The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-09-26
"TIC-TAC" MAN.
He's an English Innovation md
Makes Show of Himself.

L..
From the London Field.
What's "tic-tac man?. The school
boy will doubtless answer that he's the
inventor Of the "tic-tac the tantaliz-
ing instrument designed to rattle
against window panes and arouse the
ire Of nervous householders. The SAL
lor man will be sure the expression re-
fers to the official In charge of the
course or the ship. The green grocer
isn't certain but it may be a SYNONYM
for person who gets things on credit
who wants the bill hung up" or "put
on the slate" The local race track
regular hasn't the slightest idea
what it is.
You can't foool a race track "regu-
lar" on local horse terms. He knows
an about circular courses" and
''straightaways." and dips" and
'chutes" and ''bookies" and packers
and sheet writer's" and "ticket writ
ers" and Combination LAYERS" and
outside men," But the "tic-tac man.
is a new one on him. When the regu-
lar strikes long shot and takes a va
cation, running over to see how they
do things on the other SIDE he gets
many an astonisher at EPSON Downs
at Ascot or at Longchamps.
Here he will make the acquaintance
Of the "tic-tac man" in all his glory.
A "tic-tac man" corresponds somewhat
to our 'outside man." The outside
man" on American race tracks keeps
the boOkies posted on the odds, gathers
in stable information, watches to see
where the smart" money is going. and
acts as general factotUm for his en-
ployers. The English "tic-ta man"
is an improvement over the "outside
man." He is in the employ of several
bookmakers who do business in the
smaller Enclosures on the English
tracks. He runs to the "big ring.'' but
he doesn't Immediately run back with
the information. That would take up
too much time. And there might be
an important fiuctuation in the "odds''
meanwhile. SO he stays in the "big
ring" When boOkmaker opens his
sheet on a race and quotes a price
against certain horse the "tic-tac
man takes a commanding position
and gives his nose a violent pull
When the odds go up on a second
horse, the 'tic-tac man" slaps his right
cheek, then draws the corners of his
mouth first to the left and then to the
right. He beats first one and then the
other ear and waves his head from side
to side. He gives all the outward indi-
cations Of a playful monkey with a
cocoanut jag.
But he isn't intoxicated, or at least
these maneuvers may not be ascribed
to drunkenness. He is signaling his
employers in the smaller Enclosures. He
has told them what horse was made
favorite and just what odds were laid
against 1T. He has given the figures
about the other horses. and he signs
away the fluctuations as fast as they
occur. Each movement means some
thing which has been determined be-
forehand. A system has been agreed
upon, and it is faithfully followed
When it begins to grow easy of detec-
ton by bookies who are not paying for
the information it is changed, and the
signs mean something else. Each
piled with a pair Of powerful field
glasses, and when the 'tic-tac man"
signals his motions are easily read. He
| gets from $40 to $50 a week for his SER
| vices, which is about one-half the pay
given our own Outside man."