I 1 Putting One Past the Post By JOHN IRVING DAY Garnering the Gold by a Special Process Originated Within the Confines of the High Rollers' Club I ■ I JOCK FLOYD, Jack Cleland Dand Col. Powley of the High Hollers' club set out 1 „ from Reno, Nev., for San ill Francisco. They became ac - ,quainted with a George Hop knia, interested in Haw Hide mining properties. • » • Doc Fiord sat in the marble-finished rotunda of San Francisco's best hotel the morning after his arrival. He had finished with his newspaper and was gazing out upon the little park across the street filled with palms and beds of teright-hued flowers. Neither CoL Powley nor Jack Cleland had ap peared, and he was rather glad when the young mining man he had met on the train came upon him, and he was roused from his self absorption by a cheery greeting. Looking up, he saw that young Hopkins no longer wore corduroys and heavy hunting boots, but was blue-serged, green-hatted and patent-leathered, and altogether sporty looking enough to belong to his own set. "All alone, I see," remarked Hopkins j as he touched Floyd upon the shoulder. "If you've not been to breakfast, I'd like to have you join me." "I'd be pleased to," assented Floyd, 1 who had grown hungry waiting for his ! friends. "Those fellows who came j with me must be taking an extra por- 1 tion of sleep (his morning. I'll not | wait any longer for them." Down in the grillroom a breakfast j was served, the equal of which is not to be had in any other city in the • United States, excepting, perhaps, New Orleans. By the time Floyd and Hopkins had lit their cigarettes they j were conversing as old friends. "Oh, look who's arrived!" burst out Tony the Tout, unon catrh'ntr fd"h» nf Floyd and his party. "If it isn't the Big Doctor, and I haven't seen him since Hamburg was a two-year-old." "And say," whispered Tony, in con fidential tones, "find out to-night what business that young man who was with yon this afternoon has with old Tom Camp. They were off in a cor ner for a long time and if your friend ain't some wise fish he's apt to be bit." That night after dinner Floyd, in conversation with young Hopkins, cau tiously led the talk up to Tom Camp, aud then asked the flat-footed question a« to whether Hopkins had entered or was about to enter into any deal. "Well, I'm rather ashamed of it, be cause it does look like a crooked deal," returned Hopkins; "but I'm a lot loser on the game, first and last, and it looks like a chance to get even, so I was go ing to take it. If you know anything about Camp, you know he has some of the best horses on the track. He says lie's been in hard luck this winter and lost several thousand dollars bucking the faro bank. His proposition is for nie to putin $5,000 to help back a ijook. He will putin $5,000 of his own money, making a good strong bank roll. The books are all making money now, and besides the even break we would get in on the regular play; Camp says he can fix a race or two so we can win some sure money. He is certain that we can pull out $25,000 each in a week." "That all listens well," broke in Floyd. "What's the matter with it?" ques tioned Hopkins. "I don't know why I'm telling you all this, anyway. You queer my game for all 1 know." "No, I'll do nothing of the kind," an swered Floyd. "But I'll bet you five hundred now that if I don't save you, Camp will trim you for whatever you put in. If it's such a sure thing, what doe 3 he want with a partner to share the profits? Any time a man offers you something for nothing, lock up your bank roll and keep your hand on your jewelry. Do you follow me?" "Yes, it does look that way," as sented Hopkins; "but you see he needs SIO,OOO to make the book safe, and he only has about $5,000 in ready money that 1: lay his hands on. That's why he wits some one to come in with the other $5,000." "That's just what they all say, and now I'm convinced that you are sched uled to be the goat," announced Floyd. "Did he explain to you just how he was going to pull off one of those al leged "sure things?'" "Yes, there's a race on the card to morrow in which he has a horse en tered that can win. He also controls the only other contender in the race. He can throw the race to whichever horse he wants to. You know that's possible, don't you?" "Yes, I've seen such things done, and then again I've seen them fall most awfully hard. I can see now how easy it will be for him to break the book and get your $5,000 on one race. Come on up to my rooms and I'll in itiate you into the art of beating the double cross, if there's any chance to do it; and if there isn't then you'd bet ter keep your $5,000 in the bank, or have a trustee appointed to look after It for you. You may be all right on a mining proposition, but there are a lot of other things you've got to learn." • Within 15 minutes Floyd, with the aid ot ine telephone, had located Tony the Tont, and in another half hour that wise bug of the turf had arrived at Floyd's rooms, wondering for what he was wanted, and pleased all over to be summoned into the presence of so august a personage To Tony Floyd told tie proposition of Camp as Hopkins tad told it to him, and upon hearing the proposition Tony let out a long laugh. "Why, it's just a plain game of double cross," asserted Touy. "He'll break the book and get your $5,000 in one race and then tell you it was all a mistake and make you believe it, and then he'll ask you to dig up anoth er $5,000 to get even with. Why, my kid brother wouldn't bite on that old hook." "Yes, do you suppose I didn't know all that?" broke in Floyd with a mo tion for the talkative Tony to shut up. "What I want you for is to see if we can turn the tables and get Camp's end of the bank roll." "I'm afraid not," answered Tony. "He's worked that game four or Ave times this season and always gets away with it. He's got a regular crew togo on and make the book and they "AIN'T YOU WISE TO WHAT'S HAPPENED?" all stand in with the play. I suppose he's told Mr. Hopkins that he can put a man in the box to look out tor his interests?" "Yes, he said I could do that," as sented the young mining man. "Let's look over that race he said he could fix for to-morrow," was the sud den suggestion of Tony as he produced a paper in which was a list of the en tries for the next day's races. "Oh, I've got the old badger!" was the sud den, gleeful outburst. "He was right about there being just two horses in the race with a chance to win. Goon and putin the $5,000 with him and I'll attend to the rest when I see you at the track to-morrow. Just put a wise one in the box to see that no one runs away with the bank roll, and after that race we'll have old Camp ready to take the high dive from the top of the ferry boat." "What is it you're going to do?" was the suspicious inquiry of Hopkins. "Never mind what I'm going to do; the Big Doctor will stand for what I say, won't you, Doc?" "Yes. I don't know what it is, but if you are sure you can put it through I'll take all, or half, of Hopkins' end of the $5,000. I'll give Hopkins $2,500 in the morning for a half of his inter est and he needn't let Camp know there is any one else in on the deal. Jack Cleland can be the man in the box as lookout." When Floyd arrived at the race track on the. day following his talk with Hopkins and Tony he saw a new bookmaker's stand in the line under the shod of the betting ring. In this stand was seated Jack Cleland, who was supposed to be there as an as sistant to the cashier, but no glance of recognition passed between the two. Floyd and Hopkins also kept CAMERON COUNTY PRESS, THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 9, 1909. apart during tho afternoon, having agreed to meat in a secludod spot on the grounds just before tho race in which Camp hud announced that a trick wus to bo turned. "Are you sure of that tout?" was the anxious inquiry of Hopkins when he and Floyd finally met in consultation. "Yes, he'd lose both legs sooner than throw me down," was the reply. "Now, what does Camp say?" "He says he has Instructed the book to take in all the bets they can get on Applejack. He has arranged with the owner of that one to lose and he will win with his own horse, Lemon Squeezer. He explains that it might be suspicious to the judges if he didn't win this race." "That means," explained Floyd, "that he intends that Applejack is to win and his horse will be beaten out. How much money have you got in your pocket?" "Oh, about $500." "Well, go in the ring and make five SIOO bets on Lemon Squeezer, but don't bet it in our book. Camp has given instructions to his bookmakers to give a shade the best price on the other fellow's horse. He will have commissioners there to get his own money down quick and bet enough to win out the bank roll on that one race. That's the way he's got it fixed to win our $5,000." The two separated and entered the betting ring from different ends of that lnclosure. Floyd noticed that, true to his prediction, the new partnership book had put up 2 to 1 on Applejack while the other books were laying a shado less than that price. A moment afterwards he noticed that the part nership bookmaker rubbed out the price against Applejack, announcing that he had all he wanted of it. Floyd knew by this sign that Camp had bet enough of his own money to win out the money that was in the book. Walk ing quietly through the ring, he stopped long enough before a number of books to make several good-sized wagers on Lemon Squeezer. He al ready had given Tony SI,OOO to wager on the same horse. Thomas Camp, besides getting all the money to be had in his own book, also had wagered hundreds on Apple jack in other books about the ring, and was surprised to note when he re turned from the paddock, where he had just saddled his horse and given final instructions to the jockey, that the price against Lemon Squeezer, his own horse, had not gone up in the betting. He was unaware that a large amount of money bet by Floyd had forced the price down. lie had no time to inves tigate, however, as the horses already were at the post, and he hurried to a point of vantage from which he could view the race. Across the track in the infield Tony the Tout and Hank Harlin, owner of Applejack, s.tood talking together. Doc Floyd, watching the pair through his fleldglassos from the grandstand, saw Tony pass a small package of book makers' tickets to Harlin. "They're off!" came the buzzing cry jf the crowd in chorus as the barrier over at the three-quarter pole whizzed up and a field of eight horses leaped forward. The blur and white striped jacket and cap of Applejack showed in front, while next in order and close behind came Lemon Squeezer, both horses running easily. Before they had gone a quarter of the distance it could be seen that the race was be tween the first two horses, and tho others were strung out in single file. In the stretch came Applejack, run ning without effort, with Lemon Squeezer within safe call. A smile of contentment rested upon the face ot Tom Camp, down at the end of the grandstand, while Floyd's counten ance wore a worried look and young Hopkins was shivering in the excite ment of lost hope. "There, and I listened to you and your tout," he said to Floyd as he saw Applejack winning easily. "Why, it's nothing more than a pro cession," muttered Floyd. "And I would have staked my right eye on Tony. Why, that boy on Applejack Is racing him to death to win and the ( y her fellow don't seem to be trying." "Applejack wins!" shouted the cr wd as the blue and white stripes passed under the wire a good length in front of Lemon Squeezer. "That's one time that I'm the goat," muttered Doc Floyd to Hopkins. "I'm sorry I steered you wrong, and will get you even. Although I guess I'm In a few thousand deeper than you are, I know I gave you the wrong steer and am sorrier for that than losing my own money. We are whipsawed for fair. Camp wins out the bank roll in the book and we lose our outside bets. Come on and let's get a bottle of wine. No use crying over spilt milk now." The two men, drinking large glasses of wine at the bar, paid slight atten tion to a sudden cheering and commo tion on the outside. "I guess we put over a good one that time, didn't we?" Floyd looked around upon the smiling face of Tony. "Why, you young hound, I ought to break your head with this bottle," he said in low but dangerously threaten ing tones. "What's the matter, pal? Ain't you wise to what's happened?" "No, what is it?" broke in young Hopkins, anxiously. "Why, Applejack was disqualified for not having up enough weight. Somehow or other Hank Harlin was careless in putting his lead pads to make the extra weight along with the saddle, and the jockey lost ten pounds of lead while he was at the post. Care less of Hank, wasn't it? He's been looking for a chance to double cross Camp and fell for my little scheme when I told him how much money we would bet for him on the other horse.'' "And then we've won in the book be sides the outside bets?" exclaimed young Hopkins, suddenly realizing thai Tony the Tout had made good. "You should have told us how you were going to pull it off," drawle< Floyd. "\V3 nearly had heart failure and you can't blame us for doubt in; you, can you?" "Well, I've showed you that I cou! put one over, anyway," returned Ton? "And now, so la* as I'm concerne they can turn all the race tracks ir> tl country into golf links. I'm goi ig in a decent respectable saloon businet back home." SHOES. Oh, the world holds lots of troubles That can give a chap tin* blues, But there's none that grief redoubles IJke u pair of pinching shoes. When a fellow's toes are hurting And he has to limp along, Short, bad words he may be blurting. But he'll never slug a song. By the same sign, while we're singlns These two stanzas 'bout the feet, Thee is naught more comfort bringing— Truth to tell, thy're hard to beat— Than a pair of old mud-splashers Cut to fit a fellow's corn; Though they're hardly tit for "mashers," Soothing more than they adorn. 'TIS EVER THUS. A fool and his automobile are soon parted. No, You Can't. The world is wide And the way is long. But you can't make friends With a trouble song. The Gloomy Outlook. Trust President —Is there no wa/ we can put this competing company out of business without getting into trouble ourselves? Legal Adviser —I fear not, the way tilings seem to be going now. T. P. —But competition will be so expensive. L. A. —You will have to cut down your expenses. T. P. —That's true. I say, James, you can tear up that check I told you to fill out for the African missionary work. Silver Lining. Wife (reading)— Here's another case of a bachelor going wrong. -The cashier ot a bank, aged 40, has been sent to the penitentiary for 25 years for embezzlement Husband—Well, he's in luck. Wife—Why, how do you make that cut? Hushrtnd —He'll have a quiet, p°ice ful time of it until he gets out —clicn he'll be too old to marry. Drawing the Line. "No," said the fussy old bachelor, "I'm not an advocate of boarding house socialism. No, indeed!" "What do you mean by boarding house socialism?" queried the shoe clerk. "It's the kind," explained the 112. o. b., "that gives everybody an equal chance at the piano." LOVE WILL LIGHTEN THE LOAD. Stockson Bonds —Take this basket of fruit to 444 Grosvenor square. It's not too heavy for you, is it? Messenger Boy—lt won't be after a while, sir. Scientific. I've never seen a diplodocus— Maybe never will; No doubt, 'most any hocus pocus Stuffed would nil the bill. Gets Them. Church—l hear your doctor's got three automobiles? Gotham —That's right. He's bound to get the people coming or going.— Yonkers Statesman. Mistaken. "Dear me!" I'm awfully tired. We've had the piano tuner here dll forenoon." "Oh, was that the tuner? I thought it was your daughter playing again." The Real Tune. "They say everything in life Is at tuned to certain keys. What keys are the slippery places in life tuned to?" "I guess they are see sharp or be flat." The Cost of Fretting. More men would get along better in this world, if they weren't all the time sitting down and fretting because they aren't. A Muddy Stream. "1 see where a man wants to give E. I. Harriinan. the Missouri river." "Um —that's merely a new way of hrowing mud." The Old-Fashioned Way. "I saw our new neighbor this morn ig. She swept through her parlor—" "With queenly grace?" "No; witb a broom." BED-BOUND FOR MONTHS. Hops Abandoned After Physicians' Consultation. Mrs. Enos Shearer, Yew and Wash ington Sts., Centralia, Wash., saya: t"For years I waa weak and run down, could not sleep, my limbs swelled and the secretions were troublesome; pains were intense. I waa fast in bed for four months. Three doc tors said there waa no cure for me, and I was given up to die. Reing urged, I used Doan's Kid ney Pills. Soon I was better and in a few weeks was about the house, well and strong again." Sold by all dealers, 50 cents a box, Foflter-Milburn Co., Buffalo, N. Y. UNSETTLED. "Ah! And whose little girl are you?" "I don't know yet, mister. George an' Jimmie is just flghtin' a duel over in the lot to settle the question!" FREF. LANDS IN WYOMING. Chicago & North Western Railway. Send for booklet telling how to se cure 320 acres of U. S. Government lands in Wyoming free of cost, and describing various irrigation projects and the most approved methods of sci entific dry farming. Homeseekers' rates. Direct train service from Chi cago. W. B. Kniskern, P. T. M., Chicago. No Infallible Method. A leading mathematician of France gives another warning that there la no infallible method of doubling one's stakes after a loss. "All one can do," says he, "is to combine one's play so as to have a great chance of winning a little and a little chance of losing much, and many chances of losing little." Willing to Try. She —Do you think it would take you long to love a girl? He —I don't know. I-r.ow long have you got?—Yonkers Statesman. Afterglow. "Are you still in the blissful intox ication of love?" "No, I've reached the headache now." —Exchange. Lnme back and T.umbapro make a young man feel old. Hamlins Wizard Oil make# an old man fool younc. Absolutely noth ing like it for the relief of all pain. Undertakers also come under the head of scientific boxers. THE ' BEST REMEDY For Women-Lydia E. Pink ham's Vegetable Compound Noah, Ky. " I was passing through the Change of Life and suffered from headaches, nervous prostration, and yfe'L m jfl well and strong, so l ;Jg that IcandoaU than I realfy arn^ nam's Vegetable Compound is the most successful remedy for all kinds of female troubles, and I feel that I can never praise it enough."—Mas. Lizzus HOLLAND, Noah, Ky. TheChangeof Life isthemostcritical period of a woman's existence, and neglect of health at this time invites disease and pain. Womeneverywhereshouldremember that there is no other remedy known to medicine that will so successfully carry women through this trying period as Lydia E. Pinkham's Yegetable Com pound, made from native roots and For 30 years it has been curing women from the worst forms of female (lis—inflammation, ulceration, dis placements, fibroid tumors, irregulari ties, periodic pains, backache, and nervous prostration. If you would like special advice ibout your case writ e a confident tlal letter to Mrs. Pinkbam, at Lynn, Mass. Her advice i* ixe©p ind always helpful. Stop iking liquid physic or bip; or little ills, that which makes you worsa istead of curing. Cathartics don't ire they irritate and weaken the owels. CASCARETS make the owels strong, tone the muscles so ley crawl and work—when they o this they are healthy, producing ight results. • 0J CASCARETS IOC ■ bo* for ■ week's treatment. All druggists. Biggest seller lu Uic world. Million boxes ■ muoth. 3
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers