The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1914-07-27

II -
The paddock Judge looks at them
Dandages, but he knows the birds
cripple, n he don't feel EN-.
fhem's to hold his legs on.
amt they?' he says. m grins.
surest thing you know I
says. But feels some easier
when he's on his way there's
seven pounds of lead in each of
them bandages.
Il don't want the bird whipped
when he amt got a chance.
The bird gets away good. but
I'D overdone the lead in his socks.
He finished a nasty last-thirty
len'ths back.
Il meets Colonel King comm
out of the judges stand that
evinin'.
An owners life has its trials
and fluctuations - Ell, my boy?'
he says.
" Yes. sirp I says. That's the
first time Colonel King ever
speaks to me, m | swells up like
a toad. I'm gettin' to be all the
gravy round here l says to my
self.
Two days after this they puts
an overnight mile run fur maid
ems on the card. m I slips the
bird into IL. | knowed il was
takin' a chance so soon after his
bad race. but it looks so soft
can't stay way from il.
The mawnin' of the race, I'm
givin' the birds mad leg a steam
in, when a black swipe named
Duekfoot Johnson tells me I'm
wanted on the phone over to the
seeretary's office, m gets Duck
foot to go on steamin the leg
while I'm gone.
when l gets back there's a
crap game goin' on in front OF the
stall n Duckfoot's shootin'.
There's a hot towel on the birds
leg, n it's been there too long.
| takes it off m feel where small
blfsters has begun to raise under
the hair-a little more n 1t nd
been clear to the bone. cusses
Duekfoot good, m rubs vaseline
into the Leg"
interrupted Blister long
enough to inquire:
Don't they blister horses
sometimes to cure them of lame
ness"
Sure" he replied. "But
boss don't work none for quite a
spell afterward. A blister, to do
any good, fixes him so he can't
hardly raise his leg fur two
weeks.
WELL" he went on, "the race
fur maidens was the last thing on
the card. I'm in the betting-ring
when they ehalks up the first
odds, n my boss opens at twenty
five-to-one. The two entrance
moneys have about cleaned me.
I'm only twenty green men strong.
peels off ten of 'em m showed
up to a booky.
" On the nose fur that one,
says. pointin' to the bird $
name.
ney, n like a nut | puts him hep
to the bird. m he tells his valet to
bet a hundred fur him. The bird
has on socks again, but this time
they're empty, m the race was a
Joke. He breaks fifth at the get
away, but he just mows them
dogs down. Sweeney keeps think
in about that hundred, guess,
cause he rode the bird all the
way, N finished a million len'ths
in front.
81 eashes my ticket, m starts
fur the barn, when here comes
Joe Nickel.
He run a nice race he says,
GRIMM, n hands me six hun
dred bucks.
What's this fur?' says.
I win twelve hundred to the
race he says. M we splits it
two ways
'Nothin' doin',' says, m
tries to hand his back the wad.
Go awni' he says, I'll give
you a soak in the ear. l bet that
money fur you, kiddo.'
Il looks at the roll m gets wob-
bly, in the knees. / never see SO
much kale before - not at one
time. Just them we hears the an
nouncer sing out thr ough a mega
phone:
The o-oowner of Count
Nobul-l-l-l is wanted in the
judges stand!'
10y, oy!' says Joe. You'll
need that kale-you're goin' to