Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1935-01-17
Jonah Had a Sister
By J. T. BARBER
G. Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate.
WNU Service.

1t was beginning to look like an even
bet that he wouldn't get to the track
until after the last race when there
wouldn't be a chance of catching Old
Man Catherton.
He looked around inStinctively for
some sign of jinx. Only jinx could
do things like that to cOwl-born child
of fortune. His rowing eye encountered
Miss Bland. Horror chilled him but
he faced 1t resolutely.
"Thel-do you read your Bible?"
INV what?" Blond Thelma's sur
prised gasp rippled the solitude of her
messy perch by the roadside. Don't
tell me you've run out of descriptives"
''This is historic research" he grunt
ed, yanking the jack out from under
the rear axle.
I've practically been a mummy for
the last hour, if that's any good to
you. What's the background" Thelma
covered politics.
"We-el, take Jonah. l mean-his
family"
mo family" replied Thelma prompt
ly.
mo sisters?"
''Nope &. . Terry" Thelma Bland
suddenly examined him minutely-
''that wouldn't be your cowardly way
of blaming me for these sundry and
minor difficulties would it?"
"Am l saying?"
'You distinctly am. And if there's
any more of the same I'll get right out
here and walk home"
1t made Terry relent you'll stay"
he said. But they had to park for ten
minutes. Then Thelma said. That's
more like it." and Terry felt lucky
again.
He had practically forgotten his sus-
picions by the time they reached the
"Graw" and he wandered about in front
of the parimutuel windows confident
that Old Man Catherton would barge
up and buy a ticket.
Presently Old Man Catherton barged
up. Terry moved with the speed of
champion.
Excuse me. Mr.. Catherton. I'd like
to be a racing writer on the Herald
SUM-"
"Who would?' demanded Old Gather
ton defensively.
"Terry Geldon. sirr' Terry said,
.crowding.
"Humph!" Old Catherton glOwered.
And what makes you think you can
be racing writer on the Herald-Sun"
"a couple of years on the Harris
town Times-News; and l know horses.
Ask me anything"
Cn%
fingered his money and looked anxious
ly toward the windows. You don't
know what you're talking about Luck
is what you need to be good reporter.
Luck. by gad!"
Terry Obeyed an unashamed impulse
to look at Thelma Bland.
'"Thats me all over, SIR" he said,
forcing the right note. I'm a nat
ural"
Old Catherton smirked. "Oh, you're
natural! Well-lets see what you
can do. They'll be closing the win
dOws in a split second. Get over there
and buy a $40 ticket on Briarbush. On
the nose, mind you. Quick, | can't
make it! He pushed large bill into
Terry's right hand. Then Terry ran
shouting as the man was closing the
window. The man dissented but imme-
diately reversed himself. grabbed the
some change
Old Man CathertOn laughed when he
counted his money. you're it, all
right" he said. TOO much change"
Terry laughed. Thelma laughed. Then
they froze. Old Man Catherton was
checking his program with growing per-
plexity. "And they gave you the wrong
horse!''
Terry couldn't say anything He
stood there gaping while Thelma rude
ly pulled the ticket from Old Gather
tons stiff fingers.
you take my advice, young man."
Old Man Catherton bellyached. land
get out of the newspaper business.
Writing ability isn't the big thing.
What we need is men who know what
they're doing"
Sweat gathered under Terry's hat
band but he tried to smile politely at
Thelma Bland. None of them noticed
the sudden roar that had developed
along the track in the last few min
utes. Then the crowd was racing mad
ly toward the windows. shouting that
good old Dream Kiss had come through.
Old Catherton heard them. That's
the long shot" he cried what was
that number?" He looked at them
wondering what had become of the
ticket
That's it," Terry was yelling, shak-
ing him. NO. 4-Dream Kiss! Your
ticket was 1875 on No. 4. It's paying
hundred to one,"
Since nobody offered to look for his
ticket Old Man Catherton showed trem-
bling hands into his own pockets in
wild search. They watched him num-
bly, pull his right hand out of a pocket
and let the torn bits of cardboard fiut-
ter down To the dust
II must have been excited" he
said. But he was a sport. You're on.
boy; can't take that away from YOU.
Wrong horse, too much change and the
horse wins. Well-report whenever
you're ready" He wandered awav.
Il was scared stiff" Thelma whis-
pered. after had torn up that ticket"
You t-tuh-what?"