Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1909-12-03


opened and Burgunder came in. Mr.
Jump arose obsequiously Burgun
DER owned a large secondhand fur
niture business and was well Off He
was also a customer.
Il owe you ten dollars. Jump" he
said, you were to call Tor it on Sat
urday, but III be away, so I'll pay
you now"
Mr. Jump wrote out receipt
thanked hin, and laid the note on
the table. He was wrestling with a
fierce temptation. Mrs Jump, OF
course, would know nothing of the
! payment OF the money She would
expect Jump to collect it on Saturday,
three days away Suppose he bet this
money on Little Minch? 1t was an
ediet of fate that the horse must win
the race, hence there was no risk.
He could pocket the winnings, and
hold the ten dollars until Saturday.
"Keckler," he almost whispered
That gentleman. preparatory to
leaving was adjusting his hat before
the glass.
"Keckler," called Jump, in a quaver-
ing voice, and then, as a man might
act when keyed up to a desperate ac-
ton, he rushed to his visitor and
crammed the note into his hand
Go, Keckler," he gasped, go to the
pool room and bet this on Little
Minch. Co. and he pushed the aston
ished Mr.. Keckler into the street.
Mr.. Jump climbed on his table and
then leaped off as if burned. What
had he done? Suppose? He rushed
to the door TO call Keckler back, but
while that gentleman was yet in reach
OF his voice, so, also, was Mrs. Jump,
returning from the store. He hastily
resumed his seat on the table and
wondered if his wife would hear how
his heart was beating.
Two hours later Mr.. Keckler strolled
calmly towards Mr. Jumps shop. A
glance discovering that the proprietor
was alone, he entered and handed Mr.
Jump a card.
It's on" he said: Il wish you luck
As the words left his lips the click
of the kitchen knob gave evidence of
the approach of Mrs. Jump. Without
looking at the card, Jump placed it
hastily within the order book that lay
on the table.
Here again ?" remarked Mrs. Jump,
entering and addressing Mr.. Keckler.
Il thought l had left something"
Mr. Keckler, abashed
Il didn't suppose you had anything
to leave" retorted the matron, acidly. |
Keckler darted OFF and Mrs. Jump
sat down to sew. Her husband, on
the table. worked with suspense gnaw-
ing at his vitals- What if his wife |
should open the order book and be- /
hold the card? 1t was an unpleasant |
two hours for Mr. Jump while his /
wife calmly sewed.
Boys began shouting the evening pa
pers in the street. Il was too early
Tor race news and Jump did not heed
he cries, but his wife bought a copy.
Presently the clamor was "all the race
news" and Jump bought paper from
he first boy who poked his head in
he shop.
Didn't you see ma buy one?" asked /
Mrs. Jump, scornfully.
Thought there might be some late
Jews" replied Jump, timidly
Covertly he scanned the race col
INN. The room seemed to whirl
the floor to upheave Little
finch had been beaten. He was bad
bird. In limp hopelessness sat Jump.
Under his eyelids he glanced at his
wife. How portentous she looked.
low much more portentous would she
ook Saturday when he must confess
he use of the money.
Nothing is true" thought Jump,
4 his despair, there's no fate, no
cd, no anything"
Mrs. Jump arose to repair to the
itchen and Jump snatched the ticket
ut of the book to destroy it. What,
six to one against Little Minch?"
he odds in the paper were seven to
We. He scrutinized the card The e
anne was not Little Minch," but G
Little Minnie" Keckler had backed l
lie wrong horse. t
He looked over the paper to see q
DIV Keckler had made such an error. 1
title Minnie had run at Latcnia, and
God in heaven-she had won. The g
oney was his. Il
He snatched up his hat and tore out
the shop, leaving the door open. Il
1t had been a timid, brow beaten e
imp that had sat quarter of an l;
,ur ago on the table. 1t was a stiff a
lined, confident Jump that walked q
Lck from the pool room with $50 of
S own in his trousers pocket and e.
e ten-dollar bill in his pocketbook. d
Il found the shop empty and the p
or open" cried Mrs. Jump, sharply C
he entered. Where have you az
en?" H
Out" replied Jump, CURLY. v
The work won't finish ITSELF" N
annol HE