The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-08-07
Chicago NeWS.)

tCIlCdSo NSWS.J
The girl slipped into one of the boxes
in the outer tier of the grand stand
and looked at her racing program and
Immediately began tt ask questions of
her escort-those dear. feminine ques-
ons that women asked in the days
when Nero's horses ran.
wouldn't it be nice to bet money
lots Of ton a horse that is going to
win, n make SO much We couldn't
carry it home?" she asked.
The nan replied that only the night
before he had dreamed a pleasant hour
away. seeming to do this very thing.
We'll, why can't we?" asked the
girl. But how can you tell what
horses to bet on without getting all
mixed up? LOok nov many horses are
named Imp. Isn't that funny?"
The mar looked %serenely amused
his martyrdom and only just begun,
and a part of it's exquisite torture later
lay in the fact that at first it was
rather entertaining-as he explained
that Imp" was simply the abbrevia-
ton for imported"
Then she asked how to lay bets. The
man began to explain cheerfully. He
was a strong man. and she was a
slender slip of a thing. Yet in an
hours item he was was worn and
haggard and the girl was glowing
with interest in life n horse racing.
"+Silver Foot sounds so sweet. Let's
bet on him." said the girl.
He's stratched," said the man beside
her. He was drearily watching his I'M
attached friends going down among
the b~ookmakers and jostling their way
to the paddock.
Well" said the girl, eff it's just a
scratch it ~oughtn't to hurt him much.
Cant We bet on him."
The man turned to her n wiped his
forehead and explained as best he
could. After a long while. long after
the first race was run and won. she
understood that Silver Foot had not
been among those present. And in an
other five minutes she realized that the
first race was over. The man pointed
out the right place on the program,
and h decided to pick by colors this
time. So she chose ink and silver.
Now" said the man. IF you real
ly want to put up money I'll send for a
messenger"
80 course L do" said the girl, firmly.
IIe IN called a boy. who came over
and announced the odds as 5 to Z on
the horse with the pink and silver COL
ors. The girl looked confused.
That MEANS" said +ha man. that
you'll have to put UP s. to win ST."
well Sol l11C III SllCIllN i LII
I certain to get my So"
The boy grinned and shifted his
weight significantly. and the man eX-
p in.
Not unless your horse gets place."
he said. He forestalled the usual ques-
ton by going straight on n explain
ing what he meant.
And if he doesn't 1 lose my S. and
don't get s7?" the girl asked. slowly.
well l think that's dreadfully uncer-
tain, don't you? For any of these
other horses might-and if 1 lost my
money it wouldn't be a bit Of at
ALL"
She held firmly on to her S. and
loo CnOughtfullv out over the field.
Suddenly h turned 20 the man.
I'll tell you what" she said delight
eddy. You choose a horse-any horse"
-generously-"and then I'll be with
you. l don't know this be- any way
and he might go right over the fence
with my NOM I'll bet that your
horse doesn't win. Won't hat be
The man gasped. but heroically said
it would be fun. and waved the grin
ming boy way.
The second race began almost imme-
diately. and the girl with her field of
nine horses got first money. place and
show. She stayed to the bitter end
and won 10 pounds of candy and a doz-
en- pairs of gloves.