Evening star., 1923-09-30
THE FEEDBOX FOOL

AOep Tic HioHeyF
"Aw. what's the use of the dough-"
he asked, sheepishly. He had never
thought Of his game as a business
HIS position crumbled. The whole
works quit or him. Blew.
HOW many tips do you sell and
Tor how much every day?" Jenny
Hall pursued, relentlessly.
"Oh, all the way from one to half
a dozen, once to a dozen times apiece,
five to ten berries a throw" he ad-
mitted. II reckon drag in seventy
Ave or a hundred iron men on a fair
afternoon"
III 1t was seventy-five and you
kept 1t six days week you'd be
making $3.50 a week." Jenny Hall
pointed out. DO you know anybody
who makes as much?"
The Feedbox Fool fumbled FOR an
answer, but found none. But he could
not get the idea out of his head. On
the train bound for Baltimore he
thought 1t over and resolved to give
Jenny's idea a try.
The FTeedbox Fool became a mill
tant crusader in search of money.
His takings ranged from $50 to $3.50
a day. And he bet not a cent, even
on the best Of the good things he
peddled.
This crazy hunch of Jenny's made
him a better picker. 1t made him
more careful in. selling the ponies
he picked. Prosperity overlook him.
He sent money orders to Jenny Hall,
ostensibly for Johnny's support and
her own, but in reality because he
didn't. know what else to do with the
money.
Then, long before he left the Mary
land tracks for the fall campaign in
Kentucky, Jenny wrote him a letter,
saying that she had saved the money
and had plenty to take care OF
Johnny for some time to come.
Johnny was better, and in a few
weeks more would be looking for a
job. provided he didn't have a set
back.
x x x x
THE Feedbox Fool pocketed his
i money until he couldn't very
we'll carry it any longer. and then
he bought Sweet Lady, a handsome.
understood bay mare, nine years old.
She lost three races in row for
him and got show money out of a
fourth. She developed sore feet and
had to be laid up. When he pulled
out of Maryland for home early in
the fall, leaving Sweet Lady to be
shipped with his friend Tom Apple
tons stable to Kentucky, the Feed |
box Fool was fiat again. The sensa-
tion was more natural than comfort |
able.
Jenny Hall met him at the door of
the fat. Hes down again" she
said. Courage showed in her strong
blue eyes, but lines framed her mouth
and eyes. HE went out to look for
a job. Found one in the shipping
room of the Crescent Corporation, in
doors. Then the Crescent
That's one Of Tobin's companies"
Feedbox interrupted. But it wouldn't
make any difference"
Except 1t did," said Jenny. You
can talk to Johnny in minute. Doc
tors in there now. This Mr.. Tobin
came through the plant on an inspec-'
ton trip and saw Johnny at work.
Working hard, he was. Sweating. he
said. Tobin stopped, and ordered !
Johnny put out. 1 guess Johnny must !
have talked back, because Mr.. Tobin |
gave him a shove and knocked him |
down. That didn't hurt him"
THAT guys gonna get killed" |
Feedbox declared, under his breath. !
But the trouble got him so |
up he's had a relapse. |
and has fever again."
The doctor came out of the bed
room and closed the door behind him.
In few words he explained that |
the boy was in the early stages Of |
the white plague. Complete rest, |
freedom from worry, good air, good |
'ood, he said, would combine to help !
him. If they could take him to |
and keep him outdoors, |
after he had regained some strength !
Fool. He had not told Jenny Hall
le was broke. But you'll look after
lim until he's over this setback right
low, won't you, doc? When he's bet
.er, Well take him to the coast. See?"
Things broke badly for the Feed
,ox Fool. Johnny hovered on the
yerge of a serious. final illness.
strength ebbed, although
reedbox found a nurse to do most
II tho work. He moved his hat and
,uit case to the fat, and slept, sit
ing up, in the living-dining room.
At midnight he woke and relieved the
nurse, who mapped until 3. when Feed
box took his departure for the track
to watch the early workouts. His tips
began to go good and his customers
piled him hard. The takings grew
again.
Here's where we start building our
to Jenny Hall in Johnny's room "All
bills paid except Sweet Lady's feed
bill"
"whatcha gonna do with at mare?"
asked Johnny. wanly. |,
I'm gonna start her in a race one
Of these days." Feedbox declared,
and give her one more chance to
earn her oats. After that If can't
DO anything else with her you and I
and Jenny, there, will climb on her
back and start for California AL
though" he added, with a twinkle in
his eye, you oughtnt ride even a i
bad horse to death"
y X X X
THE Feedbox Fool had an exercise
j boy working Sweet Lady, and
she responded to training. Her feet
were still sore, but the Fool noticed