The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1902-12-20
UNEXPECTED GOOD FORTUNE.
How : Gamblers Luck Turned. seess
ing to the ca. aplen Liar.


How ! Gamblers Lack zrEnsa. seess-
ing to the Ca apion Liar.
They had been speaking OIL rather
marvellous things in a betting way,
saws the New Orleans Times-Demo-
orat, big winnings and big horses at
the various race courses ofthe coun-
try-how they had won and lost for
sunes and all that sort Of thing.
"That reminds me Of John Kings
story Of the bet he made in Ireland"
said a member of the group @and for
the benefit Of those who are not ac-
ousinted with King l want to say he
is no myth John King is a real, live,
pulsing man, and his home is in west
Tennessee. He is a native Of Jack
son, but Jackson was too slow for
him, and he beganto roam around the
country. He was never a very poor
man except on the occasion which I
have in mind, and the wheel Of for
tune turned the right way for him at
a critical moment in his history. /
heard him tell the story one night in
Memphis when a crowd Of fellows
had been telling all sorts Of marvel
GUS stories about winnings and los
ings very much like you boys are do
ing now. AS | remember the story
John King told it in this way: I
was down in my luck he said, and
had gone to the cloth on an old
skate" j was racing around at the
different tracks. / couldn't win any
thing. Luck was dead against me.
But I kept entering my horse Just the
same. Well, to drop some Of the UNI
interesting details which lead up to
the event, l went to Ireland and en-
tered my old horse for the last time,
OF course, l stood no chance to win
against some Of the horses entered,
but / Just wanted to see one more
run for old times sake. There were
1877 horses in the race. Ny skate was
marked up on the boards at 81, 000,.
600 to one. | had three between me
and the cloth. | put it up, knowing
that I would lose it, but just as a
matter of sentiment, and to be game,
which is every sportsman's ambitioR
I put up my money just the same.
Then | went about my businees ]
paid no attention to the race. ! had
gone down to a little ferry to cross
the river, and was standing there
meditating on the uncertainty Of
things earthly when a fellow came
rushing up tome. He said it was the
funniest thing he had ever seen. |
asked him to wake up, and reminded
him that the situation was anything
but funny. Drop thepipe and wake
up" I said, but he kept laughing.
Finally he managed to tell me the
story: Funniest think | ever saw"
he said, @156 Of those horses got
wedged in between the fence and the
railing and couldn't move a hoof.
They were jammed like sardines in a
box. Behind there was an old skate
galloping along at a snail's pace.
Well, sir;when he got to that crowd
Of horses he just jumped over em,
kept on around the track, gallopedin
under the wire and won the money.
And think Of it-he was selling at
100000 to l." l ruined the seat
Of my pants kicking myself, but it
just shows you how a mans luck will
run. There | was with my horse
winning at last, and | only had IS up
OH him. Hardest luck | ever had
"0nce more for a night-cap,D said a
cadayerous-looking chap as he rolled
two kings out Of the box, and in d
short while the veracity club had
closed the session."