The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-03-13
JAKE EMMETT,
140-fb Champion of America.


And beneath this was a Autograph of
two gladiators attitudinizing in a prize
fight.
The whole was surmounted by a large
silver cup. purporting to be the proper
ty of the gallant Jake, and to consti-
tute the championship.
The cup was placed in a sort of niche
roughly cut in the top of the stand and,
to my surprise. appeared to be genuine.
although at that distance 1t was i'm
possible to say for certain. However
that might be. 1t served its purpose.
and arrested the glance or each passer-
by, greatly to the increase of its own
er's business.
Mr.. Jake Emmett wore, depending
from his neck, the regulation brass
mounted satchel in which he deposited
the money handed 10 him. giving in re
turn the customary ticket, while his
clerk recorded the bets. And busy
time the pair had of II, for the British
public swarmed around the champion,
and crowns and half-quids literally
poured into his bag.
At length the rush of bettors subsid-
ed, for the starter had taken the
horses into his charge, and each indi-
yidual in that vast crowd was anxious
ly awaiting the moment when he would
add his item to the roar which annual
ly proclaims the start of the Derby.
Jake! some ones been and sneaked
your cup!
WHAT" howled the bookmaker, has
tily glancing upward.
1t was too true! The handsome cup
had vanished from its niche and. as
for a moment its owner seemed para
lyzed at its loss, the clerk suddenly
added:
by gosh! there he goes with itV'
and. dropping his book. rushed franti-
oaI lx af a Nvhn inst niQa n
pearing round a neighboring shooting
gallery.
1T wouldn't lose my champion cup. |
not for a 'underd pound!" cried Jake. |
excitedly. adding: Ere. just hold !
my bag a moment, Will you. mister, |
and before / had time TO expostulate. J
the satchel, heavy with coin of the (
realm. was thrust into my hands; and |
with a parting. There's the money. |
just to show I'm coming back. boysl" J
the bookmaker had followed his clerk, |
and l was left. holding the bag, and |
feeling-well. rather foolish, just as |
tremendous shout from the multitude
announced that the race had begun.
lis the coin in the bag all right.
gov nor?" inquired an exceedingly 1
dirty individual. who now appeared TO
have some doubts as to the bona fide
character of the business.
Yes" said /, shaking IL. Cant YOU
hear it?' hts fastened with a kind OF
snaplock. But. halo! what's this?" /
added. as ] noticed a peculiar kind of
flap at the back of the bag.
"Snaplock be stuffed" said the dirty
man. unceremoniously snatching the
bag and wrenching II open. "Caini"
he yelled. fiinging IL down and stamp
ing upon IL. Buttons and lead
that's what's in II! and we've been |
robbed Welcheri" he added, at the top
of his voice as the crowd pressed in.
fear that very few of those In the
immediate neighborhood saw much of
that years Derby. / know that / did
not; for while a few sanguine spirits
departed in search of Mr.. Jake EN-
NETT and his clerk, whom they never
caught. the others amused themselves
by demolishing the welcher's stand.
during which occupation the mystery
of the vanished cup was explained.
The lower part of the niche i'm which
IL had rested was hollow. while the cup
itself had stood upon an artfully con-
trived trap door. which could be work.
ed by a string behind the stand
Taking advantage OF a moment when
everyone's head was turned the other
way, the clerk had quietly stretched
his arm round, and. pulling the string.
the cup had OF course vanished. He
had then given the alarm.
The rage of the crowd when Il dis
covered the swindle was awful The
cup-s property" arrangement OF
pasteboard silvered over-was torn out
Of its hiding place and smashed 10
atoms. as was the stand. and I fear
that one or two OF the mob would have /
their vengeance upon me. as
being somehow connected with the Z
trick. had I not becloned TO a couple
OF constables who had by this time ar
rived on the scene, to whom. of course,
] was well known. / then examined
the satchel. which I had managed to