Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-10-10
"I'M AFTER THE STARTER.
A Deathbed Scene of . Race Track Tout
Described by Louis Harrison.

A Deathbed Scene of . Race Track Tout
Described by Louis Harrison.
rom the New York Advertiser.
l have hesitsted about giving to print
the following true story of deathbed scene
which occurred in this city last winter. had
the description directly from tine doctor in at
tendance. He has lately left New York to con-
tinue his profession elsewhere. and am con-
strained to tell the story he described it,
suppressing all names.
The snow and sleet dashed through the
death-chil.iug atmosphere in wild waves. The
wind moaned dirge among the telegraph
wires. A solitary hackman. driven from his
seat by the warning elements. had ensconced
himself inside his mournful-looking ye-
hicle and tapped upon the frost-covered
glass to attract the attention of belated night
owls. Winter in its cruelest phase was upon
us. In a dingy-looking house Oh 30th street a
Young man, weak and emaciated, tossed rest
lessly upon a bed.
He was race track tout and the great men,
tai strain he had been subjected to for years in
naming snre winners had left him an absolute
wreck. His sunken cheeks, his eyes ablaze with
fever and his corpse-like palior all denoted that
he had but few short hours to live. 4 pro-
fessional nurse. with that cold, hospital
stretcher expression they all possess. sat in "A
corner of the darkened room and whiled away
the time by figuring how the undertaken wouid
| manage to get the coffin around that narrow
turn i'll the stairs.
The doctor had been summoned. and when
re rang the bell the tout waved his bony arms
| aloft and shrieked: They're off, Tenny in n
walk. Tenny gets all the money and Salvador
won't be one. two, three"
He fell back the bed exhausted as the
doctor entered the room. The ply stefan re-
moved his great coat. The nurse shook the
rain and snow from it.
doctor, this is q dreadful night. I suppose
you are wet through"
The tout regained consciousness and NUT
tered: "The track will be heavy tomorrow, and
I've got copper-riveted, lead-pipe, copy
| righted. air-tight cinch. Firenzi in the mud
she swims in it-she ci.n make the pace so hot
that the track will be dry before she does the
| first quarter"
The doctor approached the bed, and, touch
ing the patients pulse, said: How do you
feeR' ."- :
well, I'll tell you." he replied. "ius. how l
feel about this, The Dryers stable is next to
ours. and they tell ME everything Phil told
me this morning that Blackjack would win in a
horrible canter. You see. the party that owns
him wants tc make hog killing, and no one
knows that he's out for the dust"
Turning to the nurse, the doctor inquired:
"Have you notified his friends of his condi-
tion2" The tout started up and yelled: .Of
course have I want to let EN- all in OH the
ground floor. Why, it's little sure money.
! saw him tried ut daylight. this morning He
made the first quarter in 0.2l1s. the second in
0.07, and the third was SO fast that it broke my
stop watcE and loosened three of my teeth
How can be lose it? Why, it's inst like falling
through the roof If a mint"
The doctor looked very serious and said
''Ht will be dead in All hour" 'Oh. no. he
won't, the tout sneered. There's not a dead
one in the hunt. II any Of 'em were stiff I'd
know it. tell you, Blackjack il full of tahasco
sance, and he'll leave all them other plugs at
the post. Why shouldn't he? Do you know
his pedigree? Blackjack is ont OF Dark Lam
tern, by Blackwelrs Island, and he's a born
cracker
The doctor felt his pulse again and sighed:
II can do no more; I must be going" The
down close to the pillow, whispered:' "After
the Blackjack race meet me in the paddock.
| II you win I've got to give $50 to the
trainer, S25 to the jockey and $40 to the stable
| boys. III put what's left on the next race,
| and If the horse wins you're in on it. So
| meet mo In the paddock and I'll cash your
| ticket"
The doctor took the dying mans hand ana
said; my poor boy, are You prepared to meet
the Great Judge?" The tout gssped: Il don't
want 70 meet the judge; the man I'm after ID
| the starter"
The physician pressed his attsnuated hand,
and, as the moisture gathered in his symga'
tout muttered. III get next to the rail, &C
that when ! turn the corner they cart foul me.
Here's telegram / just' received from the
owner There's 50 TO on Blackjack; get il
But no didn't. He quit in The strstch and
lost BY breath.
i