no 



everybody had a liking for " that Grannan boy," and there 

 was no one to say a word against him. It was generally 

 known that his family was in bad straits, but no one 

 thought of u Riley," as he was called, as the one destined to 

 bring the needed relief. This was not because he was a bad 

 boy, for such was not the case. Charles Grannan was then 

 and is to-day the soul of honor. 



But to return to the thread of the story. He left his 

 little home in Lexington, and a fond mother probably shed 

 many a tear over him as he went away, but he declared that 

 when he returned to them he would bring them money and 

 happiness in abundance. Some of the more pessimistic of 

 the neighbors sneered and scoffed at the idea of " Riley " 

 ever amounting to anything. He was a diamond in the 

 rough, and they did not know it. 



Going to Louisville, the country boy who had spent the 

 best part of his life about the stables of Lexington could 

 find out little to do. What there was proved to be of such 

 a character that he did not feel able to undertake it. By and 

 by he was reduced to ten cents. This was the sole capital 

 he had in his possession. Walking into the saloon of 

 George Hess, a man who kept a place on Sixth street, be- 

 tween Jefferson and Green, at the time, he called for a glass 

 of beer and a cigar. These he paid for and he was then 

 penniless. 



Leaning across the counter, he became engaged in 

 conversation with Mr. Hess. 



" Do you ever bet on the races? " he asked Mr. Hess. 



" Yes, sometimes," was the reply. 



" Well/' said the country lad with that confidence that 

 characterizes men who have always dealt with honest men 

 and suspect nobody, " I have come to this town to borrow 

 $700 from some man who bets on the races." 



Mr. Hess smiled, and well he might, but he was interest- 

 ed in the unsophisticated youth. 



"What is your scheme, lad?" he asked. 



" I'm going to pick six winners for him to-morrow, and 

 then he will trust me," was the confident reply. 



Mr. Hess looked at the truthful face, and he though the 

 would take a chance. Nine hundred and ninety-nine thou- 

 sand men out of a million might have called and said the 



