The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-08-13
JOHN HARVEY, TOUGH"
FROM AN INNOCENT BOZ 10 Il
RACE-TRLCK GAMBLER.
A Pathetic Story of . Life Almost Wrecked,
But Saved 1T Last by an Incident
That Was Sad Indeed.
written for The Times.)


exits OF Norris Park. with the exception
OF a few fortunates. who remained for
a final settlement with the 'bookies."
John Harvey was one OF these. In fact.
John himself could not remember when
he had ever been regularly done" as
he expressed It in the phrsseology Of the
race track.
For the last FIVE years fortune had
unceasingly followed Tough Harvey, as
he was known by his associates. He
never asked or gave a point r. and yet
he would invariably pick the winner.
II favorite was being heavily backed,
| Harvey would take the field; the next
| days newspapers would announce that
the fayorlte was beaten. His judgment
| about horses chances, or, rather his
| luck as some termed ii, gained MIN no
| little notoriety. Indeed, he had quite
| following who always waited to see
| what horse he was betting on before
placing their money, taking his bet as
a pointer.
The bookmakers soon had that iind OF
| respect for Harvey that luck always
holds in the eyes OF the racing man,
kind Of superstitious awe, or reverence.
as Il were. They changed and rear
ranged the Odds as he backed this or
that horse. Men called Harvey mer-
| CHESS dog. They said ''he never let
his man 60" no matter ho1 hard he
was hit. If he went 70 the wall, Harvey
! said: Oh him. it was where he ought
! to 60" Then, too. what strengthened
! the above accusation was the fact that
nobody could ever remember having
seen Harvey tip stable boy, or treat
companion TO a drink-no. not even 10
| lemonade-which was only five cents
| glass. This latter breach OF all race
| tr5 ok etiquette was considered an I'M
| pardorable sIn-something that could not
| be passed by. But what was most
| damaging against Harvey was that no
| one could ever find out where he had
| come from, or what he had previously
done for a living. Some whispered he
| rad been a counterfeiter, because he
always used paper money, but this was
| hooted, because he only passed legal
tender He had appeared one day at the
park mere boy, just grown. with
| fresh. sad face, and a few notes In his
pocket. Some trailer" for the bookies
! had roped him in for "a green 'un," and
/ had led him to the ring, where he had
proceeded to break the bookmakers and
establish his reputation In the eyes Of
/ the racing fraternity, by placing one
| hundred on Dixie. at sixty 10 one, who
won the race as nobody expected her
! to-except Harvey That was his FIRST
| appearance Now for five years he had
kept his mouth, minded his business and
| played his conservative game. to the
| great loss OF the bookmakers. Gradually
| and by slow degrees he had accomplished
| his purpose-he had drawn himself away
from his fellow-man. During these tve
years he had grown moustache. his
| eyes had taken on hapless' cynlcal
| look, the fresh. boyish face had dled,
and IN its stead was a cruel. harsh unre-
| lenting countenance. Yes, there was no
| doubt about It, Harvey was very profane,
| Indeed. he only opened his mouth TO
| curse. or else TO eat or drink; besides
| this. his only occupation and seeming en-
| toyment was betting. He never asso-
| ciated with any one unless he was COM
| PEELED 10 do so. and when he was forced
| into contact he was so "cussedly ugly
In his manner that he had been given the
! name Of Tough. "Cash that Harvey
tossed lanes. the bookmaker his ticket
AZ six 10 one on Tempest. ms he spoke
"Seventy-fve dollars placed, that makes
four hundred and fifty" replied the
| veteran bookie, as he counted out the
money in bills and handed them over
What an eye you have, Harvey.
''Wnat Is that 10 you?" Harvey growled'
as he turned to leave the grounds
/ He was just passing through the gate
when one OF those poor track urchlns
| that always make ones conscience hurt
t when we think OF their pinehed, worn
faces after we have had our fill or
| a good meal. accosted him with Gimme
/ n dime mister" "Get out OF my way,
Won id beggar," said Harvey, as he
| brushed past the boy, who would nave
| repeated mis- request.
| Harvey had Just lighted his cigar. had
| finally gotten his chair at an angle TO
suit him against the hotel porch, had
| pulled his straw hat over his eyes ana
| proceeded to inform his fellow-man by
| his generally down ithin-himself' APP
| pearance that the man who spoke APP
| him was no better than fool, and that
| he Harvey) didn't want TO be disturbed
under any circumstances. He had been
I'm this position about ten minutes; had
! knocked the ashes from his cigar twice;
| had twice mentally cursed himself Tor not
| nlacing moro money on Tempest and
was proceeding 10 knock the ashes on
| the end OF his cigar a third time, When
| he noticed a crowd hurrying up the
| street 10 the hotel. They carried boy,
| who had been run over and hurt In the
lam OF vehicles-that jam which always
| occurs when the crowd leaves MOTIFS
| park. II happened quite often. so Harvey
| did NO, move. Somebody was always
being run over; and besides. IT was OF
no interest 10 him who was hurt or k1heu
as long as II was not himself. Thus ne
| moraliZed and then knocked his ashes
/ for a third time.
AS the crowd bore their burden up the
| hotel steps into the lobby, whence
| physiclan might be summoned, Harvey
turned his head and from under his nat
recognized the urchin, who had 80 re-
| Gently asked him for a dime. He said
afterwards. "he never could exactly tell
| what did IT, but he reckoned II was the
last diving kick of his conscience" as
he expressed II. The boy was 10 all
onnearances dead. He had an ugly cash
over one eve. while the flow OF blood
from his mouth indicated internal In
iuries. The physician said he was done
for. and that 1t was only the matter OF
an hour or so.
Harvey had Joined the crowd In the
clerks Office They had instinctively
Given away before him. and now he was
standing right by the boys side, watch
ing with feverish interest the doctor IN
his efforts TO bring him 10 consciousness.
| He was standing, as he always did.
silently. addressing no one. expressing no
sorrow; not offering TO help; simply
/ standing there. silently watching.
The end was approaching, and just be-
fore the soul OF the little street Arab
| departed he opened his eyes. They met
| Haryey's. The recognition was mutual.
"Mister." the boy said. in husky voice,
/ while the gurgle OF blood in his throat
choked back his words. you didn't gimme