The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1907-06-19
CONDOLENCES Of A CONFIDENCE MAN.

I 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 I put
you wise?"
You know me-" I said.
Then he went on to tell me about
a "frame-up" in the first race by
which a horse called Yellowstone was
to win.
ut is all cut and dried" he assured
me, "and you will get ten or twelve
to one for your money"
Before the boat reached the other
side I had agreed to bet $500 on
Yellowstone in the first race. Also
1 was still without my lunch, but I
promised myself that I would get 1t
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.
It was a mile race, and the minute
the barrie, went up I knew my money
was burned up. Yellowstone got of
lengths behind the field-might just
as well have been left at the post.
He ran a cracking good race and fin
ished fourth, but that did not save
my 5000. I still had $3.50 in my
pocket and vas standing in the ring
gnawing my mustache and swapping
my fngernails in my disappointment
when a man-about town whom I
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.
I didn't hesitate a moment, but
elbowed my way to the nearest book
and handed owe my remaining $3.50.
The horse was beaten a nose after q
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 I cared
about,
As I turned back toward the bet
ting ring cursing myself for a fool,
I saw a fellow being served with a
nice, thick porterhouse in the res
taurant. Then I remembered my
lunch. Gee, I was hungry, and 1
didn't have the price of a cup of
| coffee about me. On the first two
races I had lost all my money, even
including the $25 I had borrowed
to buy the boot. I hadn't bought
even a shave or a shine or a lunch
out Of the money. .
As I "mosied" gloomily around the
ring the rest of the day and saw the
horses I would have bet on win right
down the line I tried to figure what
was the difference between myself
and the sucker" who had given up
the 500. The only difference I
| could see was that I had the privilege
of betting my money before losing it,
while he had not. E.
I had to walk up from the ferry
that night for the lack Of carfare,
but I was comforted somewhat by
the thought that Mieky, my pal,
would lend $50 or even 500, and I
would be on my feet again. The
minute I saw him I knew it was all
of-that his money was gone, too.
His face was longer than anybody's
in town. Before a word was said
each knew the other "a 4broke."
"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 it all
night. I lamped around for a while
and saw that they were playing them
high AND loose. One fellow in partic-
ular was blufing on every other hand
and standing pat If anybody stayed.
Then he'd shove in his whole pile
and make 'em lay down. I stood be-
hind him and he did that a couple of
time without a pair in his hand, as
could see. So I thought that I'd sit
in and wait for him to try it again.
I bought checks for a hundred and
left the rest of the $3.50 in front Of
me. The first hand I picked up three
aces. Somebody opened the pot, I
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 blufing on the same
kind of a play my three aces looked
like a cinch. We both passed and
he showed in all he had in front Of
him. The other fellow laid down
and I called him, putting in all the
money I had.
"Three aces here" I said, and was
reaching for the pot, l was so sure of
it, but he showed down a small full
house and took the money. l left
the game minus my $3.50 after play
ing just one hand"
We were silent for q while.
Lets go out and rustic up dinner
money" I said at last, and we went.
At the commencement of the pres
ent racing meeting at Oakland my
pal and I opened a tipping" bureau.
Our idea was that he would run the
tipping" game and I would pose
merely as a customer. In this way
I could hang around the Office and
freeze" on to any likely looking
suckers" who appeared. His deal
ings were to be strictly on the square