Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1897-09-18

races nao Deen run ne had Just $2O and
enough change with which to get back
to the city. As Kel walked into the
betting ring preparatory to the third
race be saw on Bookmaker Ike Thomp-
sons slate:
Play or Pay. 90 to
1ieSooWs. ..........................0 to
1ItAeh ...''....................... 6to
doey ......................-... Ito
i've got q system, me boy" said
the king" to friend, land it's peach.
I'm going to put FLYER on each o. them
plugs, and then can't lose, see? got
to get some dough back, no matter how
they rum"
"That's no system. Mike. said Kel's
friend.
Its as good as the average, SPORT"
was the quick retort, and Mike pushed
his way up to Ttompson's book.
"Say, there, Ike. old boyr' yelled
Mike. Here's four green flyers. Put
one on each Of them ponies. keep the
change, and gimme the tickets quick.
The bookmaker laughed as he handed
Kel four tickets, each calling for Play
or Pay 800 to 8, Meadows $50 to 8,
Bitten 6 to 8. Hoey to respective
ly.
''That's quite chance you're taking,
Nike" said Thompson, with laugh.
1T is, if one o. them long guys comes
walkin in with the yellow boys in his
stockiD, " replied the ball player.
Then tho bell rang telling the crowd
that the horses were ut the post.
They're OFF, yelled Kelly. as Start
er Caldwell dropped his flag. whats
that guy away out in front, running as
if he saw q square meal somcwhere?"
Its Play or Pay!" screamed hun
| dreds And SO it proved to be. The
horse had been the recipient of one Of
those celebrated Gutenberg injections,
| and he won in q romp.
Kelly never ran bases faster than he
| ran up TO Ike Thompson's book, brand
ishing his ticket calling for 1906.
Give US the green goods, Ikev" he
roared, while the crowd gathered
around breathlcssly.
there's your money" said Thomp-
| son pleasantly, as he took big roll Of
bills from the cashier. Kelly didn't stop
to count it, but made q rush for the bar
room, crying out:
IF there's dust in any guys throat
around here, let him come in with me
and wash it out. Everybody have a
drink" Tho bar locked like bargain
counter as the sports lined up. They
called for everything from wine to
cigarettes, and when all had had enough
Kel said to the drink mixer:
| How much, sport?"
Fifteen dollars, Kelv'
"There's twenty. Have q bet your
selfr'
"Say, Mr.. Kelly" whispered a tout,
"could you stake me to a few bucks?
I've got a cinch."
"There's ten of them, me boy. Go
and break up the betting ring" was
KelIy's response as he forked out $40
bill. Other impecunious persons sue
cessfully touched" him for various
amounts until Mike decided to plunge
again. Going up to q bookmaker who
had 100 to l against the horse Duke
John, Mike cried out, "I'll put q hun
dred Oh that one!' and quickly produced
q century, for which he received tick
ct calling for $40, eco TO $780,
IF Duke John wins" said Mike,
"I'll buy the track" Duke John was
last in a field Of 12, but Kelly only
laughed. And SO he continued to specu-
late until the races were over. Then he
had $40 bill and some change. He
paid the car md ferry fares of at least
80 unfortunates, loaned 80 cents here
and quarter there, and by tine time he
left the boat at the foot of Forty second
street he had few pennies over S.. As
Kelly crossed Tenth avenue he caught
sight of q little girl about 3 years old
who was crying as if her heart would
break. He picked her up in his arms
and said gently:
whats the matter, little one?"
Mammals sick in bed and I'm hun.
gry," sobbed the little girl Kel gulred
down a lump i'll his throat. put the
child on the sidewalk, pressed IS into
her hand and said soothingly:
"There, give that TO your mother, Lit.
tie one, and may God bless you.
"Come on, SPORT" Kel said to hii
friend then. Were broke, but lett
hunt mp some more green goods" He
soon borrowed $50 from his naInesal,e,
Honest John Kelly. That was at
O'Clock in the evening. At IL O'Clock
that same night he had won 81, ocs Al
faro. The next day he caught the moor
boat for Gutenberg, and he had hui
$50 When Mike died, he didn't leave {
dollar.-New York Sun.