The Project Gutenberg EBook of Checkers, by Henry M. Blossom

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Title: Checkers
A Hard-luck Story

Author: Henry M. Blossom

Release Date: March 28, 2010 [EBook #31813]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CHECKERS ***

Produced by Al Haines

[Frontispiece: CHECKERS]

CHECKERS

A HARD-LUCK STORY BY

HENRY M. BLOSSOM Jr.

HERBERT S. STONE & COMPANY

CHICAGO & NEW YORK

MDCCCXCIX

COPYRIGHT, 1896, BY

HERBERT S. STONE & CO.

TWENTY-FIFTH THOUSAND

TO MY FRIEND,

ELLIS WAINWRIGHT.

Checkers

I

I had never before attended the races. "The sport of kings" is not
popular in Boston, my former home, but here in Chicago every one turns
out on Derby Day, if at no other time. And so, catching something of
the general enthusiasm, my friend Murray Jameson, who by the way is
something of a sport, and I, who by the same token am not, found
ourselves driving a very smart trap out Michigan avenue, amidst a
throng of coaches, cabs, breaks and buggies, people and conveyances of
every description--beautiful women beautifully costumed, young men,
business men, toughs and wantons--all on their way to Washington Park,
and all in a fever of excitement over the big race to be run that
afternoon--the great American Derby.

"Now Jack," said Murray, as in due process we reached our box and sat
gazing at the crowds about and below us, "it strikes me that we should
have a small bet of some sort on the different races, just to liven
things up a bit. What say we go down into the betting ring and have a
look at the odds?"

"As you like," I answered, rising to show my willingness; "but you will
have to do the necessary, I do n't know one horse from another."

"The less you know the more apt you are to win," said Murray airily;
"but if you say so, I 'll make one bet for both of us, share and share
alike. No plunging goes to-day though, Jack; we do n't want to gamble.
We 'll have up a couple of dollars, just to focalize the interest. If
we lose it won't amount to much, and if we win--we win.

"But just a word of warning before we go down. Keep