The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1907-06-19
CONFIDENCES OF A CONFIDENCE MAN.
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ticket across the bay. In conse-
quence when l boarded the boat /
had nothing but gold in my pockets.
had intended to get my lunch on
the boat, as l was hungry by that
time, but on the after deck | met an
assistant trainer in one of the big sta
bles at the track.
whats good to-day?" / asked
him after we had chatted while.
Got any money!" was his answer
to my question. l jingled my pock-
ct full of gold.
'There is something coming off in
the first race" he fastened to say
when he heard the clinking twenties.
You'll do the right thing if / put
you wise?"
"You know me-" / said.
Then he went on to tell me about
a "frame-up" in the first race by
which horse called Yellowstone was
to win.
at is all cut and dried" he assured
me, land you will get ten or twelve
IO one lOT your money
Before the boat reached the other
side | had agreed to bet $500 on
Yellowstone in the first race. Also
| was still without my lunch, but
promised myself that would get it
at the track Immediately after the
race.
When the odds went up for the
opening event went round the ring
betting $40 at a crack on Yellow
stone. Others were doing the same,
and before post time every book in
the ring was loaded with Yellowstone
money.
1t was a mile race, and the minute
the barrie, went up knew my money
was burned up. Yellowstone got off
lengths behind the fleld-might just
as we'll have been left at the post.
He ran cracking good race and fin
ished fourth, but that did not save
my $500. / still had $3.50 in my
pocket and was standing in the ring
gnawing my mustache and swapping
my fingernails in my disappointment
when man-about town whom /
knew came up and told me that Mich
igan Smith, the plunger, had sent
$1,000 into the ring to be bet ON the
favorite, which was then two to one.
at looks like a cinch," my friend
said as he drifted away
l didn't hesitate a moment, but
elbowed my way to the nearest book
and handed over my remaining $50.
The horse was beaten a nose after a
furious drive. Everybody said the
boy tossed the race away by over
confidence. 1t didn't make any diff
ference to me anyway. The books
had that $3.50, which was all / cared
about.
AS l turned back toward the bet
ting ring cursing myself for a fool,
saw a fellow being served with a
nice, thick porterhouse in the res
taurant. Then l remembered my
lunch. Gee, l was hungry, and 1
didn't have the price of cup of
coffee about me. On the first two
races I had lost all my money, even
including the S25 l had borrowed
to buy the boot. I hadn't bought
even a shave or shine or lunch
out of the money.
AS "mosied" gloomily ground the
ring the rest of the day and saw the
horses would have bet on win right
down the line l tried to figure what
was the difference between myself
and the sucker" who had given up
the 500. The only difference /
could see was that had the privilege
of betting my money before losing it,
while he had not.
had to walk up from the ferry
that night for the lack of carfare,
but l was comforted somewhat by
the thought that Micky, my pal,
would lend $50 or even 500, and
would be on my feet again. The
minute I saw him knew 1t was all
off-that his money was gone, too.
His face was longer than anybody's
In town. Before word was said
each knew the other was "broke."
What did you lose yours on?" he
asked.
Good things in the first two races.
Where did you drop yours?"
"Poker game" he answered. Il
went up to where there was a big
game going. They had been at 1t all
night. lamped around for while
and saw that they were playing them
high and loose. One fellow in partic-
ular was bluffing on every other hand
and standing pat if anybody stayed.
Then he'd shove in his whole pile
and make 'em lay down. | stood be-
hind him and he did that couple of
time without pair in his hand, as
could see. So l thought that I'd sit
in and wait for him to try 1t again.
I bought checks for hundred and
left the rest of the $3.50 in front of
me. The first hand picked up three
aces. Somebody opened the pot,
Just stayed to draw them on and the
buffer raised us $50. We both saw
the raise and drew two cards apiece.
He stood pat. Knowing how the fell
low had been bluffing on the same
kind of play my three aces looked
lilo cipoh Wn hoth noccaI apd