The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-10-18
ONE QUEER THING
ABOUT LUCK.
Miatnkes of the Bookmnker by
Which the Bettors Don't Always
Pro6f

Mistnlkes of the Bookmnker by
Profit.
A new telegrapher in big downtown
pool room where the play is heavy got
twisted in his code one afternoon last
week and for a little while the proprie-
tor was figuring upon being put out
of business when the result of a certain
race came in.
When the first line of betting on a
Detroit race came over the wire, the
new operator in calling off to the board
maker the prices against the horses in
the race gave Flaneur's price as 20 to /,
and the boardmarker duly chalked up
20 to l against Flaneur. The horses
past performances didn't warrant any
thing like such a figure and the sharp
shooters in the room We're quick to see
the out-of-line situation.
They went to Flaneur with a rush
for big money, most of them taking 70,
and across the board. Even the
slowwitted ones saw that there was
something queer about Flaneur's price
In the first line of prices, for in the
morning or house betting Flaneur had
been chalked up as the 3 to faVorlte
In large field. So even the dull ones
and the sure-thing pikers all took
piece OF the 20 to l against Flaneur as
soon as they could squeeze up to the
money-takerS.
The proprietor of the room was busy
debating the place and show betting on
Gravesend race when the betting
came in ca the Detroit race. and II
wasn't until he heard the incessant sing
song of the money-takers calling ou'
Flsaeur's name, that he glanced at tbs
Detroit card and was Mortified to see
the price on tap against Flaneur.
He emitted roar that instantly stop
ped The taking OF bets on the Detroit
race and then he beloved at the new
operator TO dig up the Detroit end ano
get a eorfimatory flash on that extra
ordinary price against Flaneur. In nall
a minute the operator was seen TO turf
the color of chalk, and then he hoarse'
" announced that Flaneurs price was
to l and lot 20 to /.
But the players had had five minutes
IeeWay, and they had taken such
SWIFT advantage of the error that the
pooroom stood to lose something like
$4,000 in case Flaneur, the actual IA
Vorite should win his race. There was
no way out of it.
1t is an iron-clad rule of the game
mat poolroom has got to stand toI
the mistakes of it's employees. The
players knew this, and their noisy
gloatirg, when the error was rectitied
ana when later there was a fash or
Flaneur that reduced his price to win
10 to 5. was almost savage. Scores
OF them had to / against the horse
20 finish third, when his actual price
70 win was only to 5. And seven
elsnths CT all the players in the room
hdd hunk of the 20 to l to win.
me proprietor of the room was ir
state of panic, and all of the pool
room employees were stampeded, fol
eney saw their jobs pulled from under
/ Ineath them in case Flaneur won. They
huew that $4,000 loss would close
ne plant up, at least temporarily. The
! proprietor tolephoned a hurry request
W ms hackers for a bunch of money t.
Pa MS bankroll, to enable him to pay
vi tlaneur "copped."
i q, fhey're off at Detroit" sang oui
4 ; ne dlstrassed telesrapher in a quaver-
'HS voice. Flaneur in the lead"
ne players gave an exultant shout
Tnu snapped their fingers nervously
st ne proprietor of the poolroom looked
n /. Flaaeur at the quarter by two
,'tsths droned the operator with the
tSolCe OF a sick man. "Flaneur at the
A ..S,. Quarters by two lengthsl"
NoVs@!" hawlad the crowd Moth