Smyrna times., 1936-07-09
WEEKLY STORY
AROUND TABLE
Reading to While Away Time
Under the Evening Lamp
When Days Work is Done
INTERESTING READING
HONEYMOON HANDICAP"
BY E. P. O'Bryan

BY E. P. OBryan
s. "A LII right" says Oracle. CIV
"A ing Bert a whitening look.
sGo right ahead, duckie, If that's
the way you feel. Shoot the piece. =
Listen, sweetheart" Berts
words dripped honey. But who
wouldn't with a gal like Oracle for
a bride? "Why, darling, Spring
Dance"
''Tippytoe is still my choice,
Oracle says indifferently. I'm put
ting my money on him."
"Our money, darling. I've got
something to say, you know"
That was the way it had been go
ing all day. For a honeymoon
couple Bert and Oracle were get
ting off to a good start. Evelyn
and had chanced to run into them
that morning and there had been
hardly peaceful moment between
them. Every bet either of them
made was just another fly in the
ointment of happiness.
Oracle was the instigator Of every
row between them. If a woman
ever courted good sock in the jaw
Oracle was doing just that, only
Bert wasn't the kind to start sock
ing before the ink was dry on the
/ Innncn Ghnfd 1nCt ~ pnrfsc
dough and now she was trying des-
perately to win some of 1t back by
plunging.
Finally Evelyn stuck her beak in,
as women will when they have
stood about all they can. "I'n tell
you what, let's call the last race the
Honeymoon Handicap. You pick
your horse, Bert, and let Oracle
pick hers. No argument, you un-
derstand. Agree on how much
you'll bet and that much and no
more. Winner takes everybody to
supper. No winner. treat. Fair
enoughP'
20. K.," Bert says. "All right by
me. Anyway, my horse is running
In that race"
Oracle looks at her program.
Mine, too, smartie. Seel Tippy-
toe. I'm on. Let's make 1t fifty
dollars"
l That settled it-temporarily.
Things went beautifully for a while.
!, Then the argument started all over
Z again. Bert was foolish to throw
his money away on plug like
[ Spring Dance. She hadn't any rec
!. ord. Hadn't won race all spring.
Nov take Tippytoe-"
\ .Oh, that jackrabbiti" Bert says
In disgust. You're making a mis-
take, sweetheart. Any other horse
but him"
, 1t finally got around to the last
race. First Oracle went away by
/, herself and came back in about FIVE
/ minutes stuffing something in her
purse. Then Bert moseyed off. When
he came back he was tucking
ffty-dollar ticket In his wallet.
They had made their bets.
The horses got off quickly. Ser
gent Major, the favorite, went into
the lead. He was three lengths out
at the first turn The others strung
! out hebind him like a pack of
wolves after a rabbit There was
nothing to it. When they came
around the turn into the home
stretch, Sergeant Major had every
thing his own way.
by Jovep / nearly dropped
dead. Coming down the home
stretch right on Sergeant Majors
heels was Spring Dance. Where
that little FLY came from all OF a
sudden, III never know. She Just
materialized out of thin air. Now
they were neck and neck and IL
looked like a race. Then the crowd
went mad. You've seen them do
that-when the fayorite is chal-
lenged. It's always a thrill. Then
Spring Dance snatched the lead and
held. | started hammering Bert
over the head with my cap and
yelling bloody murder. ! was help
Ing that little filly all / could. She
came down the home stretch like
something on wings - beautiful,
graceful. Then she flashed by Us,
winner by at least three lengths.
Sergeant Major was second and
Rompaway third.
looked at Bert to see IL I'd have
TO help hold him. but he'd sort of
slumped over against the rail. as
IL to support himself. His face
looked like something that had run
down a canvas. it was that long.
Suddenly he began to curse.
Think Of it," he moaned. Il was
all set to bet on that horse and she
my wife-Gracie-talk me out
Of it."
You mean you didn't bet on
Spring Dance after all?"
H, MOI Let her talk me out
Of IT, I tell you. l figured maybe
she was right. and If she was she'd
hold 1t over me like a club the rest