Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1922-06-15
TheOwner of
"Silver King"
5IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIlIIIIIIIIIilIIlIIIIIiIIIllIillI
By MARVIN ST. JOHNS

minent danger of being run down by
the whirling automobiles that followed
each other In a never-ending stream.
He shook him, but 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 streamed
past them, but no one stopped to no.
tice the recumbent man. For this was
at Kempton Park, and one of the claa-
sic races Of the year was to be run.
The man had evidently tainted. He
was elderly, thin, gaunt, Withholding
Leaving him there. Danbury' bought
some sandwiches
The man ate the sandwiches greed
lily, and presently seemed 50 far re-.
covered as to sit up. He stared at his
reScueR
"Have they run the Victoria stakes
yetT he implOred.
mot, believe, till three O'clock"
Danbury answered.
"Then help me to the course. It's
a matter Of thousands He looked at
Danbury thOughtfully. "Help me there
and I'll show you what an old mans
gratitude MEANS"
Half an hour later they were seated
by the side as near the track as they
could get.
'"There!" the old man cried, as a
poor-loOking animal went by. THAT'S
Silver King. He's being quoted at
forty to one-a rank outsider. And
he'll win-he's mine"
''That horse is yours?" calculated
Danbury.
"Mlne, every inch Of him. And now
I'm going to make your fortune" re-
piled the other Listen"
"Ten years ago Silver King was
Derby winner. Never mind what his
name was then. He was mine, and I
won ninety thousand pounds on him.
1t went in wine, women and song
squandered, sir, as easily as 1t came.
l lost everything; I lost Silver King.
He was sold to millionaire. But his
jockey miSused him and he wouldn't
run. Three months ago, l discovered
him breaking his brave heart between
the shafts of hanson cab. bought
him for ten guineas cash, l had just
hundred pounds in the world.
rented a little cottage and barn In a
wild part Of Essex, and there trained
him. Twelve years old he is today,
and at first 1t was q Misunderstanding
task. Often / thought the task was
impossible, but l persevered. And at
last the day came when knew that
had again one of the swiftest steeds
In this country. hired jockey and
entered him for the Victoria stakes.
had fifty pounds left, and borrowed
two hundred more. | 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 a fOrty-to-one
shot means ten thousand If he wins.
A fortune for me and a peaceful old
age for Silver King. And he cant
lose.."
He started toward tall man In
white hat who, standing on stool,
was shouting the odds. The horses
were at the starting gate.
do you want to come in?" asked
the old fellow, stopping short. "A hun
dred pounds will net you four thou
sand"
Danbury had FIVE hundred-the bal
ance of all he had put aside for his
European tour.
you're dead sure" he Queried an
I'll wager four hundred"
"And you'll never regret it, son." an
swered the old man, and dragged him
up to the bOOkmaker.
"Last chance!" the latter yelled.
"What's the odds on Silver Kingr
Queried the elder man.
"Fifty to one" answered the book
maker briskly. "Want to make betf
It's a sporting chance-theres worse
horses has won. Four hundred" He
took the money and scrubbed memo
randum in his book, handing Danbury
the stub.
Danbury turned. tense with excite
ment, to see the horses racing down
the field.
"He's winning" yelled the old man
at Danbury's side.
Blackberry had fallen back and Sill
yer King had passed three Of his CON-
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. And poor old Sill
yer King fell further and further
away. He tailed away, his wlthers
rocked like boat In storm, and as
the yells of thousands showed that
Blackberry had rOmped home Silver
King came tOiling along, last Of the
neld.
When Danbury. stunned by his loss,
turned round the old fellow was no
longer at his side. The boOkmaker
was also gone. A little mob OF win.
ners was hunting for him with yells
NJ raqQ Rut DanhVrv never aAvu