The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-06-08
WE'VE ALL SEEN HIM.
The Man Who Always Manages to Get
in Free.

Bobby Bristol was at once the suav-
est and the checklist man ever
knew. He had plenty of money and
spent it literally, but nothing delight
ed him more than to get in free"
wherever he went; and he had the
smooth assurance and commanding
presence to put through bluffs which
would not have gone" had they been
attempted by any other man of my
acquaintance.
one morning met Bobby in the
office of a hotel in the small town
whittier we had both gone to see some
trotting raceN. He was always a pleas
ant companion, so I gladly accepted
his suggestion that we go to the track
together.
1t was too far to walk and Bobby
did not fancy riding in any of the
rattlt-trap vehicles which run regular
ly between the hotel and the track
Lets see if we can't do better,
said he, taking me by the arm and
bearing the name of Michael ConrOy
as proprietor on a sign over the door
where's Nike" he asked of a
sta bleman-
Now, the trouble is that Bobby new
er been in that town before and had
never heard of Michael COnrOy.
"He's gone to the races" said the
stableman.
knew that livery proprietors are pref
ty sure to have their favorite horses
for their own personal use
You mean the black mare?" the
yes. of course said Bobby. as if
anybody ought to know he meant the
black mare.
Bristol had been lookin about
among the buggies on the main floor
| where's that little light road wagon
of AIike's2" he asked as if he couldn' t
make it out in the darkness of the
This one2" the stabIeman asked,
indicating a trim runabOut.
Yes; that's it." said Bobby, exam
/ lining it more closely.
By this time it was apparent that he
| had convinced the stableman of his
intimate relations with the proprietor
"All right said he, authoritative
| ly; hook the black mare to this bug
1 gy as quickly as you can"
The stableman FASTENED to obey,
| and we were soon on the road with
/ the best rig of the barn. And the
/ horse. as Bobby soon proved, could
/ step at a lively gait
When we approached the entrance
4 to the grounds we were going at a
\ fast clip and Bobby apparently pulling
1 with all his might. The ticket taker
shouted and waved his arms at US, but
/ Bobby called out:
ITS ali right. Can't stop now.
4 Back in a minute.
The ticket taker could not leave his
place, and we were soon out of sight
/ among the buildings. Here Bobby
1 turned the mare over to a stable boy,
/ told him to take good care Of her, and
we were soon lost in the crowd, press
! ing toward the grand stand
At the entrance of this most people
had to pay 25 cents. but Bobby merely
/ put me in front of him. said to the
! gateman in a tone of unquestionable
authority, Hes with me- and we
both walked in as if Bobby owned the
1 place.
At the quarter-stretch gate he did
I the same thing, with the result that
we went in and out everywhere at our
/ pleasure without paying cent any
! where. Yes, and we were treated
with distinguished consideration by
/ the gatemen, too
After the races we beat Conroy
/ back to his stable.
Tell Mike that Bob Bristol drove
the black mare said he to the stable
man, as he walked out unchallenged
That evening Bobby opened vine
and Michael Conroy drank enough OF
it to have paid the hire of every rig
in his barn.-BrOOklyn Eagle