The river press., 1914-11-18

Bowser reached the corner he picked
up the other man who had been tipped,
and they boarded the car for the race
track. When they reached it, he quick
ly took a seat in the grand stand and
let the other man place the bets. 1t
was two hours before that particular
race was run. Mr.. Bowser heard men
scoff1ng at the 80 to l horse and de-
claring that he couldn't gallop forty
rods, but he smiled in knowing way
and pitied their ignorance. In one in
stance he was about to give q man
the tip and enable him to carry home
$1,000 to his needy family, but the
man spoiled it all by growing:
$50 you think you are an old sport
and know all about horses, eh? Well.
l don't believe you can tell horse
from a mule!"
It really hurt Mr.. Bowser's feelings
to be doubted as an old sport. Would
anybody but an old sport have put up
q clean 500 on a horse race! Didn't
that bet mark him as a dead game?
Hadn't he studied the program till he
could name every horse in the race,
and give the colors worn by the
jockeys? Instead Of giving the man
the tip he put on an air Of dignified
reserve and had nothing further to say.
He hadn't thought Of taking drink
in connection with the races. but as
all the other old sports appeared to be
nipping, he de6antly called for and
drank bottle of pop scented with
lemon.
When the 30 to / race was called Mr..
Bowser and his friend were quiet and
bland and complacent. They smiled
at each other as the horses came out
They poked each other in the ribs as
several false starts were made. When
the horses finally got off. the two stood
up and clapped each other on the back
and hurrahed their loudest. The horse
which came in first amid cloud of
dust was not the so to l; neither was
the second nor the third. nor the fourth.
When nine horses had galloped in their
tip was still lingering down at the
turn and evidently delayed by circum-
| 0luACC0 OVCA WA1NA AC Auu AO NoACAOA
Mr.. Bowser had lost 500. He was
stunned for moment. Then he be-
gan to shout "Cheat!" and "Fake"
and declared that it was a skin game.
He was given about minute, and
then the police got hold Of him. Under
such circumstances they hustle man.
Mr.. Bowser was hustled. He lost his
Int Iol hi jD1
off and his coat ripped, and as he
reached the gate he was given a high
land fling that rolled him through the
burdocks into a ditch. 1t was an hour
after dark when he reached home. He
had walked five miles in order to have
room to swear. He had left the house
| an old sport in his Sunday clothes.
He returned to it dilapidated victim
of misplaced confidence. The cat and
Mrs. Bowser were in the hall to well
come him, but he desired no welcome.
He looked at the cat in way to make
her legs wabble, and he looked at
| Mrs. Bowser as an Indian with
scalping knife regards his victim.
swell. you are home." she finally
said.
"Yes-I-am-homev' he slowly and
huskily replied. nodding his head at
every word.
"And you'll have dinner?"
| No answer.
IT'S waiting"
| No answer.
Did you fall Off the car coming
| homc:"
"Up---o np!' shouted Mr.. Bowser, as
he pointed up the stairs.
Mrs. Eowser and the cat ascended
Then they heard him pick up the hall
tree and slam it down, breaking two
umbrellas Ivy pounding on the wall,
and after smashing the stand and
iaulinrre and kicking the palm sky
high he passed into the back parlor
and flung himself down on the lounge
The old sport had been beaten.
|