Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1897-09-23
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REcKLEssNEss OF THE BIG HEARTED
s' BASEBALL PLAYER.

REckLEssNEss OF THE BIG HEARTED
BASEBALL PLAYER.
His Little System That Won q Nice Sum
at GuttsnberE-A Case Of "Cofne Easy,
Go Easy.-what He Did With the Inst
rs of That Particular Pot.
The late Mike Kelly probably made
and spent more money during his career
as ball player than anybody else in
his profession. Kelly was an inveterate
gambler, and, like John L. Sullivan,
he had heart which constantly led
him to do acts of charity. Kelly was
In his element when at the race track.
He got hold Of more "good things" that
went wrong than the average bettor,
but he was always cheerful whether a
winner or loser. One day Mike went
over to Gutenberg, when the hilltop
track was fourishing, and after two
races had been run he had just $50 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. ~ 70
Meadows. ........................ ~ to !
Hoey ..........-...'..s......'. W
"I've got system. me boy" said
the king" to friend, "and it's a 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 run"
aThat's no system. Mike. " said Kel's
friend.
"It's as good as the average, sport, :"
was the quick retort, and Mike pushed
his way up to Thompson's book.
"say, there, Ike. old boy" yelled
Mike. "Here's four green flvers 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 B,
Bitten to 8, Hoey 4 to respective
ly.
.sThat's quite chance you're taking,
Mike" said Thompson, with~a laugh.
cit is, if one O. them long guys comes
walkin in with the yellow boys In his
stockin, - replied the ball player.
Then the bell rang telling the crowd
that the horses were at the post.
They're OFF, yelled Kelly. as Start
or Caldwell dropped his flag. whats
/ that guy away out in front, running as
if he saw square meal somewhere"
cts Play or Payi" 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 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, Ikep' he
| roared, while the crowd gathered
around breathlessly.
| There's your money said Thomp-
son pleasantly, as he took big roll Of
bills from the cashier Kelly didn stop
to count it, but made rush for the bar
room, crying out:
''If there's dust in any guy g throat
| around here, let him come in with me
and wash it out Everybody have a
drinkp' The bar looked 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:
Show much, sport?''
| Fifteen dollars, Kell''
There's twenty. Have bot your
selfr
"Say, MIR. Kelly" whispered tout,
| "could you stake me to few bucks?
I've gotta cineh.'
| There's ten Of them, me boy. Go
and break up the betting ring" was
Kelly response as he forked cut $40
bill. Other impecunious persons sue
cessfully touched him for various
amounts until Mike decided to plunge
again. Going up to bookmaker who
had 100 to l against the horse Duke
John. Mike cried out, ''I'n put hun
dred Oh that one!" and quickly produced
century, for which he received tick
ct calling for $40. 900 to 500.
If Duke John wins" said Mike,
"I'll buy the track" Duke John was
last in a field of 10, but Kelly only
laughed. And SO he continued to specu-
| late until the races were over. Then he
had SO bill and some change. He
| paid the car and ferry fares of at least
so unfortunates, loaned so cents here
and quarter there, and by the time he
left the boat at the foot of Forty second
street he had a few pennies over S.. AS
Kelly crossed Tenth avenue he caught
sight Of @ little girl about years old
who was crying az if her heart would
break. He picked her up in his arms
and said gently:
What's the matter, little one?"
Mammals sick in bed and I'm hun
cry" sobbed the little girl Kel gulped
down lump in his threat, put the
child on the sidewalk, pressed So 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 his
friend then. We're broke, but let's
hunt up some more green goods. :" He
| soon borrowed $50 from his namesake,
Honest John Kelly. That was OF 2
o'clock in the evening. At II o'clock
that Same night he had won 81, 600 at
faro. The next day he caught the noon
boat for Gutenberg, and he had but
$50. When Mike died. he didn't leave a
dollar. New York Sun
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