The Savannah morning news., 1900-08-12

When Bascom got home late that
Inside there was a single line: Brother
in condition 20 be brought East-coming
via Chicago" There was neither date nor
signature, but Bascom understood and
smiled. He pulled forward a calendar
and marked Off fifteen daVS on IL "T
don't know whether the time Is too long
or too short" he said to himself Amy
way-I have got the cards in my hand
and am certainly going to play the game
through"
Loris Park was at its best upon its
last day of summer racing. The flowers
on the lawns had never been so bril-
liant the turf so green and velvety, the
throng in stand and clubhouse quite so
distinguished. nor that in the free field
quite so Overlooking with pure jollity and
delight in sport. The day had been clear
and white hot, as BELTS Augustus fare
we'll but toward o'clock a delicate mot
lied white cloud dimmed without, chilling
the streaming sunshine. There was bare
ly wind enough 10 ffutter the flags upon
their STATS. and to ruffie the dusty leaves
upon the trees around the course.
Here or there, in convenient forks and
crotches, adventurous lads sat snug.
From their elevation they had even a
sort of pity for the folk in the stand
and clubhouse. No doubt 1t was fine to
sit there-but not to compare with this
perch upon swaying boughs, where all
the happenings of the park were in plain
and proper sight The fine people could
see no more than the start and the fin
ish. The tree.haunters watched every
thing with avid eyes. and heard all the
gossip of track and stables, with eager
eyes.
1t was retailed literally directly I'M
derneath them. Trainers houses are
centers of inside turf knowledge. To-day
there was enc overwhelming topic, COM
mon alike to training quarters, club
house, paddock. stand and free field
Bascom's foolish laying against The
Brave. Notwithstanding, he was odds
on. in all the other books, Bascom wrote
him to 4. AS a consequence he was
nearly swamped by che rush of layers
He would have been quite swamped but
that he had taken the precaution from
the beginning to lay only ON the event of
the Searchlight.
1.-The fellows mad: quite mad" COM
naented the pursy man, as he pocketed a
slip made out for a thousand. Plenty of
others thought and said the same thing
but as the supposed mailman had the
name of being shrewdly far sighted, and
further, had money to burn, they also
made their wagers. and did not make them
small Bascom smiled at them. as he
gave out the slips, He was not writing
himself, neither was 'Driese. He had
half dozen clerks-and even then there
was waiting He stood a little stopped
and spoke now and then in whispers to
young Vaux.
mo more bets after the call to post
mean TO see this race-if / never see an-
other" he shouted, as he heard the sad
ding bell. The mob of bettors answered
with a howl. A w-bookmaker shout
ed across:
Say. BascoH; you're mighty good ell
at once. throwing away your money 10
keep the rest of us from losing. But you
needn't expect us to pass round the hat
for you If a man goes broke with his
eyes open, he deserves what he gets"
Sometimes" Bascom said composedly.
Driese turned white. Get away at once!
Go outside. Your face tells tales" Bas-
com said. pushing the lad almost roughly
away Driese went laggardly, lifeless,
and with hanging head. He was always
pale. Now the pallor was a sort Of ivor-
ing tint more CHASTITY than death He
crept 70 the lawns farthest edge. and flung
himself at length upon the grass. pressing
both hands hard over his eyes before he
opened their dark-fringed lids
He lay there, outwardly quiet, full OF