Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1894-07-26

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pied his entire DAY by making out long
lists of his rich racing acquaintances
and compiling elaborate calculations
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
betimes, but instead of once more dun
ming his customers for the commissions
which they owed him, he paid visit to
all the starting price bookmakers, ask
ing the price of one horse at each place,
making an entry in his book mysterious
ly, and chatting with such of the hab-
itues 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 knowingly,
and when pressed to express an opinion
said, 81 can't say" and when one young
sportsman offered to take horse against
his said:
"My dear boy, the first 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 especially as to every one who
had lost or won he said 81 could have
told you as 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 re-
marking over night, when the results
were known. IF you like to let me
/ stand in 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 rea
sons which you must not ask me to ex
plain"
Anybody who knows the fashionable
sporting world will readily believe that
so trifling condition was readily COM
piled with.
Before Saturday came round all those
who had consented to pay Tommy e2OO
in the event of his tip coming off, and
had pledged their solemn oaths 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!
always win money at racing.
81 have done so steadily for years, but
never go near a meeting unless know
something, and never have sixpence
on more than one race, whether | win OF
lose, and | keep my own counsel. You
are the only man | have given this til
to- and, to be quite frank, the only rea,
son / do so is because cannot get any
more money on without spelling the
market; and am pledged to my inform
ant not to personally back the horse fol
more than certain sum or the book
makers would tumble, and if the stable
were forestalled 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 not that they would pay me out
by numbering me on to wrong 'un next
time, and as | have never taken the
knock don't want to start now."
This very excellent advice was giver
to some thirty-six of the Hon. Tommy
Arden's best and most "oofy" sporting
friends. There were six races on the
following Saturday at Kempton, 70,
which some thirty horses started. Il
would be superfuous for the purposes Of
this story to give the names of the horses
their ages, weights or the names of theil
riders. All that remains to say is thai
the Hon. Tommy Arden had e200 tC
nothing on every horse that started.
Needless to say, only six horses won
With thirty of his friends Tommy ha'
condoled and said something about "tht
luck of the devil" With six of hi
friends, who believe in him as prophet
ever after to be followed blindly, he hai
rejoiced-more especially on the Mon
day, when they each handed him {
check for 92OO, making in all e1 200
with which he paid out the brokers Al
he had promised the agent.
, 1t is due to his sagacity to say that tn,
7 Hon. Tommy Arden only plays thi
game three times in each year. Othel
men would be more greedy. Tomm,
only makes some $4,000; but he is con
, tented with this, as he has the low,
and respect of his charming wife, who il
one Of the prettiest and best dressed
women in town. In each year he ais,
makes some eighteen fast friends of tn,
? men to whom he has given the straigh
, tip which has come off. The Others
Tommy consoles himself by saying, hav,
as good chance as any one else, ant
: they all have their turn sooner or later.
There are few who, after two O
three experiences Of Tommy's straigh
tips, have become slightly colder towar'
I him; but Tommy makes no fuss. HI
| pays them out by quietly leaving then
, out of the next good thing" for tn
r simple reason that there are alway
, other good men coming on, all of whom
he makes it his business to cultivate. :.
= st. James Budget.