Connecticut western news., 1908-11-19
THE TICKET
 IN HIS BOOT.

 to go to work selling papers to help out his mother and the other children. From that he drifted into the position of telegraph messenger boy and when he was fifteen helped at livery sta ble. This job suited him better than the others, for he was very fond of horses. Making the acquaintance Of raiser of blooded stock who took q fancy to him. he left the livery busi- ness for stock farm. Jimmie, like the horses, must have had some very good blood in him, for he sent every dollar of his small wages that he didn'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 begged MT. Wheelock, his employer, to let him ride in race, but was only permitted to ride in practice trials of speed. Indeed, the stockman seemed perfectly willing that Jimmie should get all the practice he wanted. Finally he told Jimmie that he might make trial of his ability in a real race, but on horse that had no chance to win. Jimmie was delighted, and when, rigged out in tight brooches and a scarlet jacket he mounted his horse he felt that he had reached the summit of his ambition.
 A man came up to him, making signs that he had something private to com municate Jimmie bent down, and the man whispered to him: .s
 "See here, sonny, want to make some money?" s.#
 Jimmie thought of his old mother and the kids.
 Because if you do I've got $2oO for you. I've fixed five of six jockeys to let my horse win. Your horse has no chance anyway, so there's nothing wrong Tn it for you"
 "If I can't win. why do you want to pay me to lose"
 ITO make q dead certainty of it. The way I do it is this: My horse is quoted at 20 to 1. I give the jockeys each a ticket that calls for $200 to s10 I'll slip your ticket in your boot"
 Jimmie's education had not been in the moral line, but he was instinctive- ly honest And he was as smart as he was honest If his employer should lose any money on the race Jimmie wanted him to know that he had been swindled.
 The man gave him slap on the leg managing at the same time to shove a ticket in his boot, and Jimmie rode off. Soon after that the horses got into position, and the bell sounded.
 Now, MT. Wheelock, who owned the horse Jimmie rode-he had named him Mark Tapley--had his eye on both Jimmie and Mark. Nobody knew anything about the horse except Mir Wheelock. who knew all about his pedigree and believed him to be of great promise. He had watched Jim- mic ride in the trial races and had noticed that he was a natural jockey but, fearing that if Jimmie knew he was riding a horse that might win and was backed by his master the boy might get >rufned, he did not tell him what was expected of him. Be sides, he didn't care to trust his secret with any one, not even Jimmie.
 The start had no sooner been made than the favorite began to pull ahead Mark Tapley was one of the last across the line and after passing one or two of the last runners kept his position for the first quarter. When half the course had been run the favorite was first, Mark Tapley three lengths be- Ind fI,n
 ''The little jewelr' muttered Vince lock to himself He's ready to give his horse squirt. and I believe he'll do It."
 Jimmie gained but slowly. By the time three-quarters had been gone over he had gained only length. But the favorite had from the first Eeen doing his best, and Mark Tapley was getting nerved to his work. When but an him. In a few seconds it was neck and neck, and at the goal he passed the wire half length ahead.
 There was the usual excitement when it was discovered that a horse against which 20 to 1 had been bet had won the race, and every one who had dollar on him had pocketed S20. Though the winners owner had risked but $2000, he had won $40,000. He pulled Jimmie off the horse, giving him hug as he did so, and told him that he was little. brick.
 The same evening he sent for his jockey to come to his house and when Jimmie appeared handed him check for $500. saying at the same time, Put that in savings bank" Jimmie's eyes opened wide. Then he thought of the ticket ir his boot. Pulling it out, he handed it to MT. Wheelock. telling him how he had received it. The stock man looked from the ticket to Jim mics face in wonder, not speaking for some time; then he said: -.
 ''Where did you learn honesty?"
 "Dunno," Jimmie replied. Reckon 1t was born in me-
 The stocllman tore up the check he had written and wrote another. It was for S5,00O