Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1892-12-10
HIS STRAIGHT TIP.

The Hon. Tommy Arden had never
known days luck since hemarriel the
sweetest and the best girl in theworld.
lie had been a sad rake in q quiet fash
ion. and had lived in the best'possible
way for as long us any of the youngsters
conld remember. Nobody quite: knew
how he had done it, and nobody partic-
ulariy cared. He was always well
dressed. always we'll shaved and brushed
ur, always rode in the best hansoms,
always dined at the Cafe Royal with
solstshotysz ;til1luu and Went everywhere.
Everywhere" meant the Empire till
closing time, afterward one smart
dance, and then a flash eclub-he made
a point of never going to a respectable
clnb after dinner.
la the summer he always took Il turn
in the row; was seen in the lobby of the
opera during one act; was. generally to
be net at Sandown and Kempson, and
occasionally mt Ranelagh on Sundays;
strollcd about tho lawn at Cowes during
tie regatta week, and in the off season
was never seen. but said he,was shoot
inc in tho north till run over to Ostond
for ilutter.
Where he lived was known to no one.
On what he lived was known only to in
diyiduals separately to whom he said he
had the devils own luck. This did not
mean he made {. book, or if it dld.it was
false, but the general impression was
that he knew the inside Of everything,
and that if he were not SO scrnpulous
about secrets and would only let his
friends stand in oftener he would make
their fortunes and his own. His OWN
exclamation WAS that he never made
bet unless he "knew something" and
that was how he always Won. The re-
suit was that his advice was always
asked, and when he gave it always fol-
lowed. The real truth was that the
lion. Tommy had never made bet IN
his life.
When he married he gave it ali "a.
lie was truly attached 10 his wife and
abandoned everything for her He was
nc more seen at music halls and flash
Gibbs, and he dincd at home and never
went ont alone afterwarl. Everybody
thought it would all come right. as they
called it, in six months; Int it did not,
ana TO the surprise of everybody Tom
lay go5 sliabbier and sEabbier i'll appear
anec, and WAS seen on o'naibuses and
il, the underground rai:waSand other
Inexpensive aud bourgeois places. The
result was his former friends said he
had married IL shrew. and that he would
Lick over the traces some day.
The truth was Tommy was in love with
his wife, and sine was nevcleso happy as
in his company, and nothing was 80 re-
pellan: to lin as his Old associates and
his old ways. Dat virtue is its own re-
ward. anu the reward Of virtue which
The Hen. Tommy experienced was per-
patnal shower of county court SUM-
lnonses, for his commissions for recon-
amending stock brokers, advertisements,
Wine merchants. taiiors, pictures and
other recognized forms of livelihood BY
WATCH lie had tried to earn What lie
called 4 respectable living had not proved
Very remunerative.
Things had arrived at this pass when
the brokers were put in for two quar-
tiers rent. During the five days allowed
by law Tommy had flown about to try
and collect the commissions due to him,
with which to pay tue fifty pounds thai
were so expedient to the quieting of lis
blue eyed and brown haired little wife,
who. though sadly troubled, had taken
his word for it that it would be ''all
right" Ills efforts We're almost in vain.
and he went to see the agent ITO explain
thesituation and ask for time. He was
lucky in only seeing a sympathetic clerk.
vino kindly pointed out to him that he
was entitled by law to an extension of
fifteen days. In his JOY at learning this
he co!liide,i his position to Mrs. Tommy,
who in her own sweet way, believing
absolutely III her own love and the love
OF l.er husband. said:
But why bother, Tommy, darling,
trying to earn the money?
.:Ilow else can get it, my dear girl:'
oh, why not bet as You used to do:
They all SHY you are so clever and have
such luck: am sure you would win 1t
all in next TO no tinle.''
'.Oh. l have given up all that sort OF
thing, and hate it more than l can tell
You. 1t is not to be thought of in con-
liccrion with you.
.,Oh. nonsense, TOMMY You must
not let me ruin you; and | am sure all
lile very best people bet. Horse racing
is i. noble sport: and. though you never
confess it to ane, you must have made
lo.-of money at 1t"
My dear child, it can't be done now. >
ii do not know how, or Il would go
aud win you /. fortune How do you
bet:'
Il don't be;I'
Don't be sillyl How nsed you to
bet: always wanted to.know. Doesn't
tile bools,naker lay against all The
horses!
Yes"
"Aud doxcu back all the lorses:.
Good heavens! No no. If you, did that
how could you VIM
why? The book,naker lays against
ali the horses, and he always wins,
doesn't he!'
"Yes. the lookinaker always wins"
"Well. then, if you follow. the same
rule and back all the horses, you are
sure to win with one of thein?'
My dear child, no woman ever could
understand betting. and, AM sure, of
all women in the world, I have no desire
that you should"
..Dut if You won't bet Yourself, why
not give others the benefit of your expe-
rience? You know everybody. and am
sure that they would be gladSto pay you
IL commission if won-which would
be better than being robbed out of com
missions hv wine merchants