Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-22
SWEDE SANS PARLAY

cleaned up $4,000 on one of Schreiber's
colts at the Los Angeles track may or may
not be on the level" said q trainer who is
wintering string at BenninR but I'm
willing to believe that it's true, for I've
seen Swede Sam operate. and I can vouch
for his luck and his gameness. saw Swede
Sam put over a $4,000 parlay in the biggest
pooiroom in Hot Springs four five win
tiers ago. and he stood out gamely for
the whole pile when he had every induce
ment to crawflsh.
"Swede Sam was the big noise among all
of the high skidders playing them in the
Hot Springs rooms that season. He knew
lot about the horses. too. but he had a
great habit Of playing lunches.
"One afternoon he turned up at this
big poolroom with four horse names rat
Ting around under his flaxy hair, and
all of them pretty bad ones. He had 'em
written out on a piece of paper and ne
slid the piece of paper under the nose or
| were Mariti. King Barleycorn and Marcos
at the New Orleans track and Yellow Tail
at the California track
"'Um-soft. pretty soft for me, SAM
| said the proprietor of the room. looking
over Sans list and grinning. Just break
fast food. Condensed soup. And hot
water and serve. Want em separate or
combined?'
for he knew the horses were punkerinos,
but couldn't forsake his bunch on them.
House or track Odds? asked the pool
room man.
".What you've got chalked up now re-
piled Nelson. and the poolroom man made
some motions with his pencil
p" Only two of EN- straight-the other two
third continued the Swede I want Mariti
and King Barleycorn to cop and Marcos
and Yellow Tail on the limb
q" 'Maritt and King Barleycorn to win,'
repeated the poolroom man, gazing at the
board where the house prices were chalk
ed up, and Marcos and Yellow Tail to
show. Figures 48 to 1 that way. How
much?'
"'Oh, five hundred, said Sam, offhand,
passing over 1000 bill.
man. jeeringly. I need this M-note to pay
off the hands-it's Saturday.
"'All right. the thousand goes replied
the swede and the poo room proprietor
That was the big year down there. with
Pittsburg Phil. Charley Ellison. Kid We'll
Ter, White Langdon and lot Of the other
main squeaks pushing in all kinds Of heavy
money.
'Then. after putting the ticket away in
his pocket. Swede Sam and three Others
went over into a corner of the room and
played seven-up for two bits a game to put
in the time until the results should begin
to street along.
"King Barleycorn was Sans first to trek
to the tape by five lengths, and then Mariti
gIided home In front of her handicap COM
pany, under wraps, although her form
for a number of previous races had been
very poor. Then Marcos, one Of the real
sad racing propositions In the racing game
Of that day, tottered in distant third
to couple of even sadder ones in his
race, and Swede Sans buff-colored ticket
began to make a noise like a possibility
The room proprietor looked bit saggy in
his spirits when Marcos got the limb posi-
tion n ha nndpa6 70 wher6
Swede Sam was playing cards with his
friends.
"'Hey, you Scandihoolihan bunch bug,
he said to Sam. what's the present price
you while back?'
'Forty-nine thousand bones replied
Sam. promptly.
Don't make me laugh this way when
you know I'm getting my teeth treated
said the poolroom man. Whats that fig
ure you mentioned?'
Forty nine thousand bucks replied
Sam, tossing a card down.
"'Wil you listen to that YOn Yonson
monologue.' said the poolroom proprietor
addressing Sans friends at the card table
Where dye suppose the square head thinks
he is-doing lumberjack stunt in Wis
Tail. you know, is a curd, and he's run
dead-last the last four times out. but, just
because you've got pink hair. why I'll
give you 5000 for that ticket Of yours
"'G'& way. don't bother me- said Sam,
shutting the cards.
Anybody but a steerage passenger
would know. without looking went on the
poolroom proprietor, that Yellow Tail, the
way he's been clomping lately. couldn't
beat a fat man up a lane. But I'll make
allowances for you. SAM You may sell me
that ticket for $4,000.
High. low and jack said Sam to his
fellow players, ignoring the proprietors
persifage.
Just at that minute the operator an
nounced a number Of scratches in the yell
low Tail race at the California track. The
house prices were Immediately rubbed.
Then the track prices came H. and Yellow
Tail was marked up at to l to win. even
money place and 1 to 2 third. Swede Sam
having got 2 to I third against Yellow Tail
in the house betting Then the poolroom
man looked worried for fair With most
of the real contenders scratched Yellow
Tail looked the best in spite of his recent
poor races.
last call and no kidding Sam said
the poolroom man. I'll give you $4,000
for your ticket
Give 'em good shuttle this time said
Sam to the dealer of the cards.
'"Then Sans card-playing companions
began to prod him. They told him that he
was a bone-head to refuse the $4,000 for
a ticket that had only cost him $1,000.
Sam shoo-1ied them, although they
roasted him good, and the poolroom man
quit dickering.
Then they were off at the California
track yellow Tail In the stretch by
face called off the operator and the Swede
didn't leave off playin ghis little seven-up
game for two-bit stakes for minute while
the race was being called off.
Now. curl up. you yellow dogH rooted
the poolroom man, meaning Yellow Tail.
Yellow Tail wins easy, by five lengths!'
called out the telegrapher, and there was
big roar all over the place, for all hands
knew about Sans ticket.
It's my deal, amt it? said Sam to his
fellow players, never batting eye.
You're the luckiest immigrant that ever
wooden-shoe 1t through these rooms said
the pooroom man disgustedly. approaching
Sam then. OF all the pin-headed-'
There's a kick on that race at Frisco
sung out the operator just then. Foul
claimed against Yellow Tall
"'Yee-ow! Watch me yeti! howled the
pooIroom man.
Hey boy, give US new deck of cards.
said Swede Sam, coolly, to the waiter.
Foul allowed sung out the operator a
couple Of minutes later. and the poolroom
proprietor was in the middle of the floor
doing a war dance on his hat
81 wasn't made to have any pink-haired
Scandinavian slip me citron like that"
he bawled.
"rhen the key began to rattle again, while
the operator, with his chin thrown back
while he listened to the message, looked
surprised.
yellow TALL the operator announced.
IS DISQUALIFIED for first place but nlaced