The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-08-27
WON ON 4 eRArED1oeER,s TIP.
ne Net = Girl Naued Myrtle. was mistaken
for q sheriff. and tho sporta Got the Money.

he Net y Girl Named Myrtle. wat Mistaken
for n sheriff, and the sports Got the Money.
A drunken grsvediggcr frightened n roomful
OF sports In the recently opened poolroom in
the Bissville Hotel, opposite the old entrance to
Calvary Cemetery, yesterday, and gave II tip to
them. which they followed to their profit. Tho
gravedigger was very drunk. Dressed In u
ragged, dusty coat and mud. bcsmeared trous-
ora, no stuck his clay pipe in his mouth and
started for tho now poolroom. lilo had So
which he wanted to bet, and before reaching
the B~lissville Hotel be- stopped at various sn.
looms and treated himself, telling those he met
that no had nevor hot on u race, but intended
to begin u sporting career with a flourish.
II know I'm gottin' drunk" he said, as no
stood at the bar in one Of the saloons, but 1
know I'm lucky and I've got lucky money. A
lady gave me SO this afternoon as n tip for
nxin' up her husbands grave. Thon she
brought mo out to n place up the road here and
treated mo to whiskey. Sho drank several
whiskios herself. and really, l think she got
stuck on me-, for she asked me my first name
We got 30 friendly that she told me was u
nice man. When / asked her name she said:
Call me Myrtle l called 1t. to her all tho
time, and when she got loaded | put her on u
trolley car. The bartender said Myrtle was
a nice name, and that there was a horse named
that runnin' to-day at st. Louis, an that he
up, me mind TO 60 down there to, Mclaughlin
VII " - VI LII hlbliCg VI VI w WIN lo
you think They'll let me in the now poolroomi''
They may take you for Sheriff Don't dis
""In risk It" remarked the gravediggcr, but
before leaving tho saloon he had several moro
drinks and treated the crowd out Of his So hill.
The crowd in the saloon began having fun with
the, now sport. some one in the place pinned
a sheet Of paper on the back Of his coat after
writing in blue pencil this inscription on tho
paper:
wARN1NG-Fricnds of tho bookies. look out
Tor tlld fellow. He il a lpDEty ahprin In dis
guisc, pretending to be a drunken grnvudiEter. |.
called Myrtle. Take care to shut down Oh him, :
This 10 the only chance we had Of giving the.tip.
The drunken gravedigger staggered down tho
road, to the ,Blissvillo Hotel, accompanied by
another drunken man whom he picked up ON
the way. The other one knew how to get into
the new poolroom, and boosted to his friend
that he had helped the boOkies to move into
heir new quarters. Both men staggered into
McLRughlin's bar room and called for beer.
While the bartender was serving them he
caught sight OF the sign on the gravedigger's
wooden stage in the hall where the bookmakers
and telegraph Instruments were. The lookout
passed to the blackboard writer's, and nine
blaCkboards were hurIiedly taken down. Tho
the corner Of the big hall also got the tip and
business was suspended at once, The hall was
not there on official business.
Tho crowd remembered that sheriff Don't
IL tlbStti IL pbDlItDllS Oh L IIlhg.
After the biaCkboards had been removed and
the telegraph instruments hidden, the drunken
gravcdigger and his friend were allowed to
mount the stairs. They passed TO the front of
the hall. near the stage, aud the crowd was
enabled to read the blue pencil sign on the
gravcdigger's back. In u minute there was "A
scrambling to get down tho stairway. Three
men dropped out of. the window into the hotel
yard.
Tho drunken gravedigger was guided by his
companion up to the stage.
Me friend wants TO put a dollar on Myrtle
In the fifth race at st. Louis" said his friend.
We do not receive bets here. said the book
maker.
Myrtle, oh. Myrtle" shouted the drunken
grRvedigger.
some one in tho crowd recognized him and
explained to the bookInakcrs that he was
really only IA drunken srayedigger and not a
disguised deputy sheriff. Then they took him
! downstairs ana gave his friend a dollar TO take
him away. The blackboards were hung ny
und business was resumed, while the crowd
cracked Jokes about the visit. Many in the
crowd PLAYED Myrtle In the nth ST. Louis race,
and Myrtle won at u to l..