The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1909-04-22
THE TICKET
IN HIS BOOT.

Copyright 1908, by American Press Asso-
ciaton.1
Jimmie Slater's father died when he
was but six years old, and Jimmie had
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 a livery sta
bic. 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 a
fancy to him, he left the livery bust
ness for a 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 be
couldn't send her more
Jimmie begged Mr.. 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 todd 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<n
and when, rugged out in tight breeche
and scarlet jacket he mounted his
horse he felt that he had reached the
summit of his ambition.
A man 20 mo I'm 70 hin, ,,,oIyipc, e;,,p.
that he had something private to com
municate. Jimmie bent down, and the
man whispered to him:
'See here, sonny, want to make some
money!?
Jimmie thought of his old mother
and the kids.
Because IL you do I've got 5000 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 in it for you"
'If 1 can't win. why do you want
to pay me to lose?"
"To make a dead certainty of it. The
way i do it is this: My horse is quoted
at 20 to /. l give the jockeys each a
ticket that calls for 5000 to $40. I'll
slip your ticket in your boot"
JimmieS education had not been in
the moral line, but he was instructive
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 a slap on the leg,
managing at the same time to shove
ticket in his boot, and Jimmie rode
off. Soon after that the horses got
into position, and the bell sounded
Now, Mr.. 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 Mr.
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 ruffied, he did not tell 4
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-
hind and the rest scattered
1.-The little jewelw muttered Whee-
lock to himself. He's ready to give
his horse a squirt, and l 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 been doing
his best, and Mark Tapley was getting
nerved to his work. When but an
eighth remained Jimmie began to push
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 il vas d' covered that horsSN
XIV - ~ ~ uuu DttH DtIHf
had We. Tie race, and every one who
had a dollar on him had pocketed $40.
Though the winners owner had riskAd
but $1,000, he had won $4,000. HS
pulled Jimmie off the horse. giviI l.
him hug as he did so, and told hi.N
that he was little brick
The same evening he sent for his
jockey to come to his house and when
Jimmie appeared handed him a check
for $500, saying at the same time, "Pu
that in a savings bank" Jimmie'Ss
eyes opened wide. Then he thought of
the ticket in his boot. Pulling it out.
he handed it to Mr., 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 honestly"