SPORTING.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLI, Issue 8543, 25 March 1908, Page 6

SPORTING.

Some Dannevirke punters have been having rather a sorry time during the past week. A bookie, who is rather better known for tho ugliness of his "phiz" than his record of honesty, remained in town to give the borough the benefit of his company for some days after the races. To wile away the time he appears to have been laying "doubles," and as the local sports know quite enough about horse-racing to pick out "dead certs" with ease, ho found many who were willing to assist him in. his philanthropic desire to make the fortunes of all those who did business with him. Business came thick and fast, and all went as merrily as wedding bells until the races were run and tho wisdom of tho local sports was justified. • Prompt to time a long row ot smiling faces might have been seen wending their way to the last, known place of abode of the "bookie." But sad to say they found an empty hutch and Brer Rabbit was missing. For a time surprise kept the sports silent, but soon a chorus of wrathful "etceteras rose upon the air and prayers were offered up for the deliverance of the bookie into their hands. Report stated that ho was last seen travelling towards Hastings. Search was instituted, and we understand that the phiz of the clerk has now been mado almost as ugly as that of his boss. —Press.