The sun., 1904-11-20
HE"TOUCHED"L "LUCKYBALDVIN
TURF REPORTER KNEW THE
HORSE OWNERS FAILING.
Nothing but O Tale OF q Desire to Back
the Plunger's Racer Would Have
Caused Him TO Loan $500 on Glass
Riny--Belieyed II and Won e6k, 900

Caused Him to Loan $500 on Glass
Riny-Belieyed II and Won COS 900.
when Lucky Baldwin was racing his
famous string Of racers on the Chicago
tracks he was noted for his untouchable-
ness said a oorresp ondent for Chicago
newspaper according to the Washington
Evening Stdr. .He had a 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
hotels Of Chicago during the racing season.
-One night the racing reporter Of the
paper 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 craggiest OF living propositions when 1t
comes to a touch Is quite true said he.
He has the same reputation, but magni-
fed. on the Pacific Slope. I never hap
pened to run across him when was in San
Francisco, for when was out there he was
spending most Of his time here In the East
with his string OF runners. But I'll tell you
what I'll do. I'll bet you $50 to $25 that
tomorrow afternoon at the racetrack I'll
successfully touch Lucky Baldwin for $500,
rendering him an equivalent that shall not
be worth more than 81. Am on?'
"'That's what you are,' said the racing
reporter. That's like getting $5o In letter.
You don't know wLGt 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, fat
topped 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
phony.
-'Where did you get it?' asked the racing
reporter OF the man with whom be had the
bet.
Bought it on Clark street this morning
for six bits. was the reply
When the two men reached the tr ack
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 of before the racing re-
porter saw his colleague on the paper again.
Then the latter turned up in the press box
and plucked the racing reporter by the
arm.
| Come on down into the betting ring
he said, and lose that $25.'
THE racing reporter followed the other
man. Now. in the race that was about to
be nun of one Of. Baldwn's horses was
entered The bookmakers didn't figure
! that Badwn's horse had a chance in the
world to win. and so they laid 20 to against
! the Baldwin nag. The man who was goin
! TO touch Lucky dragged the racing re-
porter over within seeing distance Of Bald;
win. 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 Won are, nor whether you are in funds
or not, but do know that am not. I've
Just dropped 5000 on the favorite in the
last race, and that tapped me for to-day.
the next race, and have a chance to get
even and great deal better by playing
! Mr. Baldwin's horse in this race to win.
Luckys horse simply can't lose this race.
ring pulling the phony circlet from his
finger hurriedly. is worth $500, and il is
a good deal more valuable to me than that
! on account of its associations. Let me
have 5000 on it until after this race. |
want to go to Baldwin's horse, and Bald
wins horse can fall down and win. In
! the remote possibility that Baldwin's horse
does not win. III redeem the ring tonight
upon my return to the city
San Francisco knew Lucky's wrak kness
when it came to question of he ability
of his horses Moreover, his makeup was
! great and he had n very persuasive Tanner.
! lucky sized him up carefully, chewing on
| his freless cigar,
-D'yc think Baldwin has such a cinch
with his horse'' Lucky asked after a min
! utes pause.
-'Baldwins horse will stroll in' said the
newspaper man.
.ynckv reached into his trousers pocket
| dug out huge wad, peeled of two hum
dred. and ha nded them to the newspaper
man, taking the ring in return without more
than Rsncing at the bit OF bogus jewelry.
The newspaper ma n tha nked him profusely
and returned in triumph to the racing re-
porter, who ga W the whole transaction. The
racing reporter, with a woebegone counte-
ma nee, doled out the s25 that he had lost.
Baldwin walked over to the bookies as
soon as he had delivered up tne wv In eN-
change for the counterfeit ring, and in Ave
minutes he had spraddled enough money
around the ring on his horse to knock the
price down to to /, A lot Of big bettors
noted this, and suspecting that there was
sonnet hing doing on Iucky's horse. plunged
on the nag the emselves. and the horse went
10 the post second choice in the race.
"..ucky's horse won gaIloping 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
good humoredly.
a'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.
keep the two hundred in your Clothes
ha 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 $8S 900, and you may call the
two hundred your rake-of But I'll ga this
for you you're good"
Freight Car That Disappeared.