Daily Kennebec journal., 1895-06-21
"wHAT, THAT LoBSTER?"

ty. After that comes knowledge OF hu-
man nature. After that he must have a
knowledge of the game sufficiently deep to
enlighten or befog an amateur. After that
comes an easily acquired acquaintance
with a few owners, trainers, jockeys and
bookmakers. A speaking acquaintance
with the track officials makes it all the
stronger.
A man who seeks the race track occa-
slonally as an avenue of escape from the
cares of his regular business, and, as an
inevitable result, enters into the 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 few bets and loses, his desire to
become acquainted becomes consuming
passion. He may find the owners, train
ers and jockeys rather distant but some
body comes to his rescue. That somebody
is tho tout. The tout has smelled him
from afar. There is nothing cold and dis
tant about tho tout. He is there to put
strangers at their ease, according to the
San Francisco Chronicle.
"Arc you playing the races?" he will
ask the novice in an offhand way.
eyes, but can't beat them,' the other
will answer with perhaps tinge of bitter
ness in his tone.
"You can't, eh? Seems to me blind
man could beat these races. Didn't you
play Lallycooler in the last racc?'
"No; l bet $50 each way on Thingem-
bob"
"What, that lobster? Well, money must
be a cheap commodity with you. Why, he
was corpse.
"a WHAT"
"a stiff-a dead one. He wasn't meant
dye understands"
ooh, you mean that his jockey didn't
try to make him win?''
"Wcll, no, not exactly that, but he was
run short on purpose. Wait until the next
time he comes out and then But, pshaw!
I'm wasting time. I've got good thing
in this race"
Say, hold on. Would you mind telling
me what it is?"
you? Why should I tell you? Why
don't you go to the cheap tout that stecrcd
you up against the book that was plug
ging Thingembob? I've got to set up
nights and spend q lot of money to get my
Information
But, see here, I'm willing to-
ooh, you are? That's different. Now,
how much will you bet on real good
thing? l don't say that it will win to a
moral certainty, but it figures o3lS per
cent better than anything else in the race,
and it at price good enough to get you
even on the meeting. How much are you
willing to bct?'
"Well-cr-about $780,"
"a hundred! That wouldn't t keep me in
cigars for week. If you'vc got the dough,
why don't you unload on good thingf
That's the way to beat them. If you go
picking around listening to cvcrybody's
tips, you'll land in the poorhouse.
II guess you re right
"You can go broke on that Will you
bet $500 on good thing?"
''Wcll, if it's a 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 1t away to soul. There, you
can get to in Skinnem' book. Grab it
quick. 1t will be backed off the boards in
a minute. There, that s right. Now, stand
pat and look wise. will see 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 plausible
explanation to make that will inspire re-
newod confidence in himself If it WINS
the tout finds occasion to be engaged in
conversation with the cashier of the book
in which the bet was made when the glee-
full stranger lines up to cash his ticket.
Tho meeting is joyful one. The tender
foot is Drumming over with gratitude, and
he and his philosopher, guide and friend
slap each other on the back and adjourn to
secluded nook in the cafe
GOOD thing, wasn't it.'' says the tout
Il 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 race