The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1892-12-31
HIS STRAIGHT TIP.

way for as long az any Of the youngsters
could remember. Nobody quite knew
now he had done it, and nobody pariic-
ularly cared. He was always well
dressed, always we'll shaved and brushed
up, always rode in the best hansoms.
always dined at the Cafe Royal with
somebody, and went everywhere.
Everywhere" meant the Empire till
closing time, afterward one smart
dance, and then fash club-he made
a point of never going TO a respectable
club after dinner
In the summer he always took turn
in the row; was seen in the lobby of the
opera during one act; was generally to
he met at Sandown aud Kempton. and
occasionally at Ranelagh on sundays;
strolled about the lawn at Cowes during
the regatta week, and in the off season
was never seen. but said he was "shoot-
ing in the north till run over to Ostend
for hutter."
Where he lived was known to no one.
On what he lived was known only To iu-
dividuals separately to whom he said he
had the devils own luck This did not
mean he made book Orif it did 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
explanation was that he never made a
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
Hon. Tommy had never made bet in
his life.
When he married he gave it all up.
He was truly attached to HE wife and
abandoned everything for her. He was
no more seen at music halls and fash
clubs, and he dined at home and never
went out alone afterward. Everybody
thought it would all come right. AZ they
called it., in six months; but it did not,
and to the surprise of everybody Tom
my got shabbier and shabbier in appear
ance, and was seen on Omnibuses and
in the underground railway and other
inexpensive and bourgeois places The
result was his former friends said he
had married a shrew, and that he would
kick over the traces some day.
The truth was Tommy was in love with
his wife, and she was never so happy as
in his company, and nothing was so re-
pelIant to him rs his old associates and
his old ways. But virtue is its own re-
ward, and the reward of virtue which
the Hon. Tommy experienced was per-
petual shower of county court sum-
monses. for his commissions for recon-
mending stock brokers, advertisements,
wine merchants, tailors, pictures and
other recognized forms Of livelihood by
which he had tried to earn what he
called respectable living had not proved
very remunerstive.
Things had arrived at this pass when
the brokers We're put in for two quar-
ters' 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 the fifty pounds that
were so expedient to the quietiug of his
blue eyed and brown haired little wife.
who, though sadly troubled, had taken
his word for it that it would he all
right" His efforts We're almost in vain,
and he went to see the agent ito explain
the situation and ask for time. He was
lucky in only seeing a sympathetic clerk.
who kindly pointed ont To him that he
was entitled by law to an extension Of
fifteen days, In his joy at learning this
he confided his position to Mrs. Tommy,
who in her own sweet way, believing
absolutely in her own leve and the love
OF her husband, said;
But why bother, Tommy, darling,
trying to earn the money!
"How else eau get it, my dear girlE''
"Oh, why not bet as you used to do:
They all say you are so clever and have
such luck; am sure You would win it
all in next to no time
3 "Oh, ! have giveu up all that sort of
thing, and hate it more than | can tell
yOu. 1t is not TO be thought of in con-
nection with you.
''Oh, nonsense, Tommy! You must
not let me ruin you; and ! am sure all
the very best people bet, Horse racing
is noble sport; and, though you never
confess it to me, you must have made a
lot of money at it,
my dear child, it can't be done now.
Il do not know how, or ! would 80
and win You fortune. How do you
betl'
Il don't bet
Don't be sillyl How used You to
bet! | always wanted to know Doesn't
the boolKmsker lay against all the
horses"
Yes
And do you back all the horses!
Good heavens! No. If you did thar
how could you VIM
why? The bookmaker lays against
all the horses, aud he always wins,
doesn't her
HYss, the booknsker always wins"
well, then, if yon follow the same
rule aud back all tho horses. you are
sure To win with one 1T themE
My dear child. no woman eyer could
understand betting, and I an, sure. of
all women IA the world, have no desire
that you should.
But II You won't bet yourself, why
not give others the benefit Of your expe-
rience: You know everybody, aud 1 am
sure that they would be- glad TO pay you
a commission il theywon which would
be better than being robbed ont of COM
missions by wire merchants"
The Hon. Tommy changed the sub
ject, but, oddly enough, he lay awake all
night thinking over the last words Of
his little wife in connection with her
strange ideas about how to win money
by backing all the horses. The next
morning he did not refer 10 the subject,
but staid away from business and occu-
pied his entire day by making ont long
lists Of his rich racing acquaintance
and compiling elaborate calculations.
Toward evening he went out and bought
4 betting book. into which ne carefully
copied the result Of his work This
done, he read 1t all over aud smiled,
He then closed the book, ate his dinner
comfortably. retired 10 bed early and
slept like a top.
The next day he wat out aud about
hsimes, but instead Of once more dun
ming his customers for the commissions
which they owed him. be paid a visit 90
all the starting price bookmakcrs. ask-
ing the pnos of one horse az each place,
making al entry in his book mysterious
W, e1a chaftipg with fncl oi f1e hab-