The Roanoke times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1897-1977, 1897-10-15


races had been run no had just $50 and
enough change with which to get back
10 the city. As Kel walked into the
betting ring preparatory to the third
race he saw OH Bookmakor Ike Thomp-
sons slate:
Play or Pay. 60 to /
. Piit.n'' ...................... 10 to
6iltzcn Observation-Disclosures. 0to
I've got system, me boy" said
the king" to friend, 'and it, peach
I'm going to put flyer on each O. them
Plugs, and then can't lose, see? got
TO get some dough back, 10 matter how
they run.
That's no system. Mike, " said Kel's
friend.
Its as good us the average SPORT"
was the quick retort, and Mike pushed
his way up to Thompson's book.
Say, there, Ike. old boyl' yelled
Mike. Here's four green flyers. Put
one Oh each of them ponies, keep the
change, and gimme the tickets quick. -
Tho hooknaker laughed as lie handed
Ael four tickets, each calling for PLAY
or Pay 300 to 5, Meadows 100 to g.
Bitten to 8, Hoey to respective
ly.
That's quito chance you re taking,
Mike, said Thompson, with laugh.
lt is, If one O. them long guys comes
walkin i'll with tho yellow boys in his
stockin, replied the ball player.
Then the bell rang telling tho crowd
that the horses were mt the post
They're Off" yelled Kelly, as Start
er Caldwell dropped his flag whats
that guy away out in 'front.' running as
ii he saw square meal somewherc?''
It's Play or Pay" screamed hum
dreds And so it proved to be. The
horse had been the recipient of one of
those celebrated Gutenberg injections,
and no won in romp.
Kelly never ran bases faster than no
ran up to Ike Thompson book, brand
fishing his ticket calling for S3O5
Give us the green goods, Ikel'' he
reared, while the crowd gathered
around breathlessly.
There's your money" said Thomp-
son pleasantly, as no took big roll of
bills from the cashier Kelly didn'ts stop
to count it, but made rush for the bar
room, crying out:
If there's dust in any guys throat
around here, let him como in with me
and wash it ont Everybody havo n
drink" The bar looked like a bargain
counter as tho 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, Kell"
There's twenty. Havo q bot your
solf''
"Say, Mr.. Kelly" whispered tout,
could you stake mo to IL few bucks?
I've got cinch"
There's ten Of them, me boy. Go
and break up the betting ring" was
kelly's response as he fQrked out "a $40
bill. Other impecunious persons sue
cessfully touched" him for various
amounts until Mike decided to plunge
again. Going up to bookmakcr who
had 100 to l against the horse Duke
John, Mike cried out, 'I'll put a hun
dred OH that one" and quickly produced
century, for which he received tick
ct calling for $40. geo to 500.
"If Duke John wins" said Mike,
iii buy the track Duke John was
last i'll q field of 10, hut 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 and ferry fares of at least
so unfortunatcs, loaned so cents here
and quarter there. and by the time he
left the boat at the foot of Forty second
street no had few pennies over So AS
Kelly crossed Tenth avenue he caught
sight of little girl about years old
who was crying as 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 ill his throat, put the
child OH tho sidewalk. pressed SO into
her hand and said soothingly:
''There, give that to your mother, lit
tie one, and may God bless you.
Como 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 ut
O'Clock in tho evening. At II O'Clock
that same night he had won 81, 900 at
faro. The next day he caught the noon
boat for Gutenberg. and he had but
$50. When Mike died, he didn't leave
dollar. New York Sum-