The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1893-01-28

Ny dear child, it cant be done
now.
| do not know how, or l would go
and win you fortune. How do you
bet?
| don't bet!
Don't be silly! How used you to
bet1 l always wanted to know.
Doesn't the bookmaker lay against
all the horses!
Yes.
And do you back all the horses?
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 he?
Yes, the bookmaker wins.
Well, then, ii you follow the same
rule and back all the horses, you are
sure to win with one Of them2
My dear child, no woman ever
could understand betting, and l am
sure, of all women in the world, l
have no desire that you should.
But if you won't bet yourself, why
not give others the benefit Of your
experience? You know everybody,
and l am sure that they would be
glad to pay you commission if
they won-which would be better
than being robbed out of commits
sions by wine merchants.
The Hon. Tommy changed the
subject, but, oddly enough, he lay
awake all night thinking over the
last words of his little wife in con-
nection with her strange ideas about
how to win money by backing all
the horses. The next morning he
did not refer to the subject, but
staid away from business and occu
pied his entire day by making out
long lists OF rich racing acquaint.
ances and compiling elaborate calcu-
lations. Toward evening he went
out and bought betting book, into
which he carefully copied the result
of his work. This done, he read it
all over and smiled. He then closed /
the book, ate his dinner comfortably, |
retired to bed early and slept like a
top.
The next day he was out and
about be;imes, but instead of once
more dunning his customers for the
commissions which they owed him,
he paid visit to all the starting
price bookmakers, asking the price
of one horse at each place, making
an entry in his book mysteriously,
and chatting with such of the habi
tues as he was acquainted with. He
lunched at the Cafe Royal, where he
| met more friends with whom he dis
cussed the days fixtures, nodded his
head ominously and smiled know
ingly, and when pressed to express
an opinion said, l can't say; and |
when one young sportsman offered |
to take horse against his, said:
My dear boy, the rule of racing is
that you cannot bet if you know
and | know.
His virtuous diSinclination to take
on the youngster did not prevent
his friends, when he turned up at the |
Empire, from saying that Tommy
had had good day-more espec-
tally as to every one who had lost
or won he said, l could have ,old |
you much, only | was bound not to
say word to a soul. During all |
that week the Hon Tommy pursued |
very much the same tactics, merely |
remarking over night, when the
results were known, eff you like to
let me stand in a couple of hundreds |
| will let you know good thing for
Kempton on Saturday, provided |
you give me your sacred word of
honor never to breathe my name as
your informant whether it comes off |
Or not, as have grave reasons which |
you must not ask me to explain.
Anybody who knows the fashion,
able sporting world will readily
believe that so trifling a condition
was readily complied with.
Before Saturday came round all
those who had consented to pay
Tommy 42oo in The event of his tip
coming off, and had pledged their
solemn oats never to divulge his
name as their informant, were duly
placed in possession OF name with
the following sage counsel:
The way you chaps lose your
money is by going to every race
meeting, by backing horse in every
race, and by putting your pals on,
and thus spelling the market when
you really do know anything good.
Now look at me! l always win
money at racing.
have done SC steadily for years,
but | never go near a meeting unless
l know something, and never have
a sixpense on more than one race,
whether | win or lose, and l keep
my own counsel. You are the only
man have given this tip to, and,
to be quite frank, the only reason |
do SO is because | cannot get any
more money on without spelling the
market; and | am pledged TO my
informant not to personally back the
horse for more than a certain sum
or the bookmakers would tumble,
} and if the stable forstalls | should
never get the office again. 1t is by
not being discreet that fellows spoil
themselves, and if | were to knock
the betting about it is as likely as