HOLDING THE FORT.

NZ Truth, Issue 63, 1 September 1906, Page 2

HOLDING THE FORT.

Two brothers m Sydney many years ago struck out as bookmakers on a* large scale, having relinquished a. clothing -business, at which they faked up a nice swindle. They cut a great dash, at the start, determining on knocking all and sundry out, but their light was dimmed after flourishing for. a few years, and then came the battle^o find a book for race meetings.^The -.brothers split up when the crash came, one getting jugged for a couple <)of years over Carbine's Cup victory, while the other's: just so so. Latter asked a "John Tupper" last week where Tattersall's Club was, and the "John 1 ' told him he knew where it was better than he did, when the inquiring one replied as he hobbled off, "I used 1 to, I used to !" This same one was not al-; ways so. soft, not near it, . and he was credited with having more paints about him than a porcupine., Year m and year out he was always looking for a bank, but the various bankers were never very successful, and never came up twice 'for. the pare-* goric. A braw Scotch bomface happened along one day, and as. he^contemplated a trip to Victoria to witness the V.R.C. Spring Carnival, he thought that a little business as a sleeping partner, combined with pleasure, would vary proceedings,, while the chance of making a profit* loomed largest m his optic. The boniface lined this Bar Yon's bag' nicely for the first day's racing, but being a canny Scotchy, he- considered^ it good kokum to thoroughly ingrain himself into the "art de Tommy" by watching the active working of the joint. So assiduously did he stick tothe task of scrutineering, that it became nauseous to the Bar Von, who never had the ghost of a show to whip m a crook bet about a winner. Betting over the last race was fast drawing; to a close, results of the five events decided being none too good, when the "Tommy," riled at the omnipresence of the "sleeper," quietly turned round to him and sard, "It's been, a bad day, so far, a cold one, too. We've had nearly a dozen drinks, mine clina ones, and yours long shandies, and yet you've not once given the green pill a chahoe." This statement effected a closure of the partnership, for the canny one dropped to the game the Bar Von was trying to work on him, while the anxiety caused was too much even for the braw Scotty.— Sydney "Sportsman."