The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-07-26

i've got a system, me boy" said the
King to a friend. "and it's a peach.
I'm going to put a FLYER on each O.
them plugs and then I can't lose, see?
/ got to get some dough back, no mat
ter how they. rum"
That's no system, Nike" said Kel's
friend.
'It's as good as the average, sport"
was the quick retort, and Mike pushed
his way up to Thompsons book.
Say, there, Ike, old boy!" yelled
Mike, here's four green flyers! Put
one on each of them ponies, keep the
change, and gimme the tickets quick"
ALL KINDS OF CHANEs.
The bookmaker laughed as he handed
Kel four tickets, each calling for: Play
or Pay, 300 to 5; Meadows, 100 to 5;
Bitten, 6 to 5; Hoey, 4 to 5, respec-
lively.
That's quite a chance you're TAX
ing, Mike!" said Thompson, with
laugh.
1T 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 We're at the post.
They're Off" yelled Kelly, as Starter
Caldwell dropped his flag. What's that
guy away out in front, running as If
he saw a square meal somewhere?"
IT'S PLAY or Pay!' screamed hun
dreds. And so it proved to be. The
horse had been the recipient of one of
those celebrated Guttenburg injections
and he won in romp.
Kelly never ran bases faster than he
~ ~
dishng his ticket calling for $3O5.
Give us the green goods, Ike!" 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't
stop to count it, but made a rush for
the barroom, 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" The bar looked like a 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, Kel!''
self"
Say, Mr., Kelly" whispered a tout,
could you stake me to a few bucks 4?
| I've got a cinch!"
There's ten of them, me boy! Go
and break up the betting ring!" was
Kellys response, as he forked out a
ten-dollar bill Other impecunious per-
sons successfully touched" him for
various amounts, until Mike decided to
| Plunge again. Going up to a bookmak-
er who had 100 to 1 against the horse
Duke John, Mike cried out:
STOOD TO WIN $4,000.
I'll put hundred on that one!" and
quickly produced q century, for which
he received a ticket calling for 10000
to $780,
IF Duke John wins" said Mike, 'I'll
buy the track" Duke John was last in
a field Of twelve, but Kelly only laugh
ed. And so he continued to speculate
until the races were over Then he
had a $40 bill and some change. He
paid the car and ferry fares of at least
fifty unfortunates, loaned 50 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 So. AS Kelly crossed Tenth ave-
nue., he caught sight of a little gr
about years old who was crying as il
her heart would break. He picked heI
up in his arms and said gently:
Whats the latter, little one?"
Mammals ST in bed and I'm hun.
Gry!" sobbed the little girl. Ke
gulped down lump in his throat, put
the child on the sidewalk, pressed $;
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 hi:
friend then. We're broke, but let.
hunt up some more green goods" HI
soon borrowed $50 from his namesake
Honest John" Kelly. That was at
o'clock in the evening. At II o'clocl
that same night he had won $1,000 a
faro. The next day he caught the moor
boat for Guttenburg, and he had bu
$50. When Mike died he didn't leave
dollar.