The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1900-11-09
The Mon IN The yellow CoQt.

had nearly finished my supper one
night In a coffee house when met
never knew his name. He was repulsivs-
~ ugly, and he wore yellow coat.
"Spare a bloke a mug O. corfee, guv-
nor" he inquired in a hoarse, unmusieal
voice.
nodded my assent and gave him the
money and something to eat besides.
''Thank yer, guv'nor," he said as he
drew his long yellow coat closer about
him. That's the first bite I've 'ad fer
two days"
"What?" I exclaimed in establishment.
ats truth I'm tellin yer!"
"Why, man. how on earth do you man
age to keep alive?" asked in surprise.
"In the summer I lows boats" came
the reply.
"What do You menn?' queried.
"Tows boats, guv'nor," he repeated.
"fYou know, ave a line on, sir? Ave
q tow?'" he shouted. "'Take yer from
'Ampton Court to Sunbury fer 'arf
CROWN" and he waved his phantom
towline round his head as he spoke.
understood him now. He was one Of
those wretched creatures who haunt the
towing path during the boating season in
the hope of making a few shillings by
towing pleasure boats from point to
point.
I resumed my way home, thinking I
had seen the last Of him, but 1 was mis-
taken. l had not gone far when l heard
the sound Of some one running behind
me. I had paused under lamp for one
minute to light a cigarette and was
about to move on again when the sound
of a familiar voice arrested me.
eli, guv'nor"' And the next moment
he was again at my side. Ere, guv'-
nor, one of these ere pennies yer give
Is crown". He painted as he held out a
grimy hand toward me. And there, sure
enough, upon his upturned palm, glitter
ing brightly in the lamplight, reposed
crown.
was more amazed than ever. had
put him down as a tramp, but he was
evidently an honest one as we'll.
"You can keep it, my friend" I said.
oyer mean it?" and his voice was
tremulous with eagerness.
Certainly do"
"Well, I'm blessedw and he stared at
me fairly lost in wonder at my generos-
fly. "Guv'nor," he said at last, "yer've
done me the best turn tonight I've 'ad
done me fer years, an I'll never forget
It,"
A year passed away, and things had
not gone we'll with me. Business had
been bad, and 1 had been unlucky, sin
gularly unlucky, racing. For long time
things on the Stock Exchange had been
inactive, and, with nothing going into
my bank and a considerable amount reg
ularly coming out, my balance had fallen
lower than cared to think about.
That was the principal reason that one
glorious spring afternoon l found myself
at the race courts. had been put up to
a real good thing for the big race, a tip
straight by wire from the owner, and
had made my bet and come down post
haste to see my horse win. had plung-
ed, and, for me, plunged heavilySand 1
was naturally feeling a little anxious
about the result.
The numbers were up, and l was busy
checking off the starters on my card
when felt a touch on my arm. As did
80 l felt something thrust into my hand.
1t was a piece of grimy paper, roughly
twisted up into the form of a note. A
few yards from me l caught sight Of
strange looking figure which somehow
seemed curiously familiar. 1t was that
of q tall, lean man clad in a long yellow
coat. He was elbowing his way through
the crowd, which at that point was par
ticularly dense. Then I read the note,
and it was as follows:
Honored Sir-Yer once done me a good turn.
told yer would do yer one. Back the man in
the yellow coat fer all yer worth.
That was all.
What did it mean? I could not think.
Then like q fash it came back to me.
1t was my friend Of the coffee house.
What should 1 do? 1 glanced at my
card.
"Cherito," 1 read. yellow, yellow
cap"
went back to bookmaker knew.
"What price Cherito?" l said.
Anything you like" he replied. eff
" to one"
1 turned away hesitatingly. The odds
were very tempting. Why not risk an
much difference. l hesitated no longer,
but handed the bookie the remainder Of
my money.
''They're off,
Away in the distance I can see small
rapidly moving group of horses. 1 put
my fieldglasses to my eyes. The yellow
Jacket is not visible-yes, there it is
though, very nearly last.
'The favorite leads!" screamed a
hoarse voice.
mo, Primrose! Primrose" yells the
mob
Again I look eagerly through my binoc-
nlars. Two horses have drawn a good
WAY ahead from the rest. One is the ia
Horite, as I can see by his Jockeys red
cap; the other is the second. favorite.
Primrose. On they come, straining every
nerve. They are neck and neck; it Is a
splendid race.
1.-THE favorite wins! No, Primrose,
Primrose wins"
Suddenly the cries die away into muir.
mur of establishment, which gradually
changes to a roar of admiration. And no
wonder, for, like an arrow from the bow,
q horse darts forward from the ruck-a
dark bay horse ridden by jockey in a
yellow jacket.
The intervening space between him and
the leaders is covered in a trice, and
now there are three horses neck and
neck instead Of two. Again the excited
cries rise from the crowd.
"Cherito, Cherito winsw
And that was right, for by the finest
piece Of riding have ever seen Cherito
leaped forward 20 yards from home and
won by a neck. l was on Easy street
Dnce more!-Boston Traveller.