The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1908-10-24
THE TICKET
III Els BOOT.

was but six years old. and Jimmie Ind
10 go to work selling papers 10 help
out. his mother and the other children
from that he drlfted into the position
Of telegraph messenger boy and when
he was fifteen helped at livery sta
bic. This job suited him better than
the others. for he was very fond of
horses. Making the acquaintance of
n raiser of bluoded stock who took a
fancy 90 MIN he left the livery busi-
ness for stock farm JiDmie. like
the horses. must nave had some very
good blood in him. for he sent every
dollar of bis small wages that he didu't
need to keep body and soul together to
his mother WHO was getting old and
feeble. and he worried because he
couldn't send her more
Jimmie legged Mr. WheclocS, his
employer. to let him ride in race. lut
was oaly permitted to ride IN practice
trials of speed Indeed the stockmon
seemed perfectly willing that Jimmie
should get all the practice he wanted.
Finally he told Jimmie That he might
make trial " his ability in n real
race. but on q horse that had no
chnncr to win Jimmie was delighted.
and when. rugged out In tight breeches
and scarlet jacket he mounted his
horse he felt that he had reached the
summit OF his ambition
4 man came 30 to him. making signs
that he had something private 10 com.
munlcatc. Jimmie bcnt down, aud he
man whispered to iim;
"See here. sonny. want 10 make some
money!"
Jimmie thought OF his old mother
anG the kids
Because II yon do I've got $500 for
you I've fixed Ave or SIX jockeys To
let my horse win Your horse has no
chance anyway. SO there's nothing
wrong Ia 1t for you"
III ! can't win why do YOU want
10 pay me TO loseF'
10 make a dead certainty uf IT, The
way do It Is this: Ny horse is quoted
at 20 to l. give the jockeys each
ticket that calls for 5000 to $40 III
slip your ticket IN your boot"
Jlmmie's education had not been In
the moral line, but he was instructive
~ honest. And he was as smart as
he was honest. II his employer should
lose any money On the race Jimmie
wanted him to know that he had been
swipdled
The man gave him a slap on the leg
managing at the same time TO shove
a ticket IN his boot. and Jimmie rode
or Soon after that the horses got
into position. ana the bell sounded
Now. Mr. Wheeock. who owned The
horse Jimmie rode--he had named him
Mark Taplcy had his eye on both
Jimmie and Mark. Nobody knew
anything about The horse except Mr.
WheelocS. who knew all about his
pedigree ana believed him to hc Of
great promise. He had watched i'm
mic ride in the trial races and had
noticed that he waa natural Jockey.
hut. fearing that il Jimmie know he
was riding q horse that might win
aud was backed by his master the
hoy might gel ruiiied. he aid not tel
him what was expected OF him. Re
sides. he didn't care 10 trust his secret
with any one. not even Jimmie
The start had 10 sooner hccn made
than the fayorite began TO pun ahead.
Mark 1apley WAS one of the last across
The line and after passing one or two
OF the last runners kept his position
for the first qucrter. When half The
course had bccu run the favorite was
first, Mark ruplcy three lengths be-
hind aud The rest scattered
'''rhc little icwelw muttercd Whce-
lock 10 himself Hes ready to give
his horse a spurt, and I believe he'll
10 It,"
Jimmie gained but slowly. by the
time three quarters had been gone over
he had gained only length. But The
favoritc had from the first been doing
his best ANA Mark Taplcy was getting
nerved 20 bis work When hut an
eighth remained Jimmie began TO push
him. In few seconds ii was neck
and neck. and nc the goal he passed
the wire half y length ahead
There was he usual excitement
when It was discovered that horse
against which 20 10 ] had been het
bad won the race. aud every one who
had dollar o. him had pocEeted 500
Though the Neinners owner had risked
hut s2000. he had won $4,000 Ht
pulled Jimmie OF the horse. givinp
him hug as he did so. aud told hin
that he was q iittle hriek.
The same evening he sent for hi,
jockey To come TO his house and wher
Jimmie appeared handed him checl
for S500. saying at the same Time, "Put
that IN IA savings bank Jimmie,
eyes opened wide Then hc tlioHeht 81
the Ticket Ia his boot Pulling II out
he banded It To AIR Wheclock. tellinl
him how he had received IT, The stock
man looked from the tleKet 70 Jim
niles face in wonder. moi speaking foi
some time; then he said:
"Where did you learn honesiyfr
Dunno" Jimmie replied. "lteekoI
II was born ID me-"
The stoCkIunn tore up the check b,
had written and wrote another
was for 5000
''Shall | put II into the business fol
vou Tipanfp 81