The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-12-16
a RACE BY. TELEGRAPH.
Despair OF Pool-Room Spectators Who
Backed Benzine.

Despair OF Pool-Room Spectators Who
Backed BenzIne.
Tic-tic-tic-tic-tic
They're off Mt Latoniaw tho opor-
ator cries, and the bettors' hearts stand
still.
Which horse will it be?
A pool-room in New York city is tho
place where this race is ION tap"
where by the aid of the telegraph and
an expressive oratorical shouter one
can almost imagine himself at the
track, away down in Kentucky, many
hundreds of miles away.
Tic-tic-tic-tic- tic.
They're all toge ther!"
The silence is oppressive; yet all ears
are strained for fear some news will be
missed. There goes the Morse again!
-tic-tic-tic.
How ominous the sound and how
anxious IRE the ears that await its
translation. "Benzine in the leadv'
Tic-tic-tic. "Belshazzar secondw Tic
tic. Falmouth thirdp
A low murmur of approval breaks
the silence, for Benzine is the favo-ite,
and of course carries the most money.
With faces pale as death and beating
hearts the spectators gaze anxiously at
the name of their horse, as if they
could see the race on the black board
But listen!
tic-tic-tic-tic- "Belshaz-
znr at the quarter!' A curse, n groan.
''Benzine second! Falmouth third"
n growl goes up. Scowls appear
upon the faces of the Disguised specta-
tors, for ii Benzinc is beaten at the
quarter, where will he be at the last
where, indeed.
1t is miscellaneous crowd that
awaits the outcome of this race, and
mostly seedy looking set which goes
to show that tho "bool1ies" get most of
the 'pie." a few, however, mostly
professionals, sport silk and
diamonds" as the saying goes.
AS an illustration of what big sig
nificance this race means to some, here
stands young man who has bet his
entire weeks salary on the favorite,
Bcnzine.
What will his lnndlady do? Where
will his laundry woman come in?
Worst Of all, what will his girl think
when he fails to appear with the prom
iscd thenter tickets?
Tic-tic-tic-t ic-tic -tic-tic.
Same at the half;-Falmouth COM
ing fast"
With Belshazzar in tho lead and Fal-
mouth moving up, Benzine's chances
for winning are not so fair; yet the
loolSers-on still hope. They will not
despair until it is entirely over.
Tic-tic-tic- tic-tic
Falmouth at the three-quarters!
c-tic-"Belshazzar second"
Tic-tic-"Bcnzinc third"
The crowd still gaze at the name of
their horse, but it's IL sicl1ly hopeless
sort of n gaze, all looks of animation
or expectation having left their faces.
But-"Wait!"
Tic-tic-tc- tic-tic-tic- tic.
Falmouth in the stretch" Tic-tic-
tic-"Jessie G. second!" Tic-tic-"Bcl-
shazzar. third"
All hope is gone. The crowd have
turned away and their faces plainly
show their disgust and chagrin
The young man whose reputation and
next weeks livelihood depend upon
Benzine concludes that he is tired and
takes chair.
There's not tout in sight, for they
have given the "tip'-Benzine-a one
man, and sofeeling thatif itisn't death,
III Will certainly cause some harm to
stay-they vanish.
Tic-tic-tic-t ic-tic-tic
''I5enzine wins"
whats that?"
They turn, they stnre-thcn shout
goes up-"Saved!"
Who cares for the horse that gets the
place? Has not Benzinc won the racer
"Hurrah! IIooray!"-N. Y. World.