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