Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-10-11

talk, In their restless going to and free !;
even the music, execrabie as it might be,
ana supplied by darby contingent of two
very fat, saffron-hued vocalists accompa-
hled on banjo by a tall, intensely black
compatriot OF solemn aspect spoke of d
| Joyous state of existence. Its ragtime me-
Ter triiled of love and happy homes and
sunny skies; even of much wine drinking.
There was a pleasant air of opulence
| sprayed without fine discrimina ton over
the persons of most of Mortimer's fellow
Voyasers- Gold chains of fair prominence
diamonds of lustrous hue. skirts of inter-
mlnab.e variety of color, decorated the al
ways rotund figures.
The race literature that had come Morti-
mer S way generally had dealt with the I'M
fortunate part of racing. Somehow he had
got the impression that everybo lost
money at 1t. He was sure Alan Porter had !;
', also the father
denlable evidences of poverty, but not
many one man of this latter aspect sat
next to Mortimer; His whole appearance
was suggestive of the shady side of life
Presently he spoke to Mortimer
Ihere'n be big fields today" he said
That's too bad Mortimer answered.
through ignorance, thinking to reach the
course.
Il like it declared the man of sad drap-
cry. 1T means long Odds if you're next
something good"
M Mortimer ,rt confined his remark to a brief
ON! for the other man might as we'll
have been speaking Choctaw.
Have you doped them out for the Der
by asked the stranger.
Mortimer shook his head. Whatever it
was. it was connected with horse racing.
and he felt sure that he hadn't done it.
We'll, III tell you something-wiu YOU
put down good bet if l steer you
straight?'
Mortimer was growing weary; his mind
troubled by the frishtful disaster that
threatened Aliis' family. wanted to. draw
within itself and ponder deeply over
proper course Of action; so he answered:
My dear sir. I'm afraid you're mistaken.
l never bet on races. But | thank you for
your kind offer"
The unwashed face looked at him in blank
am&ze ment. then it wrinkled in a mirthful
laugh of derision. what tn ell Won gOin'
to Graveserd for then? Blamed if | don't
believe You, though-you look it. Say, is
that straight gcods-did you never have a
bet in your life?'
Never did
Well, I'm ID! Say. believe you've got
the best of it. though. Wish Ia never
bucked agin the hookies''
Why don't you stop it now, then?'
Say. pard, do you drink?''
mo"
Smoker
No"
A hopeless air of utter defeat came into
the thin, sharp face Its owner had been
searching for a smile He wanted to point
moral. and he couldn't find it. The young
man at his elbow was too imma culate He
tried to explain: "Racin's like any other
locoCd thing-it's like tobacco, or drink or
stealth money out of bank"
Mortimer shiVered. He had felt a moral
superiority in denying the implied bad
habits.
It's like any of them continued the
ragged philosopher; "a guy starts simple
as a kid, an he gets the throw down. He
takes a bracer at himself, and swsars he'll
life
Mortimer had read much about confidence
mon, and half expected that his sef-im-
posed acquaintance would try to borrow
money; but he was disillusionized presently
But de ring amt broke ole Bill vet
III clean up a tousand today-say, | like
your mug; you amt no stiff, or l miss nv
guess. an I'll put you next a good thing
de II / don't, an you don't need to divvy
up. either. Dere's chestnut runnin' in de
Derby what dey call Larcen. an I'm goin'
to plank down hun-red chicks on him
He detected a look of incredulous unbe-
lief in MoTtimers face, evidently, for he
added: You think l amt got no dough.
eh?' He dug down into the folds of his
somewhat Voluminous pants and drew
forth a fair-sized roll See? That wad
SoeS to Larcen straight. l him do a
gallop good enough for my stuff; but dey
got a stable boy on him, an OATS why he'll
be ten To one. But dat don't cut no ice wit
me- He'll be out for de goods; it's a gal
owns him. an there'H be nuthin' dom
Gals names Porter
AGAIN mortimer started. what q little
world it was, TO be sure, Even here on the
ferry boat, crowded with men of unchris-
tian aspect, he heard the name of the W.
man he loved, and standing symbolical of
honesty.
Whats the name of this-this horse?"
he asked.
"Larcer."
do you mean Lauzanne?"
Yes, that's it. l jes' heerd it, an l
fought it was Larcen. You've got it
straight, stranger. Say, are you wise to
anytime
Not about the horse; but I know the
peOplo-the young lady; and they'll win If
they can--that's sure"
There won't be many dead 'uns in the
Derby. First moneys good enough fer
most of the owners. But dis horse 1 see
Nun gaIlop like a good un. An I'm a
picker; L like bit of odds for my stuff
Mortimer saw the other occupants of the
boat moving toward the front end.
guess were there SAID his mpan-
ion; perhaps I'll see you at the course. If
you make break today, play Larcen; he'll
win. Say, l didn't catch your name?"
Mortimer"
well. take care of yourself, Mr. Morton.
See you later"
had felt sure he would be able to find Alan
Porttr without trouble. The true difficulty
OF his quest soon dawned upon him.
Nedged into the pushing showing, hurryine
himself A dozen times he rearranged his
bearings, taking 4 certain flight of steps
leading up TO the grand stand as the base
OF his perigrinations a dozen times he re-
turned to this point having accomplished
nothing but complete bewllde rment
He asked questions, but the men he adj
dressed were too busy to bother with him;
some did not hear, others stared at him in
dlstrust, and many rendered fippant re-
marks, such as ASK policeman" You'll
una him in the BAR He's gone to
Europe"
Even Mortmer's Impractical mind real
lzed speedily that it would be nothing short
OF miracle If he were to find any enc in
all those impatient thousands who even
knew the person he was seeking One
young man he spoke to declared that he
knew Alan Porter quite well; he was a
great friend of his; he'd find him in a
minute. This obltging strangers quest led
them into the long racs-track oar room
which somehow or other suggested I, Nor
timer a cattle shambles.
Behind the bar, young men in white
coats, even some in their shirt sleeves were
setting forth on it's top, with feve-isa haste
drinking glasses that foamed and fretted
much like the thirsty souls who called W.
clferously for liquid refrsshment Eye,v
BODY seemed on fire-burnt up by the thirst
OF consuming fever, the fever of specnla
! ton.
Mortimer's new friend suggested that
n hoe r.,hf