.
Y. Tribune.
A Desperate Case.
A traveller In the backwoods had lost