Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-11-12
A LUCKY TOUCH

when Lucky Baldwin was racing his IA
nous string Of racers on the Chicago
tracks he was noted for his untouchable-
ness. said correspondent for Chicago
newspaper. He had q reputation as q
man who absolutely would not stand FOR
touch. no matter how scientifically the
same was engineered. that was heart
breaking to the brigade Of well-dressed
touchers who inhabited the downtown no
tells Of Chicago during the racing season.
Zone night the racing reporter Of the pa
per for which worked was telling US about
Lucky's adamantine countenance when he
was listening to the carefully rehearsed
tales Of touchers. when one Of the listeners
"a new man on the paper. who hailed from
the Pacific coast-chimed in.
What you say about Baldwin being
the cragBtest OF living propositions when 1t
comes to touch is quite true said he.
He has the same reputation. but magni-
fled. on the Pacific slope never happened
to run across him when was in San Fran
cisco. for when was out there he was
spending most OF his time here in the east
with his string Of runners. But III tell you
what I'll do. I'll bet you $50 to $25 that.
tomorrow afternoon at the race track. TN
successfully touch Lucky Baldwin for $780,
rendering him an equivalent that shall be
worth not more than 81. Am onr
That's what you are said the racing
reporter. That's like getting $50 in a let
ter. You don't know what you are going
to stack up against
All right said the reporter from the
coast. IN go out to the track with YOU
and you can see me make the touch
The next afternoon the racing reporter
and the new man went out to the track
together. The new man was got up IN
pretty hefty style-paddock coat, fiat-top-
ped racing bowler, field glasses, and the
rest of the racing makeup. On the third
finger of his left hand he wore a ring-a
big sparkler in the middle and smaller
gems on either side of it. The ring was a
Where did you get itr asked the rae
Ing reporter Of the man with whom he had
the bet.
Bought 1t on Clark street this morning
for six bits was the reply.
when the two men reached the track
the racing reporter went into the press
stand to attend to his work, and the man
who was going to dig 500 out Of Lucky
Baldwin made for the betting ring. Two
races were run off before the racing re-
porter saw his colleague on the paper
again. Then the latter turned up in the
by the arm.
"'Come on down into the betting ring he
said. and lose that $685.
THE racing reporter followed the other
man. Now, In the race that was about to
be run off, one Of Baldwfn's horses was
entered. The bookmakers didn't figure that
Baldwin's horse had a chance in the world
to win, and so they laid 20 to l against the
Baldwin nag. The man who was going to
touch Lucky dragged the racing reporter
over within seeing distance of Baldwin,
who stood chewing on an unlighted cigar
outside the circle of bettors.
Here goes said the new reporter, and
he rushed over to where Lucky Baldwin
stood.
Sir he said, stepping directly in front
of the California Croesus, I don't know
who you are, nor whether you are in funds
or not, but l do know that l am not. I've
just dropped 50 600 on the favorite in the
last race, and that tapped me for today.
l haven't time to get to my bank before
the next race, and l have a chance to get
even and great deal better by playing Mr..
Baldwin's horse in this race to win. Lucky 9
horse simply can't lose this race, and he s
at 20 to l in the betting. This ring pulling
the phony circlet from his finger hurriedly,
is worth $500, and it is a good deal more
valuable to me than that on account of its
associations. Let me have $500 on 1t until
after this race l want to go to Baldwin 8
horse. and Baldwin's horse can fall down
and win. In the remote possibility that
Baldwin's horse does not win, I'll redeem
the ring tonight upon my return to the
city
1T was star play. The reporter from
San Francisco knew Lucky's weakness
when it came to a question of the ability
of his horses. Moreover, his makeup was
great and he had very persuasive manner.
Lucky sized him up carefully, chewing on
his freleSs cigar.
Dye think Baldwin has such cinch
with his horse? Lucky asked after min
ute's pause.
'Baldwin's horse will stroll in said the
newspaper man.
Lucky reached into his trousers pocket,
dug out a huge wad. peeled off two hum
dreds, and handed them to the newspaper
man, taking the ring in return without more
than glancing at the bit Of bogus jewelry.
The newspaper man thanked him profuseiy
and returned in triumph to the racing re-
porter. who saw the whole transaction. The
racing reporter, with a woebegone counte-
nance, doled out the S25 that he had lost.
Baldwin walked over to the bookies as
soon as he had delivered up the $500 In ex-
change for the counterfeit ring, and In five
minutes he had spraddled enough money
around the ring on his horse to knock the
price down to to l. A lot of big bettors
noted this, and, suspecting that there was
something doing on Lucky's horse. plunged
on the nag themselves, and the horse went
to the post second choice in the race.
''Lucky's horse won galloping by ten
lengths.
Directly after the race the two news
paper men hunted up Baldwin in order to
return the 5000 and to make an explanation.
The man who had made the touch told the
story to Lucky. and the latter grinned
spontaneously.
Here's your two hundred said the
newspaper man. handing over the pair of
hundred-dollar bills. I'll take back that
glass ring.
Baldwin handed him back the ring, still
smiling.
he said Your warm, cinchy conversation
about my horse gave me the nerve to bet
enough on him to jolt the bookmakers to
the tune of $65. 900, and you may call the
two hundred your rake-off. But I'll say this
for you; you're good