Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-10-11

CONE DAY i PULLE
into the deep, deep water and was drown
Couldn't Rake Up a Pin.
9 AID as this story may seem, there is
- an official Of the local jockey CLUB
who relates a tale even more appealing
in its pathos.
1.-THE race track Is the logical home of
hard luck" said he land I have seen
my full share of heartrending incl
dents. But the one which stands out
pre-eminently as the hardest of hard.
hard luck happened at Benning meet
ing some years ago and before the dis
trict attorney placed the 'bookies' on
the list Of undesirable citizens.
There is a certain chap, we'll known
and well liked around this town, who
always goes to the track. and who has
a weakness for picking them wrong. One
particular day he went out as usual. lost
his all on the very first race and was
moping around the betting ring looking
for some one who would stake him to
a car ticket. when a friend hailed him.
Say. Johnny says the friend. II
you've got a bone go to Mary Glenn,
at 100 to 1. All mine is for her. and I'm
a dead one If she don't come in with her
6OS
it dead straight that she's due. Re-
liable information. She's there. Hon
est. Why. if they'd take 'em. I'd bet
my shoes and socks that she'll tin-can
BEAT It," says Johnny, that sausage
couldn't beat fat man up hill. Have
you got spare nickel in your clothes?
He had not. Neither had numerous
other friends whom Johnny accosted,
and, finally, in desperation, he turned
his steps toward the bookie who had re-
lieved him Of his roll on the first race.
las he approached the aforementioned
was accepting a two-dOllar bet on Mary
Glenn. whose price had now risen to ESQ
to 1. Want some Of it, he inquiries, as
Johnny comes alongside, knowing the
latter's weakness for the long Shots
I'd rather have car fare home re-
plies Johnny, but he adds, I hope she
expression on your ugly mug when you
pay off at those odds there.
"A fine pipe. but poor tobacco re-
plies Bookie genially. Every time take
a dollar bet on Mary Glenn I get deeper
in with the other holders Of tainted
money. She's such a dead one that I'll
bet you $500 to pin she don't even finish
in the money
Johnny fingered the lapels of his coat
without result. He had no pin, and was
turning disgustedly away. when he saw
something bright on the floor. STOPPING.
he picked 1t up. and edged back to the
high stool Say, he quizzed. That was
heated wind about that pin bet-no?
Nix came the reply 1t goes And
Johnny stuck something in the layers
coat and sauntered off to the rail-
Everybody knows how Mary Glenn
beat out the Odds-on favorite in the last
nose. Johnny threw his new hat into
the judges stand at the finish and when
the race had been verified he was at the
head of the pay line.
About that pin bet he began with a
wide grin, but he was rudely interrupt
THAT pin bet was the goods. all right
snaps out the Bookie. L meant it, but
you can't collect
"'Hows that" asked Johnny
BECAUSE was the laconic reply, what
you stuck in my coat amt a pin-its a
needle"
Alas, poor Johnny
A Lawyers First Fee.
LIVERY one is familiar with the ex-
IL preston "shrewd as a Philadelphia
lawyer" and it is not often that a mem
Der of the legal profession. be he from
Philadelphia or some other city, allows
a client to get the best of him. This is
what once happened, however, to a local
jurist, who has long since retired, after
attaining a national prominence. 1t still
rankles, too
II hadn't been a member Of the bar
very long," said he in explanation. I'm
fact. 1t was my first case.
"A fellow was accused of larceny and
engaged me to defend him. At that time
/ considered his coming to me as a veri-
fication Of my youthful opinion of my
wonderful ability. l now believe that
he probably chose me because of my
verdant inexperience.
We'll. worked like Trojan on that
case. and, in spite Of lot of difficulties,
managed to secure an acquittal. My man
was all smiles as he left the courtroom,
and promised to look me up later in the
day and give me my fee.
enough. He walked into my little office.
said good afternoon and then entered
into a long hard-luck story, the substance
OF which was that he had no money just
now, but that some time previously he
had pawned very valuable diamond
value. His sense of gratitude toward me
was such. he declared. that he would
never be happy unless 1 should accept
the ticket. redeem the ring and keep it
as my fee.
Il protested that 1 would rather wait
until he was in better circumstances.
Out ne was insistent, and finally yielded.
few days later 1 looked at the ring,
and 1t was certainly a beauty. Even to
my inexperienced eyes it seemed worth
only 500. 1t seemed a good investment.
To make long story short, 1 managed
to scrape up the necessary money, turned
1t over and received the ring in exchange.
Ihree months later !! was informed by
an expert that 1 had purchased a very
fine bit of PASTE worth not more than
SO at the most.
pride forbade my putting the matter
into the hands of the police. but for many
years / scanned every face I passed in
tho none NJ encO1Intering INV orS<url,, a.