Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-08-12

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hot It carried the aroma Of tn.
stables and had the sanction oi
~ important men who wore dia-
monds. 6welt In hotel suites and
drove to the track in biz cars.
Smiling Jimmy also had 5000. To b.
exact. he had $a00iI 1t was the last
day Of racing st Saratoga The fourth
race had been run the horses for the
fifth we're being walked about the pad
cock. SmilinS Jimmy threaded his way
through the milling throrg on the lawn
and ecccstsd bookmaker,
What's Blown Smose?" he asked.
Ten. four and two" said the booky.
Smiling Jimmy nodded lis thanks,
edged along few feet and asked the
sen,e question az another bookma&or.
Smiling Jimmy WAS shopping for ODDS,
loohIng for the best price on Blown
Smoke Ten 10 one was the best he
found. end. after A few minutes of in
veStigstion. he drew from his wallet
$500 Of his S900il. and placed ii with
Ed Gander on Blown Smoke to win,
He SaunteTed toward the rail near the
judges stand then. q slim. natty. sharp
featured little figure of a man, moving
vith Just the suggestion Of an impu-
dent swagger There was o pleasant
dreamy smile on his face. rs though h.
thought on matters OF secret delight
A negro, wearing wrinSled and monde
script garments. rundown shoes and
. rioiculouSly small round felt hat. sp-
preached him. erinning
Jimmy ssluted him How. boy" ne
said sffably. What d'ya know"
Not thing, Mist Jimmy" the negro
declared, chuckling. You hcah any
thing"
uN-@4b;yr ta,,. So ha,S ~n.1 y,.,-,,.
fippantly
The negro guffawed. "Thev's ha'a to
beat. he said. shaking his head "Yo'-
al goin' to Belmont"
Try and keep me away" said
Jimmy, See you there. boy. II YOU
hear anything"
"Yassah Mist Jimmy" the negro as
sured MIN. Vas, indeed II l heahs
anything"
They nodded and parted. In parting.
taking opposite directions. they passed
close. and, for moment, we're jostled
against each other by the press Of the
throng In that moment the negro
whispered. scarce moving his lips:
"Blown Smoke"
And Smiling Jimmy. looking else
where, answered ventriloouialIv:
Got it, boy! Wad! Right on the
nose
That was all. A number of sharp
cared listeners. standing nearby.
moved away disappointed. as I in
their foolish hearts that Meth 1ll-
Ing Jimmy nor Backstrctch Bel 4ew
anything
Smiling jimmy made his way to the
rail After a little, he took from his
wallet the two remaining $50 bills and
looked at them quizzicsllv. He selected
one and spoke to it,
Baby" ne ssi6. Il hate to part you
from your little pal, but you got work
10 Go in the world. and it's time you
got busy
He walked back onto the lawn and
handed the bill to q booknsker. with
o little penciled slip.
Fifty straight on Blown Smoke." the
oooky said. reading the slip
Smiling Jimmy started back for his
place at the rail then. but paused. He
took out his wallet once more and fin
gered the last so.
You amt goin' TO grow in there old
son" ne chuckled. Ten to one. an /
know I'm gettin' an honest run for it,
The best o. seed won't do you eny good,
II you don't plant it. Let's go!''
He went then to third bookmaker
and deposited the final 50 on Blown
Smoke TO win. Thereafter. he felt
strangely better. His heart was lighter,
and his persistent smile SUMMER as he
made his way back to the rail The
notes of the bugle calling the horses 10
The post sounded sweet in his ears
''Tootle EN- out here where they be-
long, baby" he muttered. chuckling.
his eyes on the uniformed bugler
'Pspa's almost home. an # the bad
bears don't bite him. he's goin to have
candy in every pocket"
THE relocated leader rode his sedate
fat pony out Of the paddock chute.
followed by nine mincing. nervous,
dainty-footeo aristocrats Of speed. bear
ing nine spidery-built little men in ap-
pealingly absurd riding-boots and
breaches br.ght-colored full-sloe~ed silk
jackets, and peaked caps. Behind
Smiling Jimmy the crowd was pressing
to the rail or jostling up the steps for
places Of vantage In the grandstand.
Just beside HIM a h-avy-jowied man
leaned far over the rail and watched
the approaching file Of horses anz-
iously
What Go you think O Blown
Smoker" he asked Jimmy
HIS horse, mister" Jimmy gave
his opinion
Il dunno" the big man said ssepii-
cally Il hear ne dogs it, If he's
jimmy shrugged. Hes morse" he
Blown Smoke vas opposite them
Number Five A lovely, proud poised
creature, with shiny chestnut coat
Little Joe Clancy rode him standing
In the stirrups. crouched far forward
Until his bronzed face was almost touch
ing the arched neck.
Looks good" the big man admitted
grudgingly. IF he just don't dog IT."
For moment Jimmys smile faded
Is ne glanced a. the big mans heavy,
coarse face. Hs had followed tae
career Of Blown Smoke almost from
the day CT the colts birth. clicked him,
watched MIN. read about MIN. nesrd
about him, developed fononess for
him: and nov, SIRE that he was ready,
was betting the bank roll On him 10
viii. HieSblue eyes went cold and hard
Then he shrugged and the smile came
back
The horses parsded 70 the barrier and
lined up The web snapped and the
flag dropped From the crowd came
that lo~ cultural roar that sounds 50
much like the voice Of q suddenly
startled animal: They're of
The field YVES away. we'll punched
Blown Smoke Hss fourth z length and
half behind the leader The big
man standing beside Jimmy sWore
WHATS the matter with Clancy"
he demanded He In there tryin' 10
lose this rsce?
Hes IN z good spot mister smil~
ing Jimmy assured rim Just layin' In
there pretty, where he csn shoot when
he gets read
The crowd began VI root as the
cFag Anu Eu8s ia