The Red Cloud chief., 1922-01-19
The Owner of
"Silver King"
BY MARVIN ST. JOHNS


Danhury saw that the man was
lying In the middle of The road, In i'm
minent danger of being run down by
the whirllng automobiles that followed
each other In a Eevcr.cnding stream.
He shook him, hut the man did not
respond. Then, lifting him In his
arms, the young American carried him
to the side of the highway and laid
him down under a tree.
Automobiles and carriages streamcd
past them, but no one stopped to no
tlce the r%ecumbent man. For this was
ut Kempton Park, and n of the Clas-
sic races of the year was TO be run.
The man had evidently tainted. lie
was elderly, thin, gaunt. Withholding.
Leaving him there, Danbury bought
some sandwiches.
The man ate the sandwiches greed.
lily, and presently seemed so far re.
covered as To sit IN. He stared at his
escuer.
"IIave they run 'ho Victoria stakes
yet?" he implored.
"Not. ! believe, til three O'clock"
Danbury answered.
"Thcn help me TO the course. It's
q matter Of thousands" He looked ut
Danbury th%oughtfully. Help me there
and I'll show you what an old mans
gratitude means"
Half an hour later they were seated
by the side rs near the track MS they
could get.
"There! !" the old mar cried, as n
poor looking animal went by. THAT'S
Silver King. He's being quoted at
forty 10 one-a rank outsider. And
he'll Swln-he'S NINE
'"That horse Is yours?" calculated
Danbury.
"Minc, every inch Of him. And now
I'm going to make your fortune" re-
piled the other. Listen -
"Tcn years ago Silver King was a
Derby winner. Never mind what his
name was then. lie was mine, and |
won ninety thousand pounds on him.
II went in wine, women and song
"sqnanderCd. sir, as easily as 1t came.
! lost everything | lost silver King.
He was sold To n millionaire. But his
jockey misused him and he wouldn't
run. Three months ago, I discovered
him breaking his brave heart between
the shafts of u hanson cab. | bought
him for ten g%ulneas cash. ! had just
n hundred pounds in the world. |
rented a, little cottage and barn In a
wild part Of Essex, and there l trained
him. Twelve years old he Is today,
and at first 1t a n hcart-break&,g
task. Often l thought the task was
impossible. but | p~ersevered. And Mt
last the day came when l knew that
I had again one of the swlftcst stecds
In this country. l hired q jockey and
entered him for the Victoria stakes. I
had fifty pounds left. and l borrowed
two hundred more. I didn't spend
anything on food. A loaf of bread
Is all I've had the last five days. Be
cause, you see, sir, two hundred and
fifty pounds placed on n forty-tO-One
shot means ten thousand If he wins.
A fortune for me and a peaceful old
age for Silver King. And he can't
lose"
He started toward n tall man In Il
white hat who, standing on n stool,
was shouting the odds. The horses
were at the starting gate.
"DO you van 10 como in?" asked
the old fellow, stopping short. "A hun
dred pounds will net YOU four thou
sand"
Danbury had five hundred-the bal
nnce of all he had put aside for his
European tour.
you're dead sure" he querled. "Ill
IN wager four hundred"
And you'll never regret it, son." an.
swercd the old man, ana dragged him
up 10 the bookmaker.
Last chance the latter yelled.
whats the odds on Silver King?"
queried the elder man.
b "Fifty to one" answered the book.
maker briskly. want to make a bet?
It's a sporting chance-there's worse
horses has won. -Four hundred?" He
took the money and scrubbed q memo.
randum In his book. handing Danbury
the stub.
Danbury turned, tense with excite
ment. to see the horses racing down
the field.
Hes winning" yelled the old man
at Danbury's side.
Blackberry had fallen back and Sill.
yer King had passed three of his com.
petitors.
A roar went up. Blackberry was in
the lead again. And Silver King had
fallen to the rear. The horses quick.
ened their stride. Blackberry was edg.
Ing away from all. Aud poor old sill.
yer King fell further and further
away. He tailed away, his withers
rocked like a boat in n storm. and ms
the yells of thousands showed that
Blackberry had rOmped home Silver
King came toillng along, last of the
field.
When Danbury, stunned by his loss,
turned round the old fellow was no
longer at his side. The bo0kmaker
was also gone. A little mob OF win.
ners was hunting for him with yells
OF rage. But Danbury never saw