The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-06-19

nights and spend lot of money to get my
information"
But, SEQ here, I'm willing to-
"Oh, you areS That's different. Now
how much will you bet on a real good
thingS don't say that IL will win to a
moral certainty, but 1t figures 9BK per
cent better than anything else In the race
and it's at prico good enough 10 get you
even on tho meeting. How much are you
willing to betY"
"Well-er-about 800"
"a hundredl That wouldn' Z keep me In
cigars for week. II you've got the dough,
why don't you unload on good thing?
That's the way to beat them. II you go
picking around listening TO everybody's
tips, you'll land In the poorhouse.
II guess you re right"
"You can go broke on that. Will you
bet $500 on a good thing?"
HWell, IL it's real good thing, I don't
mind"
"Now you're playing cards. Go and bet
on Gray Goose, and for heavens sake
don't give IL away TO soul. There, you
can get 10 in Skinnem S book. Grab IL
quick. 1t will be backed off the boards in
q minute. There, that's right. Now, stand
pat and look wise. / will see you after the
race"
II the good thing fails Co go through, the
suddenly termed friendship may be shat
tered, or perhaps the tout has a plausible
explanation TO make that will inspire re-
newcd confidence in himself II IL wins,
the tout finds occasion 10 be engaged in
conversation with the cashier OF the book
In which the bet was made when the glee-
ful stranger lines up TO cash his ticket.
The meeting Is joyful one. The tender
foot is brimming over with gratitude, and
he and his philosopher, guide and friend
slap each other on the back and adjourn to
q secluded nook in the cafe.
GOOD thing, wasn't itS' says the tout.
81 should say 1t was, says the stran-
ger, "the first good bet l ever won"
"Stick TO me, old man, and you will not
leave enough money on this here race
track TO pay the taxes. Now, let's see.
You Won $500"
Eight hnndrcd; that's right"
"Count 1t over and let us cut IL up"
"EhY"
! "Let's cut 10 up"
"EhP'
Let's cut it up, I said. come in
somewhere, don't II"
Good graciousl Yes, Of course. How
much should give your"
Hall. That information cost me nearly
that In coin, not 10 speak of my time"
The edge of the genteman's enthusiasm
Is slightly dulled when it comes to divid-
Ing the profits, but he divides.
The steerer gets his share of the profits
and gives his client this sage advice:
"Now, put that 5000 In your pocket and
stop playing for today. Sec me before the
second race tomorrow, and | will give you
something just as sweet--a bottled up
cinch that I've been laying for for two
weeks If any one comes touting you give
'em the cold stare. See? / don't give away
my information 10 everybody but you
strike me rs n real nice fellow that should
be looked after until you get on to the
ropes. ="
The stranger goes away with the idea
that the dappor young man knows more
about the racing game than the entire fac
ulty. 1t does not occur TO him that he has
bet $500 TO win S400 on an 8 to public
favorite, but 1t all comes home to him aft
er awhile.
That kind of touting is called "lcgiti-
mate" The legitimate kind takes a mul.
tifarious form.
beardless youth with the appearance
OF jockey in street attire will sidle up to
n man whom he has reason TO know Is on
ly an occasional visitor at the race track
and say:
"Will you please let me look at your
programmed / want to see the number Of
my fathers horse"
Certainly" Mr. Sucker may say. "Has
your father got horse in this racer"
Yes, he has that, and he's going to get
oil the money"
Just then second beardless youth will
rush up and in n stage whisper say TO the
first: 81 got y thousand on and I'm wait
ing for the prlco TO go up before put on
the rest just saw Bob, and he says the
horse is dead ft and will walk in"
Mr.. Sucker is all ears The second beard
less youth darts Oft through the crowd.
"Will you mind telling me, Mr.. Suck
er will ask of the first, "what horse you
are betting all that money onY'
The youth smiles knowingly oil the
while looking straight ahead of him at a
bookmakcr's slate. That's stable Sc
crct," he will say, "and / can't give IL
away" Then he turns suddenly and adds,
"Do you want To- win bctY'
I'D like to-"
'Well, give mo your money quick, and
I'll put It on with mine"
This Is tho "rush act" IL sometimes
works, and sometimes 10 doesn't. When IL
works, the beardless youth never forgets TO
hunt tho sucker after tho race and give |
him "stiff" ticket. This latter transac- |
tion is used as evidence for the defense i'm |
case the sucker makes "holor" and car |
rics the case before the judges.
Tho rush" Is q mcaner kind OF steal |
Ing than picking pockets yet IL Is prac-
ticed at every race truck In tho country.