Waterbury evening Democrat., 1895-06-26

WHAT. THAT LOBSTERy ty. After that comes a knowledge of hu- man nature. After that he must have q Knowledge of the game sufficiently deep to enlightcn or befog an amateur. After that comes an easily acquired acquaintance with n few owners, trainers, jockeys and bookmakers. A speaking acquaintance with tho track officials makes it all the stronger.
 A man who seeks the race track occa- siOnally as an avenue of escape from tho cares of his regular business, and, as an inevitable result, enters into tho spirit of the game, stands in awe of any one who can address owners, trainers, jockeys and judges by their front names. After he makes q few bets and loses, his desire to become acquainted becomes a consuming passion. He may find tho owners, train CTS and jockeys rather distant, but some body comes to his rescue. That somebody is tho tout. Tho tout has smcllcd him from afar Thorc is nothing cold and dis tant about the tout. He is there to put strangers at their case, according to the san Francisco Chronicle.
 Are you playing the raccs?" he will ask the novice in an offhand way.
 ''Ycs, but cant beat them" the other will answer with perhaps n tingc of bitter ness in his tone.
 You cant, ch? Seems to me q blind man could beat thcSc races. Didn't you play I4allycoolcr in tho last racer"
 No; I bet $50 each way on Thingem- bob"
 "What. that lobster? We'll, money must be a cheap commodity with you. Why, he was a corpse.
 "A what?'
 "A stiff-a dead one. He wasn't meant, dye undCrstand?'
 "Oh, you mean that his jockey didn't try to make him win?
 Well, no, not exactly that, but hc was run short on purpose. Wait until the next time he comes out and then But, pshaw! I'm wasting time. I've got e good thing in this race"
 Say, hold on. Would you mind telling me what it is?'
 .'Youg Why should I tell you? Why don't you go to the cheap tout that stcCrcd you up against tho book that was plug ging Thingrmbob? I've got to set up nights and spend n lot of money to get my information
 But, sec here, I'm willing to-
 "Oh, you are? That different Now, how much will you bet on a real good thing? don't say that 1t will win to n moral certainty, but 1t figures 93l9 per cont better than anything clse in tho race, | and it s at n price good enough to get you | even on tho meeting How much arc you willing to bct?' | "Wcll-cr-about $lO0."
 "A hundred! That wouldn't keep mo in cigars for n week If you've got the dough, why don't you unload on good thingf That t's tho way to beat them. If you go picking around listening to everybody s | tips, you'll lard ia tho poorhouse. | II guess you rc right | You can go broke on that. Will you bet $500 on good thing?"
 "Wcll, if it's n real good thing, don't mind"
 "Now you TO playing cards. Go and bet | on Gray Goose, and for heavens sake don't give it away to soul. Thcrc, you can get & to in Skinncm's book. Grab it quick It will he backed off tho boards in a minute. There, that s right Now, stand pat and look wise. I will sec you after the | race"
 If tho good thing fails to go through, the | suddenly formed friendship may be shat | tered, or perhaps the tout has n plausible | explanation tO mako that will inspire rc. ncwcd confidence in himself If it wins, l the tout finds occasion to be engaged iu conversation with the cashier of the book in which the bet was made whcn the glce- full stranger lines up tu cash his ticket. The meeting k 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 tc q secluded nook in the cafe.
 "Good thing. wasn't itr" says the tout
 II should say it was, says the stran ger, "the first good bet ever won."
 "Stick to me, old man, and you will not leave enough money on this here ract track to pay the taxes. Now, let's see You won $500"
 Flight hundred; that's right"
 Count it over and lot us cut it up."
 "EhY'
 Let's cut it up."
 "EhY"
 Let's ,ut it up, I said. I come ii somewhere, don't I?''
 "Good gracious! Yes, of course How much should give youf"
 Half. That information cost mo nearl! that in coin, not to speak of my time"
 The edge of the gentleman's enthusiasm
 Is slightly dullcd when 1t comes to divid
 ing tho profits, but he divides. The steerer gets his share of the profit and gives his client this sage advice "Now, put that s900 In your pocket 0n
 stop playing for today. Sec me before tn
 second race tomorrow, and I will give yoI
 something just as sweet-a bottled u cinch that I've been laying for for tw weeks. If any one comes tOuting you giv 'em the cold stare. SeeP don't give ava
 my information to everybody, but yo
 strike me as a real nice fellow that shoul, Do looked after until you get on to tn , ropes."
 , The stranger goes away with the ide
 that tho dappor young man knows mor
 about the racing game th"p the entire faG = ulty. It does not occur to him that he Ina bet $500 to win $400 on an 8 to publi , favorite, but it all comes homo to him aft ? or awhile.
 [ That kind of touting is called "legit |. mate" The legitimate kind takes a mu hilarious form. . A beardless youth with tho appearanC ' of q jockey in street attire will sidle up t 2 3 man whom he has reason to know is or ] ly an occasional visitor at tho race trao !, and say:
 b "Will you please let mo look at you | programmed I want to see the number ( [ my fathers horse"
 "Certainly," MT. Sucker may say. "Hs . your father got a horsc in this raceP" "Ycs, he has that, and he's Coing to g.