"I grabs the bag 'n' beats it. I gets the change out on my way back to
the poolroom. The third race is still open, 'n' I gets ten bucks
straight 'n' two to show on Tea Kettle. Then I goes over where ole man
Johnson's settin'.
"'Whar does you go so quick like?' he says.
"'I'm after some coin,' I says, tryin' to ketch my breath. 'I've took
a shot at the Tea Kettle hoss.'
"'I has bet on him,' he says, 'to ma fullest reso'ses.'
"'How much you got on?' I says.
"'Foh dollahs,' says ole man Johnson.
"Just then the telegraph begins to click.
"'They're off at New Orle-e-e-ns!' sings the operator. 'King Ja-a-ames
first! Eldorado-o-o second! Anvil-l-l third!'
"The telegraph keeps a stutterin' 'n' a stutterin'.
"'Eldorado-o-o at the quarter a length! Anvil-l-l second a length!
King Ja-a-ames third!' sings the operator.
"I looks at ole man Johnson. He looks at me.
"'Eldorado-o-o at the half by three lengths! Anvil-l-l second by two
lengths! King Ja-a-ames third!' sings the operator.
"I looks at ole man Johnson. He don't look at me. He looks up at the
ceilin' 'n' his lips is goin' like he's prayin'. Me? I'm wipin' the
sweat off my face.
"'Eldorado-o-o in the stretch a half a length!' sings the operator.
'Anvil-l-l second a nose! Te-e-a Kettle third and coming fast!'
"If I gets a shock from that telegraph wire I don't jump any higher.
"'Howdy, howdy! _He's boilin now_,' yells ole man Johnson loud enough
to bust your ear.
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