The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1902-11-25


rapher Of the bureau Of adumbration, had it
all figured out on Wednesday forenoon "a
he leaned toward the hot-air register and
waited for the chief to summon him. Algie
was going to kill 'em out at BenninQ. He
wasn't going to hog-saughter EN-, OF put
the whole card over, or cut a bunch Of wa
termelons, or drive 'em all off the block
he was Just going to kill 'em. He had so
announced 70 three of his particular friends,
with crafty light in his eye, on the night
before, and he meant it. Algie Payslip al
ways means everything he says.
Il don't know" he unused, as he leaned
closer still to the hot-air register, whether
I'D better reign this miserable little 81 200
Job tomorrow morning, or hang on until
the end of the month, SOS TO give EN-
chance to get another shorthand man. It'H
be hard to hang on, though, when III have
about $4,000 in cool yellow cash in my
homespuns when l get back from Benning
this evening" and Algie leaned back and
closed his eyes dreamily and thought Of
the pleasant, patronizing manner he'd as
sumo toward the chief of the bureau Of
adumbration on the morrow.
He's a good enough old codger in his
way reflected Algie "but he thinks the
measley little old 5000 year he's getting
is big money, even for the support of his
large family
And then, Algie, freed from his steno-
graphic cares, was out at the track, with
the little roll Of $40 in his vest that he had
screwded with great difficulty from a
brusque gentleman who had not only re-
quired an indorser, but the somewhat usu-
rious interest of 100 per cent. per annum.
Algie also had carefully tucked away in
Il wal ar he i l.
on the afternoon before by a sharp-fea-
tured young person from New York. The
slip contained the names of the winners Of
each Of the six races on the card, each guar
anteed to be at price of 30 TO / or bet
ter, and the ten-dollar remnant of his last
pay day which Algie had cheerfully given up
for this potential piece Of paper had seemed
4 mere bagatelle to the talented young ste
nographer when compared with its posi-
bilities.
''Caninus to win the first race" unused
Algie, as he made his way into the betting
ring before the states went up And guar
anteed to be at least so to l. III put ten
dollars on Caninus-S500 ought to be enough
for starter"
Forcing his way up to a bookie's stool
when the betting began, Algie Payslip was
delighted to find that Caninus was the rank
outsider at 100 to l in the betting. And 50
he got $1,000 for his ten dollars, the book
maker smiling at him sardonically as he took
the money. Then Algie mounted the stand
to watcl the race.
No description of that remarkable race is
neeessary-the news report Of the days
races gave it in full. Caninus got off last,
gradually worked his way to the front and
won on the wire by a nose from the odds
on favorite. Algie depressed his inward ex-
element in a dead-game manner, and when
he collected the sl,0l0 from the boolzmak-
er's cashier hes favored that ehagrined in
dividual with satirical smile that was
meant to be, and probably was, exceedingly
cutting.
Una fair start, that" said Algie to
himself, languidly as he strolled over to the
bar and refreshed himself with a quart OF
the restless amber product Of Gaul "Steam
Roller to win the second-guaranteed to be
at 20 to l, - my information reads. 4 shall
invest little matter of $500, then, on Steam
Roller to win
Which Algie did. He had, however, to
take odds which were cut before his adj
vance along the line-the rumor of a new
plunger having spread with its customary
rapidity in the ring. Algie felt an inward
sense Of triumph when he perceived that
the bookmakers were not only gazing at
him with respect, but that they were rub
bling out the prices on their states when be
made his appearance Algie got some of
his $500 down on Steam Roller at 20 to l,
but when the scared bookies saw him com
ing they quickly began to shave, 50 that he
had finally, at post time, to accept four to
one. When he had placed all Of the $500
he stood to win about $4,000 if Steam Roller
romped home, as Algie had every reason to
expect.
And, as viii be recalled by readers of the
race reports, of course Algie's expectation
was realized. 1t was Steam Rollers race
from start to finish, and he won pulled up
by FIVE lengths.
"Oh, well, not so bad, said Algie to him
self, as he invested in a handful Of cigars
at one dollar each and eoolly inquired of the
bar caterer if he didn't have in stock few
bottles Of Johannisberger Of the vintage Of
$50. BY this time news of the immense sue
cess Of the stranger in the ring had spread
all over the grand stand, so that when Al
gle, after betting $4,000 on his informant's
selection for the third race at ten to one,
was positively embarrassed over the way
the pretty girls in the boxes pointed him
out coyly with their programmes How
that was both debonair and Indifferent. He
was particularly delighted to observe that
a number Of his fellow clerks, seated in the
stand with their wives, were regarding him
with green-eyed envy that, however, never
theless had in it also a CLEAN of admira-
ton. He was generous enough to Danish
the resentfulness he felt over the predic-
tions of some of them, made the day before,
that he wouldn't win bet, and to give them
the name Of the horse he had played to win
the third -whereupon, needless to say,
they rushed down to the ring and tapped
themselves upon Algies word.
The melancholy yellow sun drew close to
the horizon as Alge, $4,000 to the good at
the finish of the fifth race. reached tAe
stand to watch the sixth and last event He
had bet enough to make his afternoon win
nings an even 100000. As he stood on the
grand stand steps, with his glasses placed
iauntily at his eyes, men and women paid
more attention to Algie Payslip, the mar
velously successful stenographer Of the bu-
reau of adumbration, than they did to the
horses parading to the post. He had, it was
known, compelled at least y of the book
makers to take down their states and close
their satchels and it was whispered around
the RING that If he won the last race foo