The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1898-03-12

Mechanically | turned to the cotton
market, and found that my particular
holding was two points up, and although
only had the word Of this mysterious
stranger to vouch for the accuracy of the
report. il strange glow of hope took pos
session of me.
For was | not morally certain III my
own mind that the market would rise dur
ing the coming week Oh, if | could
only hold on-hut settling day WAS at hand,
and the market could not possibly recover
itself sufficiently to balance my losses in 50
short time-what could do?
Turning to other items of the paper [
found many paragraphs of stale news. a
number of new telegrams relating to foreign
affairs and then my eyes fell upon To
days Racing
/ WINNER OF THE INTERNATIONAL STAKES.
SOngbird
Betting-33 to l Blacktr!ar; > TO ! Song
bird: 100 to The Poppy Won by neck.
+ Thirty three to one. reflected. "A
rank outsider, e100 on Blacktriar would
/ bring i'll over E3, 000-more than sutf
cient to meet settling day. Oh. if could
only trust it :.
The more [ thought about it. the more
/ fascinated became. Thirty three to one
! Could | risk it? The paper Was no doubt
| a fraud. but had chance thrown it in my
way for purpose ?
But | was ignorant of betting affairs;
even should decide to risk half Of my
f2O0, how was | to set about it?
Ny further thoughts were rudely in
terrupted by resounding slap on the
shoulder, and on turning round heheld
in the intruder an old college chum. Dick
Hampton.
Jack Farmer. by all that lucky
Why, who would havo thought of running
up against you like this p
why, when did you come down.
Dick =
Only arrived tonight, my boy. I've
Just left the north to see the International
run tomorrow.
The International, murmured, as
crumpled the paper into my pocket.
Yes. Why, what's the matter with
YOU? Yon are looking awfully down.
Come along with me to the races IN the
morning. 1t will liven yon up.
No" answered. Il cannot leave
! business
Business-always business. | sup
pose you are on the road to become mil
lionaire--eh p
Not quite. But what is going to win
tomorrow p
'Songbird, my boy, without a doubt.
You take my advice and have couple of
ponies OH it.
What chance has Blackfriar
Not the slightest ghost of one-it Is
az rank an outsider as ever carried jock
ey. Songbird will romp home and make
hacks of the field
What price is Blaekiriar?' asked.
''Anything you like.
And Songbird?
:Oh, Songbird is quoted at 3 to to
night.
'::Supposing wished to put 4lOO on
Blackf kfriar-how could do it?
,.Pshaw my dear boy, you could get
Il. 900 on as easily as wink, if you wished
to lose it.
But | persisted say had flOO
to throw away on an off chance, would
YOU undertake to invest it for me on
Blackfriar?'
There. knew you were millionaire.
| of course. if YOU have a fancy for the ami
NAL, back it, but as sure as ducks can swim
the money might just as well be thrown into
the gutter.
::Well. anyway | will give You my
check for f100 to be put on Blacktrlar
for the International.
IS. ?. - inquired Hampton.
What is that p asked.
Il say. Jack. old man, but you are
! green-S. p. means starting price. II
YOU back it S. p, YOU get your money
back if it doesn' run, but if you Ike a
stated price about it, and it gets scratched,
YOU lose your money without having the
satisfaction of run for it.
Then S. p. by all means, | an
swered. And now let us 90 and have
some supper.
After supper we spent very pleasant
! hour together. and | was enlightened upon
many mysterious racing technicalitles, and
finally wended my way home in far bet
| ter frame of mind than that with which
| had started the evening.
But in the early hours Of the morning
! the old horror of my position dawned upon
me in all its reality.
The false beacon Of hope which had
buoyed up my spirits at the close of the
previous evening now presented Itself to
1ae in the form of an imbecile bet. had
for short period imagined that my for
tunes could be rebuilt by the caprice of a
race horse whose existence [ had not
dreamed of IL hours before, and quickly
realized that instead of improving my posi-
ton had merely placed a further e10O
in jeopardy.
Yet it seemed strange that [ should thus
meet the rogue who sold me the paper
which lured me to my folly. However,
reflected that, being so deeply in the mire,
another inch or two as represented by the
91O0 would not make so much difference,
But the game is not lost until it is won,
and I determined to face matters boldly,
and when my broker called at my office to
sound me as to my position assured him,
with all the self assurance | could muster,
that the aspect of affairs caused me no un-
| easiness.
But the WEAKNESS of the day-the fever
| ish excitement that took possession of me
| as the hours rolled on
With my eyes fastened on the clock
watched the hands slowly creep to the houl
| fixed for the race.
And when the gong sounded the first
stroke of 3 [ started in my chair as if
had heard thunderclap.