Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-05-20

I'M Hewitt : buS4iltsS w W ti''iNNS'''' -
home among any and every class of peo-
pie, and to he able to interest himself
intelIigentIy or to appear to do so. in their
various pursuits. In one of the most I'M
portant cases ever placed in his hands he
could have gone but short way coward
success had he rot displayed some knowl
edge of the more sordid aspects of profess
sional sport and a great interest in the
undertakings of "A certain dealer therein.
The great case itself had nothing 20 do
with sport. and, indeed, from a narrative
point of view. was somewhat uninterest-
ing but the man who alone held the one
piece of information wanted was a keeper,
hacker. or 'gaffer' of professional pedes-
trians and il was through the medium of
his veCuniary interest in such matters that
Hewitt was enabled to strike bargain
with him.
The man was publican on the outskirts
Of Padhed. a rorthern town. pretty IA
nous for its sporting tastes. and To Pad
field. therefore, Hewitt betoOk himself, and,
arIayed in way to indicate some incliua-
ton of his own toward sport he began to
frequent the bar of the Hare and HOUNDS.
Kentish the landlord, was a stout bull
neCked man, of no great commandments
at first: but after little acquaintance lie
opened out wonderfully. became quite a
jolly land rather inteligenU companion, and
came out with innumerable anecdotes OF
his sporting adventures. He could put q
very decent dinner on the table. too, at
the Hare and Hounds. and Hewitts fire.
qucnt invitation to him To join therein and
divide bottle of the best in the cellar
soon put the two on the very best of terms.
Good terms with Mr.. kentish was Hewitts
great desire. for the information he wanted
was of a sort that could never be extracted
by casual questioning. but must be mat
ter of open communication by the publican,
extracted in what way it might be.
N,Is GsiI Il ont Ch ono
put YOU on to a good thing. my boy-a
real good thing. OF course, you know all
about the PadfieId 135-yard handicap Aei:g
run off now?
well. / haven't looked into it MUCH
Hewitt replied. Ram the first round OF
heats last Saturday and Monday, dtdn t
tLey?"
"They did Weu'-Kentish spoke in a
stage whisper as he leaned over and raped
the table-"Ive got the final winner III his
house" He nodded his head took puff
at his cigar and added. in his ordinary
voice. Don't say nothing.
oc course?'
Rather, What do you think? Got any
price / liked. Been saving him up for this.
Why he's got twenty-one yards. and he
can do even time all the way! Fact! why,
he could win runnin' back'ards; He won
his heat on Monday like-like-lKe thar:
The gaffer snapped his fingers, IN de1ault
Of a better Illustration, and went on. He
might IA TOOK II Il niue tdHl'i' 'ii4AliN'
its shortened his price. of course him
jumpn' in by two yards But you can get
decent odds now. if you go about 1t right.
You take my tip-back him for his neat
next Saturday. in the second round ara
for The final You'll get a good price fer
the final if you pop II down at once. i|ut
don't 90 maxim a song of it. will you. now !?
I'm givin you tip l wouldn't give any
body else
Thanks. very much; it's awfully good
OF YOU Ill do what YOU advise. But ISM
there a dark horse anywhere else:
Not dark to me, my boy. not dark 10
me. | know every man runnin like book
Old Taylor-him over at the Copies got
a very good lad at eighteen yards, very
good lad indeed; and he's fryer this time
/ know But bless you, my lad could give
him ten instead % taking three, and beat
him then. When I'm runnin, q real fryer
I'm generally runnin something very near
a winner. you bet: and this time, mind
this time I'm runnin the certaluest WIN
rer | ever run-aud | don | often make
mistake You back him..
Il shall if you're as sure as that. But
"0b crockett's his name-Sammy
Crockett He's quite new lad I've got
Young SteggIcs looking after him-sticks 10
him like wax. Takes his little breathers IN
my bit o ground at the back mere; We
got a cinder path there over there oen Hdht
much | can tell YOU. He's straight nttic
lad. and he knows itn be worth his while
10 stick to me; but there's some ud poison
him if they thought he'd spoil thelr
soon afterward the two strolled toward
the tap room 81 expect sammy IL be
there" the landlord said. with SteggIe e: !;
I don't hide him too much--they thlhK u
got something extra or If | did.
In the tap room sat lean, Wire-dfa"l
looking youth. with sloping shoulders anu
"a thin face. ald ~ his side was ratItt
short thick-set man. who had an odd ar
no matter what he did of proprlctoTship
and surveillance OF the lean youth. Several
other men sat about. and there was louu
laughter. under " llch the Iedn youth Ioohtu
sIecpiShly angry.
,raru't no r5ci Sammy. lad" some one
was saying 'you a-makiu after Nancy
Uebb-she II IA nowt to do with ee.
'Bnu' like EN- so thread-papery," added
another. NO. Sammy. you aren't the lad
for she. ] see her"
What about NJ ncy Webb asked Kent
ish. pushing oper the door. Sammy all
right anyway. You keep fit. my lad, an go
on improving anu some day you'll have as
good a house as me. Never mind the lasses
Had his glass o beer. has he: This to
Raggy Steggles. who. answering in the af-
nrmativc viewed his charge as though he
were post. and the beer recent coat of
paint.
Has two glasses of mid a day." the
landlord said TO Hewitt Never puts on
flesh. so he can stand IT. Come out now"
He nodded TO SteggleS. who rose and
marched Sammy Crockett away for exer-
else.
On the following afternoon Dit was Thurs
day. as Hewitt and Kentish chatted in the
landlords own snuggery. Steggles burst
into the room in Il great state of agitation
and spluttered out: "He-he's bolted gone
away"
WHAT
''Sammy-gone! Hooked it! 1 can't find
him"
The landlord stared blankly at the trainer
who stood with sweater dangling from
his hand and stared blankly back What
dye mean kentsh said at last Don't
be a fool; He's in the place somewhere
Find him.!
But this Steggles defed anybody TO do
He had looked already. He had left crock
EFT at the cinder path behind the trees in
his running gear. with the addition of rho
long overcoat and cap he used i'm going he
tween the path and the house to guard
against chill II goin' to give him n
bust or two with the pistol" the trainer ex-
planned. but, when we got over t'otber
side. 'Raggy.' ses he. it's blawin' a bit
chilly. l think III ha' n sweater. There s
one on my box. amt there? So in
coomes for the sweater and ii weren't on
his box. and when | found il and got back
he weren't there. They'd seen nowt o.
him in 4 house. and he weren't nowhere. -
Hewitt and the landlord now thoroughly
startled, searched everywhere. but to no
Ht...W -. Ia