The daily morning journal and courier., 1905-12-14

tress to the DIsmay of His Betting
 Companions.
 4 New York bookmaker. noted for his suavity of manner and oiliness of address, made some bets during the Benning race meeting that were in no way connected with the racing game says the Washington correspondent or the New York Sun. One forenoon he was standing with group of fellow bookmakers in front of the hotel when talk Veered around to the subject or touches. The OleagdnOus bOokmaker took the view that any man with a front-decent clothes and 8 shave and a shine-can touch strangers anywhere and at any time and get enough ' change for his needs.
 "It's only the fellow with the down and-out look that's up against it." he said. Its only human nature for the prosperous man to sort of nudge away from the shabby-looking duck who asks him for a stake, big or little. Like gives up to like.
 "As long as I had a proper front and make up I wouldn't feel worried if was broke anywhere from New York to New Zealand. I'd know that I could always pick up a bit of change for the asking, just on the strength of my front"
 Some of the other bookmakers thought differently. They contended that when a well-clothed man asks a stranger for aid the stranger is bound to regard him with suspicion, and to determine that there must be some thing wrong about fellow who, pos sessing a good exterior and a decent getlup, is, nevertheless, asking for charity.
 atAi1 right" said the bookmaker with the strong belief in the efficacious vir- tue of a front. "I'll bet you fellows $50 that can borrow dollar from any man that passes by here during the next ten minutes, and I'll let you pick out the man yourself"
 ..You're on," said thre or four of the other bookmakers in chorus, the wager instantly striking them as something pretty soft. Washingtonians are not noted as particularly easy marks when it comes to surrendering to hurry touches.
 So the bookmakers who figured that they had a good bet began to sort over the passing strangers The man who just siuted them did not make his ap- peanance for several moments. They let all of the fat comfortable looking fellows go by, as well as the men of ordinary build and bulk, whose faces denoted good nature and liberality.
 The man they finally picked out for the optimistic bookmaker to go up against was a tall, lean, crabbed-look- ing man of fifty or so, with heavily lined face, little gray whiskers forward of his ears and certain ministerial air. He was not particularly well dressed and an average person would have quickly picked him out as a tight Wad. ~..
 There's some one with the glued mitt," said the bookmaker who had suave layer. He's our pick. Mace him and see how quick you fall down. ''
 The smooth bookmaker instantly stepped out from the party of his fel- .loW-layers, and approached the lean, crabbed-looking individual from be- hind.
 Excuse me, sir,' he said, not in any whining tone, but politely, hailing the cadayerous man, who turned around and stopped, but I find myself in pretty bad, and I'd take it kindly if srsI, 0f T0ol down here from New York with the ponies, and I'm cleaned, and cleaned proper. All in, down to the breakfast coin. If you'd slip me dollar along with g. card giving me your address, so that could return the loan later, I wouldn't forget the favor for 100 years"
 The man with the general aspect of hard proposition surveyed the appli- cant for dollar loan keenly from be- enath bushy brows Then he unbutton- ed thetwo lower buttons of his over coat, and his right. hand travelled to his trousers pocket.
 Well" he said, in a good natured sort of way, fits pretty raw weather for a man of your appearance. to be down and out. Ponies, hey? Better flag 'em, son. Tried the ponies myself for a good many years but they al- ways took me. Bookmakers are the only people who get anything out of that game in the long run" And he produced a roll that held only three $1 bills and handed one of them over to the bookmaker. Never mind the card and address part of it. Hope you'll get going again. Been down and out myself lots of times" and with a nod started to go his way.
 The thing had been down only thirty feet away from the lounging group of bookmakers, and they saw the dollar note handed over to the bookmaker, whose $50 had looked so soft to them. The booknlaker who had got the dol lar held up the bill so that the others could see it plainly, and they nodded to him that he'd copped
 The bookie stepped hastily after the tall man who had so belied his appear arce, and with a very broad grin handed the dollar back to him.
 "Only little bet I made with those fellows. over there," he expained, and then he told the cadaverous man of the terms of Ire wager. Not a bit less obliged to you, all the same, sir. Won't you join us in little some- thing?"