Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1897-08-19

called at my office to sound mo as
10 my position ! assured him, with
all the self assurance l could mus
ter, that the aspect OF affairs caused
me 40 unUasincss.
But the woarinCss of the day-the
fCvcrish excitement that took pos
session of me ss.the hours rolled
ont
With my eyes fastened on the
clock l watched the hands slowly
creep to the hour fixed for the race.
And when the gong sounded the
first stroke of 3 started in my
chair rs if l had heard "a thunder
clap.
Now they are off and my fortunes
hang upon u horse and jockey. In
my imagination | could hear the
thud of many hoofs as they spurnod
tn" ground III that wild scramble
toward the winning post.
Then half an hour lator heard
tn" ncwsboys racing down the
street shouting with their brazen
lungs: especial! Winner of the In
ternatiunal' And Il nuuseating sick
ness cropt over mc--my head spun
round and round ~ l staggered out
and purchased paper.
With trembling hands l laid it on
my desk, and for some minutes
sat thCr" not daring TO open it.
Then, composing myself with II great
effort, opened the sheet and Let my
eyes rest upon the fatal column
GrCut heavens! Could | bolicve
my scnscst There staring me i'll the
! face was:
o!phaht. ....,..-..
SunEbird. .............. ... 8
The paper dropped from my
nervclcss hands and l fell back in
my chair with Il gasp.
My position was saved as if by u
miracle
At s o'clock l went to tho Norfolk
hotel To meet Dick Hampton, and
found him with II face as long as
the provcrbial fiddle.
"Jack, you lucky dog-but it's
always tn" wny--a mGa spends the
best part of his days studying horses,
and thinks he's found good thing,
| when up comes Il greenhorn that
can tell horse from haysccd,
spots IN outsider and wins for
! tune.
well, look here, Dick, you
needn't grudgc it to mo. If Black
friar had lost, / would have been u
bankrupt tomorrow. When can l
get the money!
Good heavens, man, YOU don (
mean to say that all your luck was
on that horsel Well, some people
ride forlorn hope and got home,
while others get thrown over the
rails. As to the money, l can give
YOU my check tonight and settle
with the huukmaker tomorrow"
And as soon as the bank opened
i'll the morning paid e3, 400 into
my account, and forwarded check
to my broker to cover my week s
| losses.
From that day the market rose
stcudlly, and fortnight later !
cleared out with snug little go
600.
Some six months after was leav-
ing my office to 20 home to my lit
tie house a. Richmond, where my
Gear wife was awaiting me, The
evening was raw and chill with a
driving ruin. Passing beneath the
light of y street lamp, II man &C,
COstru me and legged for aims.
1t wnS the man who had sold me
the post dated paper.
Full uf curiosity, l took him into
q public house near at hand, and,
having ordcocd some rcfreshmont,
turned To him.
"Do you rCIucmhcr." l asked,
"sclling me, six months ago, n post
dated paper giving the winner of
the International {"
Perhaps l did" he answered.
"l'V" sold lots of them.
"ENplain.
'Well, You see, sir, il is this way
| Intft area lot or 1OOlS III TINS world
and there il no fool like II sport.
ing fool. ~ man can be persuaded
t0 back anything in race. l had
Il friend who had printing press
and | hit upon the idea of printing
Il paper to resemble The Evening
Moon, dating it day III advance
ana filling Ill the sporting column
with II few outside horses at long
prices. Then l haunted the hotels
and drinking bars until I spotted
my man, got into conversation with
him, put on Il mysterious air and
generally finished up with dispos
ing of copy for half II sovereign. y
But how did You come to place
Blackfriar as the winner of the In.
ternatiOnalt'
pure luck. sir, pure luck.
knew no moro about tho horse than
Il babe unborn.
Giving the man Il sovereign l de.
parted, rejecting upon the strange
fortunes that bcfall n man in this
life and blessing tho lucky chance
that led me to purchase a pos,
dated paper. London Tit-Bits.