The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1892-12-06
HIS STRAIGHT TIP.
How the Hon. Tommy Alden Lost
His Friend But Gained a Fortune.

The Hon. Tommy Arden had never
known a days luck since he married the
sweetest and the best girl in the world.
He had been a sad rake in a quiet fash
ion, and had lived in the best possible
way for as long as any of the youngsters
could remember. Nobody quite knew
how he had done it, and nobody partic-
ularly cared. He was always well
dressed, always well 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 q flash club-he made
point of never going to a respectable
club after dinner.
In the summer he always took a turn
in the row; was seen in the lobby of the
opera during n act; was generally to
be met at Sandown and Kempton, and
occasionally at R~anelagh 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 I run over to Ostend
for a flutter."
Where he lived was known to no one.
On what he lived was known only to in
dividuals separately to whom he said he
had the devils own luck. This did not
mean he made a book, or if it did it was
false, but the general impression was
that he knew the inside of everything,
and that if he were not so scrupulous
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 rave it always fol-
lowed. The real truth was that the
Hon. Tommy had never made a 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 flash
clubs, and he dined at home and never
went out alone afterward. Everybody
thought it would all come right, as they
called it, in six months; but it did not,
and to the surprise of everybody Tom
my got shabbier and shabbier in D
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-
pellant to him as his old associates and
his old ways. But virtue is it's w re-
ward, and the reward of virtue which
the Hon. Tommy experienced was a per-
petual shower of county court sum
monses, for his commissions for recon-
mending stock brokers, advertisements,
wine merchants, t%ailors, pictures and
other recognized forms OF livelihood by
which he had tried to earn what he
called a respectable living had not proved
very remunerative.
Things had arrived at this pass when
the brokers were 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 e%xpedient to the quoting of his
blue eyed and brown haired little wife,
who, though sadly troubled, had taken
his word for it that it would be sail
right" His efforts were almost in vain,
and he went osee the agent 'sto explain
the situation" and ask for time. He was
luckyin only seeing a sympathetic clerk.
who kindly pointed out 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 Bve and the love
Of her husband, said:
"But why bother, Tommy, darling,
trying to earn the money!"
"How else a 1 get it, my dear grip
ooh, 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"
"Oh, | have given up all that sort of
thing, and hate it more than / a tell
you. 1t is not to be thought of in con-
n~ection with you"
'Oh, nonsense, Tommy! You must
not let me ruin you; and I am sure all
the very best people bet. Horse racing
is a 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"
81 do not know how, or 1 would go
and win you a fortune. How do you
bet?"
81 don't betr"
Don't be sillyl How used you to
bet? / always wanted to know. Doesn't
the bookmaker lay against all the
horsesl"
eyes"
"And do you back all the horsesY'
Good heavens! No. If you did that
how could you win:"
"Why? The bookmaker lays against
all the horses, and he always wins,
doesn't hep
Yes, the bookmaker always wins"
HWell, then, if you follow the same
rule and back all the horses, you are