348 THE TOUT. 



the finest suit of rooms, and by a little maneuvering 

 manage to secure the confidence of a few of the 

 drivers. As a rule, the manager of a stable wants 

 some one to look after his interests in the betting ring, 

 providing he plays a little money. The "gentleman 

 tout" is on hand and ready to do it. He can watch the 

 tide of affairs and report. If a driver has to be seen, 

 the. "gentleman tout" is ready to report for duty, or, 

 if it is too glaring, hunts up some one who will do the 

 work. 



The usual method of the "gentleman touts," and 

 the "sure thing players," is to get their heads together 

 and pick out a race for a killing. The outsiders, if 

 their starters are considered of any account, are inter- 

 viewed. Should they decline to do business, and 

 enough pressure cannot be brought to bear to bring 

 the owner and driver, or at least the latter, into line, 

 they either call it off or start out to win, sink or swim. 

 At such a time the outsider can look for war. If he 

 has not speed enough to go out in front and stay 

 there, he can look for pockets, cutoffs, fouls and all 

 kinds of impediments. A fresh horse will tackle him 

 each heat and carry him all over the track, up against 

 the fence, or over it, if the money is on and being 

 singed. 



The "gentleman tout" is also a clever entertainer. 

 When he is looking for the smiles of a new man, and 

 if that man is fresh from the bushes, a quiet little 

 dinner, with a cold bottle, followed by a trip to the 

 show, usually does the work- He will put a hundred 

 on for Mr. Freshman to win ; will see that so and so 

 does not interfere with his horse, and do a dozen 

 other things to keep the ball rolling. Nothing is too 



