The daily morning journal and courier., 1905-12-14
ts. They were all in evening

down here in Washington. observed ! the suave bookmaker. Helpful people. 1 They'll do anything for fellow that | looks right to them
 Or. they're about the same here as they are everywhere" said one of the other layers. Themselves first. and you or anybody else for tre leavings. | That's the universal idea"
 Well, that may be-" replied the oily bO0kmaker, but I think they'll go a little further here to help a fellow than they will in lots Of other places. It's such a cosmopolitan sort of town, Washington, that the people are broad CT here and not so much wrapped up in themselves as they are in some Oth- CT places I could mention"
 Back up." said one of the others. You got to show me"
 All right" said the smooth one. "II prove it." and he deliberately pulled one end of his black how tie he was wearing a Tuxedo coat-and, yanking the tie from around his callar, coiled it up and placed it in his over coat pocket.
 Now" he said to the other book makers, "I'll bet you fifty that l can borrow black string tie to replace this one of my own that I've put away from any man passing by here and that you fellows pick out, with the stipulation, of course, that he isn't going to the the atre and therefore won't need the tie immediately himself"
 You're on again." said several of the layers. This is where We get hunk for that fifty this morning."
 They all moved out to the curb and all hands stared in to keep a sharp lookout for men wearing black bow ties. A number of men thus rigged as to neckwear came along, but they were all bound for the vaudeville theatre.
 After a few moments, however, dyspeptic looking man of thirty-five or so, wearing the black bow tie that goes with dinner clothes, passed by, and kept righ on past the theatre en- trance.
 There you go." said the bookmakers who were looking for the get-even chance, and the bookmaker who had made the neck tie bet pranced right out after the dyspeptic looking chap.
 Pardon me, sir" he said, tapping the latter on the shoulder, but I'm in silly mess owing to my absent-minded- ness. Are you going to the theatre or T to any place where you'll have to have that string tie of yours?"
 The dyspeptic looking man turned, and saw good looking man in dinner clothes with an overcoat partly but toned around them, and no necktie around his collar.
 Why, er-no, I'm not going to any theatre" he said.
 Well, it's this way" explained the bookmaker. Pm taking some ladies to the theatre here this evening, and had to dress just galloping after dinner in order to get ready in time to go and get them-box party, you see. And l was r in such an internal rush that l clean forgot to put on necktie.
 "Now, I know it's just the limit for galliness but I'm taking chance, for I've always bragged about the good nature possessed by the Washington folks. What I want is that you let me have that tie you're wearing, and, if you'll give me your address, I'll send you d new one in the morning.
 "Woul6n't ask such a fool thing ex- cept that I'm clean up against it, and what an ass I'd 1oow in theatre box without any necktie on, wouldn't1?"
 The dyspeptic looking man grinned.
 "Well, I guess can let you have my tie," he said, as he started to pull it off I'm night clerk of that hotel down the street." pointing, and I'm just going to work. I'll be able to bOr- row another from one of the fellows at the hotel" and he pulled the tie from his collar, handed it to the bookmaker, and then buttoned his overcoat at the throat so that his lack of tie wouldn't show.
 The bookmaker thereupon explained , the situation to the hotel clerk, identi- fled hinself apologized for the bother he'd caused the clerk in getting him to remove his tie and squared 1t all up nicely. The other bookmakers were only little distance away, watching the transaction, and again they had to ] dig tc make up thefifty for the chance taking winner of the bet. . Or the following evening the smooth layer with the fancy for freak bets made another one.
 Directly after dinner he was lounging in the lobby Of the Willard Hotel, with his penciling cronies when a famous ac- tress stepped out of the elevator with her maid. It was a few moments after seven o'clock, and the actress was bound for the theatre.
 , There was some slight delay while her carriage was being summoned, and she stood in the lobby talking with her maid.
 "Oh, guess she's not a raging beau ty for nothing," said one of the book makers admiringly. T call her the handsomest woman in the United , States. She's marred in the betting when it comes to looks, and I guess the actor man who got herwasn't lucky"
 "Yes, and she's just as good as she looks," said another of the layers "Woman who played in the same com- pany with her for two years told my wife she's the finest character she ever knew"
 T think I'll go over and have a little chat with her." suddenly proposed the suave bookmaker, and the others all sat up in their leather chairs and stared at him.
 You've got another think, mate,"