The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1907-07-23
CONDOLENCES OF A CONFIDENCE MAN.
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quarter went for carfare and with the
remainder L bought round-trip
ticket across the bay. In conse-
quence when l boarded the boat |
had nothing but gold in my pockets.
l 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?" l asked
him after we had chattod a while.
Got any money!" was his answer
to my question. 1 jingled my peck
ct full of gold.
There is something coming off in
the first race" he hastened to say
when he heard the climbing twenties.
You'll do the right thing if l put
you wise?"
You know me" l said.
Then he went on to tell me about
"frame-up" in the first race by
which horse called Yellowstone was
to win.
ut is all cut and dried, he assured
me, land you will get ten or twelve
to one for your money"
Before the boat reached the other
side 1 had agreed to bet $500 on
Yellowstone I'm the first race. Also
l was still without my lunch, but
promised myself that would get 1t
at the track Immediately after the
race.
When the odds went up for the
opening event / went round the ring
.aNN
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 field-mlght just
as well have been left at the post
He ran cracking good race and fin
ished fourth, but that did not save
my $500. 1 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
/ didn't hesitate 4 moment, but
elbowed my way to the nearest book
and handed over my remaining $3.50.
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 / turned bocr ward the bet
ting ring cursing myself for a fool,
1 saw q fellow being served with a
nice, thick porterhouse in the res
taurant. Then l remembered my
lunch. Gee, / was hungry, and l
didn't have the price of a cup of
coffee about me. On the first two
races 1 had lost all my money, even
including the $25 l had borrowed
to buy the boot. 1 hadn't bought
even shave or a shine or a lunch
out OF the money.
AS 1 "mosied" gloomily Ground the
ring the rest of the day and saw the
horses l would have bet on win right
down the line 1 tried to figure what
was the difference between myself
and the sucker" who had given up
the $500. The only difference 1
could see was that | had the privilege
of betting my money before losing II,
while he had not.
l had to walk up from the ferry
that night for the lack of carfare,
but l was comforted somewhat by
the thought that Mcky, my pal,
would lend $50 or even 500, and
would be on my feet again. The
minute l saw him I knew IL was all
of-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. 4
went up TO where there was a big
game going. They had been at It all
AAoANs AoiAiHHN hlOuhN AOl ~ Wuilt
and saw that they were playing them
high ana loose. One follow I'm partic-
ular was bluning on every other hand
and standing pat If anybody stayed.
Then he'd shove I'm his whole pile
and make 'em lay down / stood be-
hind him and he did that a couple Of
time without q pair I'm his hanG. as I
could see So / thought that Ia sit
i'm and wait for him 20 try It again.
I bought checks for a hundred and
left the rest OF the $3.50 I'm front Of
me. The first hand picked up three
aces. Somebody opened the pot.
just stayed TO draw them on and the
buffer raised MS $50 We both saw
the raise and drew two cards apiece.
lie stood pat. Knowing how Che fell
low had been blumng ON tho same
kind Of q play my three aces looked
like cinch. We both passed and
he showed i'm all ne had I'm front of
him. The other fellow laid down
and I called him, putting I'm all the
money I had.
Three aces here, I said. and was
reaching for the pot. was so sure of
&c, but nc showed down q small full
house and took the money. / left
the game minus my $3.50 after play
ing Just one hand