The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1902-11-16
HOW PERCY RS NOSE VICTORY
SAVED A PLUNGER'S LIFE.
Young Man With One Lung and Only Fifty Dollars Left to Take Him
to Arizona Bet All He Had on the old Rataplan Geld
ing, Who Just Did Get Up in Time to Win.

DO you remember that day at Delmal
! last year when Percy r. was a good thing
and just did get up in time to win by &
nose:' asked c. J. Brockmiller Of tn
crowd around the supper table of tbs
Louisiana Club the other night.
The day Frank Carr ran him up $i0o?'
esked Val Baber.
That is the day. said Brockmiller
knocking the ash of his cigar with a DEF
finger.
What of it?' asked Baber.
You have heard OF these stories o
horses saving a mans life by winning.
said Brockmiller. Il ran across a true on
that afternoon"
You see. I was East on 4 bit Of vaca
ton taking in the dinky town OF little ole
New York. 1 was waiting for the night
train to go to Boston, when / thought a.
! had a dollar or two to spare l would
look in a poolroom and see what was doing
in St Louis just to keep my hand in play
more than to bet.
The first race at Deimar was almost OF
when ! came into the room 1t was a
maiden scramble for 2-year-olds, with Mis-.
Theresa a 2-to-5 favorite. There was moth
ing in it 1 particularly fancied but ths
favorite, and as l never gave the book.
makers odds. back to the wall l went
lighted a cigar and waited for trouble
Seated beside me was q tall. thin. hoi.
l~ow-cheeked. wild-eyed young chap. with q
face as white as a sheet. He was evident.
ly a loser and a hard loser at that. Blu,
there was something in this mans face tina,
made me pity him. He was taking a dry
smoke and the wa he moved tie ciga,
around in his mouth was a caution. Sud.
denly be turned to me and said:
Who do you like in this
Well / replied, slowly. the one ]
Ike is al a price that keeps me out. It:
that odds-on mutt, Theresa
Hasn't Dewey a chance he asked. in &
hoarse whisper.
Who? said l. Albert F. Dewey? oh
he has q chance. sure. They all have q
chance II Theresa falls dead. Otherwise
nay. nay
Just then the horses got away. and n
uck-a-ick-tick of the telegraph inst.umen
sounded distinctly through the silence
Theresa at the quarter by ,w,
lengths sang OFT the operator. .DeiornIn
second. Macate third. two lengths away
simply fonptng along and Dewey setila
never a call. But In the stretch H. was run
ming third. and 1 could see the tall chap
Miss Theresa wins, easily. by tw
Isngtnsi Albert +. Dewey second. Delcrsin
AT thu nnal call the young fellow SCENE
to collapse. n l caught hold OF him.. feel
ing sure that he was about to fall out of hi
chair.
Here. brace up said /. There az
more races to come and Dewey isn't IL
only horse on the turf. You'll win out mex
time
"Hs Strengthened himself convulsivel,
and grasped my hand.
You mean weil.' said he. but i've-g &c
q single chance only left. God help me-.
oh. no. thought /. one of these cashie
bunkies who's been touching he drawe
with the usual intention OF making goo'
when luck ran his way and who sees moth
He seemed to divine my thoughts. for b
drew himself away.
Its not that said he. I'm a lunger.'
Eth. whatr I exclaimed.
I've got consumption he went OF. slow
ly. and got 1t pretty bad. Had to Quit wor
sn1 month nth c ago; and ID the ! ,s dSssor says io live ! hay y,
that is by going out to Arizona But
can't AFFORD that. This morning I had JUS
termined to make a killing or jump into tn
North River. 1 had fifty on Dewey. straight
at s to l.
He was silent a moment and then con
IT know you think me a fool for tryin,
to pick a lengthy winner. but favorites ar
/ shall play my other fifty on a long one Ii
the next St Louis. and II l lose. then to tn
river
! ceiling. l didn't know exactly. what to say
The youngster was game. after all. Jus
then 1 felt a touch on my shoulder. ard
turning, saw an old friend. a little man viii
a tiny white mustache and a face fairl.
beaming with good nature.
Hello said 1, how are youE
Hello. yourself SAID ne. can l spcaj
to you a momc-t%
Il excused .sslf TO the consumptive
and together ". walked to the other sid
| of the room. leaving the young man TIL
very picture of despair. -.
Well. Brock. besan my friend. 'ho'
are they running ?
Nothing doing to-day he replied; jus
ran up to hear the races called. I'm taking
a vacation and don't want the work
Sensible idea said l: but II you know
anything. Charlie. / wish you'd trot II out
I'm In a bit OF a hole and I'd like to liant
"eWell. Brock he answered. I thini
there's something real pleasant IN the mex
St. Louis: in fact, ne aad veil l insorme sI1 tha
"rhey had Just hung up the card sivins
Ins sdn nsu 1n ths r ae%auainsance.
Don't YOU make a bet. said l. warn,
insly; was until ] give yon the word.
He smiled at me in a hopeless way. bu,
remained where he vas Then %rejotned
my friend and together we shoned up tt
farIone afiair for s-year-olds and Cup. and
there were ten starters. the field being a
pretty fair collection OF dogs. Ia Mascotta
had the cali in the betting at 8 to 5. Diana
Fonso was second choice and Innuenec
third. Tn others, at more or less Ions
odds included Ruby Riley. Migsins. Percy
R.. Rodd. VIII Fay and Gus Biass.
Now said /, which Is !.
See here he replied, you know as well
as 1 do what a tip is worth l got this
one pretty straight in the morning; but
Al for myself there's nothing doing. Tips
are as uncertain as ladies' smiles. How
ever. II you want it you can have it. It's
Percy R..
Il looked up at the board again and saw
20 to I cha.ked against Percy,s name
What's he been doing! inquired
Nothing, candidly, nothing. But It's
muddy to-day. and his sire. Ha1apian was
Culver. ais dam. was someWnat OF Q ghost