FIVE THOUSAND POUNDS.

Marlborough Express, Volume LIII, Issue 274, 21 November 1919, Page 4

FIVE THOUSAND POUNDS.

TALE OF A LUCSY "PUNTER."' f,

HOW HE "LANDED THE

MUSTARD."

It does not. fall to the lot of th* average sportsman at the conclusion of a good day's racing to return toliis home to find an intimation in a.; letter thrust under his cibor that £5000 awaits his pleasure and acceptance in tho sunny! island of Tas--mania.

Such was the good fortune of a! Chrjstehurcii resident, during Carnival: Week (says the Sun). He had previously "consulted" Tattersall's OK the Melbourne Cup, and, on Tuesday, last, returning to his suburban homeas stated, found the pleasant! little"surprise packet" waiting for him. _ Contrary to the usual procedure in! cases of'the like kind, tho winner did not immediately hit the high spots and vanish in a cloud of dust, but continued soberly and steadily at his daily occupation, not even informing. his employer of his windfall. , It was not until this morning., chiefly, through the persistent fnquiries of a; Sun representative, that the fact became known to his fellow-workers.

"Are you Mr X?" inquired the writer from one of the employees at> the workshop where ' the lucky investor still "carries on"

"Wish to I was!" was tho heartfelt reply. After attempting to interview three or four spurious Mr X's who» were foisted! upon him, the: pressman,' at longth discovered his quarry unconjcernedly fallowing his daily occupation but, like "Brer Rabbit," he preferred to "lay low and sayv nuthin'." The money would be lieavily taxed in Australia, and heseemed t/o have sonic dark foreboding, of a similar indignity ; imposed1 upon, him by the New Zealand Government, ft was gleaned, however, that • tho sudden - access of wealth would! make no difference to his daity occupation, and that he! did not, pine to jazz in the Svduey cabarets!* to watch, xhe hula maidens sway on Waikiki Beach, to ptusue the elusive mint, julep in almost dry 'Frisco, or any of tihe alluring alternatives suggested to ■ him. "Christchurch will do me!"V was his staunch reply. "Aren't you going to celebrate! your victory in any way?" was the' iiext query. ' 'Well, possibly I may buy a bottlo of lemonade," he stated, "or even; two. I've certainly been in possession of a dry fueling over since the news■ camo ta hand!" "You have never 'killed at Chinese'?" the interrogator continued. : • "No/ 5 .was the reply, "but on-the I last day of tho races my w;ie ran into one and knocked him down. She apprised me of the fact, and! I immediateiv put a pound on the next race, drawing £12 10s as a result! It never; rain-i out it pours!" ' . Extracting a promise ox information' regarding any likely doubles for the remainder of tihe season, the interviewer departed in search of a Chinese to knock down.