The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1911-07-09
SURE THING BET
SAVES PLUNGER
P. G. H. Fill, Jr., Reckless Spec
,ulator, 0utwits Wise
Crowd on Train.

Three thousand miles away from home.
in debt and with only $40 left. the plight
OF P. G. III. FIJI. the "PIunging Kid" was
desperate to a degree or course. he
could bet the $40, but fortune instead OF
smiling had been making ugly faces, and
II he lost the $40 he would be merely
respectfully dressed hobo. The kid Is
not criminal unless II be criminal 10 be
fugitive from work so he reasoned
that he would have to ride brake beams
east II he did not contrive some means
Of multiplying that last $40.
Naturally he did not consult friends.
because his circle OF acquaintances in
cludes many ChauvInists who worship
prosperity. 1t took the kid one whole
night TO figure out his scheme. but he
consoled himself with the reflection that
he could not have slept any way, because
he was too apprehensye Of the stealthy
approach OF the irate landlady
Early in the meet n number OF coll
ored persons. being keeny observant in
the matter OF color had discovered that
berger tracks going to the Lagoon was
corral of white horses. Instead Of
trying TO locate an equal number OF au-
erers used to lie In walt for any strange
negroes and make wager with them
thus
See dat white, hoss ober dsre?, Now.
jest for de fun OBJ Il I'll bet yeh dat yeh
cain't pick out de side on w'ich dare am
de mos white hosses."
Refuses to Do Guessing.
"Oh, no, not me- usually protested the
strange strange negro, "{eh do de suessin yeh
ceded the schemer, who Immediately se-
lected the right side and won OF course.
several white men, seeing the game
hourishing among, the colored men, began
could 6nd. Even the "Plunging Kid BIT
at first and now that his finances We're
so low he wished ardently he had the
small sum he had lost in that folly.
When his ready money idea came, how
ever, he decided to put It into operation
on the 1855 train. Heretofore he had al
AS the frst step the kid Went out cut TO
interview the farmer who owned the
white horses. BY leaving with him half
Of his $40 he readily induced him to move
hand side Of the Bamberger track. Then
he came back to Salt Lake and waited
for the 80 train: At the very start
horses. Il iva was 'so' SO old a' trick W that ,e ne
one supposed another victim could be
found, but when the kid asked them to
explain the joke a few wise ones winked
The "Piunging Kid" has the reputation
OF betting high on almost any propo-
sition and when II was realized that he
he had not heard OF the antiquated white
horse game. thoy got ready for him. The
usual dialogue was repeated. only the
proposed victim did not object to doing
the guessing. Instead he devoted his
energies and sarcastic taunts to getting
as many In for as large amounts as pos
sible When at last the money was up
the kid said quietly:
''rll take the left hand side"
:, The wise ones breathed sigh OF re-
lief and most of them offered to double
timid when he had not insisted upon
them doing the guessing, but II was al
right now; When the kid had finished
bogus diamond OF the same size and
shape as the one he had in pawn as
security that he would pay $40 more as
soon as he got TO the track, providing
ss5 in the Pool
There was now $S5 in the pool and
TO keep account Of the number OF white
horses seen. Steeds white as driven
sGn y 5egan gar to appsaE on the gh. hand
fear them as much as he would a ghost.
He could not account for them being
so numerous, but he recollected the four
teen he had In one field and felt more
hopeful.
Just before the field was reached the
score stood eighteen on the right hand
side OF the track and eight on the left
hand side. Then the wise crowd began
to crow for they knew they were ap-
the place where dozen or
more white horses were always seen on
the right side Of the track
As the car flashed UP to the field the
wise crowd saw what looked like a !
yhostly troop Of milk white steeds OH the
wrong side of the track.
Somebody's moved en-" was all that |
anybody was able to gasp. If prohibition
lad been In effect several of those who |
pet against the kid would have collapsed !
a hasty count sufficed to show the |
Kid had won or course. he was accused |
" the conspiracy. but the stakeholder |
decided that the complainants thought |
hey were putting up sure-thing game
md therefore did not come into court |
With clean hands
AS he pocketed the money. the kid
said
Nothing like necessity to develop your
mental works. If had not been staring !
Did Man Want In the face the idea would
lever have come to me-"
For the beueflt Of new arrivals 1t may
,e said that anyone betting on white
,orses on either side OF the track must
,uess the exact number to win. The
eason is that two conspirators always l
manage to have the victims number be-
ween their two numbers. When no one
$ hireo TO move them twenty eight 4
white horses Craze on the right side OF
he track. H
Ogden Wins.