Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-11-07
CAN'T FORGET 1T

CAN'T FORGET 1T
lie saw the look of uncertainty
and speculation in MIR. Stern's
eyes and he pressed against il.
II know what's the matter
with him." he said, "but can
make him forget II for three
minutes"
Mr.. Stern thought, an uncertain
rider on an uncertain horse. Well
why not? Maybe they'll get GER
tain together.
"All right, Johnny" he agreed.
He runs the day after tomor-
row. In the third"
Here was his chance! He was
jumping out of his shoes when he
thanked Mr.. Stern gravely. Here
was his comeback after six years
of hell. He'd bring the Storm
home in front. if he had TO lift
him in with his knees.
SO he walked with his head in
heaven until the evening of next
day. And then he happened "a
drop into the Turb, a tavern near
the track and he saw Eddie
Brighton with a straight whisky
in his hand. e
And then something funny hap
pened. He looked at Eddie and
Eddie, all at once, was himself six
years ago. He'd been watching
Eddie for a year. The kid rode
like champ. Horses liked him
and ran for him. He had urgency
in his voice and power in his
thighs and knowledge in his hands
He was Johnny Jones. himself
He was headed for the top.
But he was Johnny Jones in his
love for liquor, too. Here he was
booting his future all to hell fol
the sake of lousy drink. He die
not answer when Eddie said
Hello, Johnny, have a drink ."
Instead, he knocked the glass of
/ the bar.
"You young fool" he grated,
"you're gOin' the way I did.
Stick with that and you'll be n
bum. Lay Oft IL and you'll stay
mp there on the top. You take
IL from me-"
TCAN RIDE BETTER
IL amt tal<in' anything from
lousy has-been like YOU"
Eddie snapped. II can ride bet
ter than you ever did In your
life"
Eddie" Johnny said earnestly
as he held the kids arms
pinioned, you're ridin- Take
En- I'm the third tomorrow. 1
got a hundred says i beat you
on Storm Warning. Bet me a
hundred and I'll teach you how
10 ride"
Get IL up" Eddie snarled.
Tll bust that bubble you're
travelin In. I'll show you" The
bartender had filled his glass
but Eddie growled, ITO hell with
that until after the race"
Johnny had $50 and gold
watch his mother gave him and a
diamond worth two-fifty- He put
them all togther and they added
up TO the hundred and he laid it
with the Turf bartender and kept
.sneering al Eddie till the kid was
almost crazy.
The uncertainty hit him about
an hour before race time. He got
TO thinking. He was old and get
ting older. Maybe Eddie was
right. Maybe he was a haS-been.
He Fa4tfst- bel He He'd q never felt THIS
way before.
Without even thinking. he
slipped into the Turf and COT him
a brandy. Everybody was in there,
bettors, bookies Even Mr.. At
we'll, the steward. He raised his
eyebrows but Johnny didn't know
or care. He was scared. lie was
scared TO death. He had another
brandy And another And then,
all of a sudden, he felt fine.
KICKS UP AT BARRIER
The Storm kicked up at the bar
.rier He raised hell And he got
away eight lengths behind. But
Johnny talked him up into the
ruck He talked him out of a
pocket He swung him outside and
then Owed for the rail He knew
when they came into the stretch
that the Storm had the race. And
ne was right
He was back, Old johnny
Jones' The comeback trail with
It's heartbrcakS and It's busted
hopes was all behind him. Today.
he was again winning rider! He
was also drunk He staggered
into the tack room. where the
I stewards messenger found him.
He wondered what the hell they
wanted with HIM hut he staggered
after the messenger. And nc
found out.
Jones'" MIR Atwell said i'm
personally. you're set down for
siN months" His face came sud-
denly alive. Damn IL, Johnny"
/ he SnOrted, you're right back
where you were SiN wears ago.
You've kicked your big chance
away. Six months"
Johnny. all at once, was sober.
He vent over 10 the Turf. drag
]