Evening star., 1902-09-13

SOOU form.
Did you find out anything about Porters
mare, Lucretia-I know White Moths form:
ooth hit and well, the Dutchman holds him
safe over the Derby journey
NO, L didn't hear anything about Por-
ter's mare
Il have" said Langdon, decisiveIy. II
pald a boy to keep an eye on her, and he
says she'll be hard to beat
crane frowned. What boy?" he asked,
abruptly.
'Sha ndy.'
We'll. just drop that; chuck that game.
John Porter has his own troubles. If he
can win, let him-he can't if the Dutchman
Keeps well; but, anyway, our own horses
will keep us full occupied.
Langdon was dumfounded. If Crane had
opened the Bible and read a chapter from
81 Luke he would not have been more as
tonished. 1t had occurred to him that he
had done a remarkably smart thing; he
had expected commenda ton for his adroit-
ness In looking after his masters interests.
IhlS dlsapprobation of such trivial matter
as the touting off of an opponents horses
was new discovery in his masters charac-
ter Where were they at, anyway? Pres
emily Crane would be asking him to give
the public fair run for their money each
time out.
All at once light dawned upon Langdon
frame was doubling on him. He saw it
like a fash-his employer had a tout on the
ground himself; that was how he had got
next some good performance of Diablo's
My, but it was cleveri He could appreciate
1t. Crane rose in his estimation again.
Quite humbly he answered: Very we'll
It's not my funeral I'll bring the Dutch
man to the post fit to run the race of his
life If Lucretia beats him it won't be my
1ault. l thought perhaps you might want
to hedge a bit on Porters mare"
II don't think it'll stand the Dutch
man. There are too many in to start back
ing them all. Let me know If the black
gives you any encouragement and I'll see
about placing him.
After Langdon had gone Crane lighted
fresh cigar and let his thoughts circle about
Allls and Diablo. 1t would be just like the
play of fate for the horse to turn out good
now that John Porter had got rid of him
When evil fortune set its hard face against
man he could do little toward making the
wicked god smile, and Porter, even when
ne was about, was poor hand at compel
ling success.
Jakey Faust learned of Diablo's transi-
tion from Porters to Langdon's stable This
lnforma ton caused him little interest at
hrst; indeed, he marveled somewhat at two
such clever men as Crane and Langdon ac-
quiring a horse of Diablo's caliber: GER
tainly Crane would not have touched him
unless there was more in the horse than the
public knew.
Fausts business relations with Crane
were, to a certain degree, tentative. Crane
never confided utterly in anybody; if agents
obeyed his behests, well and good. and each
transaction was always completed in itself.
He had discovered Faust, and used him
"licil II SuilSu HIS purpose
Some time after the acquisition of Diablo
Jakey was reading his morning paper with
much interest upon the entries for the
Brooklyn handicap, published that day.
Ihere were all the old campaigning handi-
cap horses, as familiar to Faust as his fell
low-me embers of the betting ring AS his
eye ran down the long list a sudden little
pig grunt of surprise bubbIed up through
his fat throat: Gee, Diablo, Ohio, Mr.
Crane
He tore out the list and put 1t in his
pocket. Then he sat for a time, thinking
The result was a run down to Grayesend to
pay just friendly visit to Langdon.
AS far as Crane was concerned the trainer
and the boOkmaker were like two burglars
suddenly coming upon each other while
rObbing the same house; they were some
what In a condition of armed neutrality
toward each other.
Faust hoped that Langdon would talk
about Diablo: but the trainer was like
most of his guild generally, a close-mouthed
man, so Jakey had TO make his own run
ming.
What's the boss goin' to do with Dia-
blo?' he asked Langdon.
''Mustve bought him for work horse I
guess the trainer answered.
rs he any good?"
He can eat; that's all see from him yet"
What did he buy him for?
ITO help snoozer that was sittin' in bad
luck
Faust had an odd habit of causing his fat
sides to ripple like troubled water when he
WISllcu " COHNey Tic IiHpieSSIUH lHdl Ht
was amused; he never laughed-just the
rib ripple.
What's funny?" Langdon asked, eyeing
Jakey, with querulous disfavor.
Crane buying horse to help a man."
answered the cherub, wondering If Lang
don was so devoid of humor as to take it
seriously
Crane told me so himself" said the
trainer. Porters hurt, an l guess they're
in hole, an the boss took over Diablo"
Say. Dick" and Faust edged close
enough to tap the other mans ribs with his
thumb, were you born yesterday? + say"
continued the cherub, for Langdon had
turned away somewhat patiently. what's
the good givin' me that CUFF? You didn't
stand for 1t yourself-not on yer life. TIL
old mans pretty slick, buys a bad horse to
help poor mutt, an enters him In tn
Brooklyn. eh?
The Brooklyn exclaimed Langdon.
With corpulent intensity the cherub melo-
dramatically drew from his pocket the clip
ping and rendered it to Langdon, watching
the latter's face closely That's the pea,
Langdon was thinking. Was Crane
doubling on him all around? Why the
devil hadn't he told him?
Now, you amt taking in that fairy tale
of Cranes any more'n I am, Dick Why
can't we do bit for ourselves over this;
1t won't hurt the boss none-won't throw
him down? This horse was a good young
ster, an Crane didn't get him without
seein' him do somethin. You jest keep me
posted an If he shapes good 1 can back m
fer an old-time killin', see? I'll divYy up
straight"
Langdon didn't answer at once-not with
satisfaction to Faust. He knew that Crane
held the butter for his bread, even the
bread itself; but here was man with cake.
and he loved cake. Finally, in the glamour
of Jakey's talk of untold wealth to be
acquired. Langdon, swayed by the cupidity
of his nature, rather than his better judg
ment promised half -heartedly to cooper
ate with Faust.
But no sooner had the latter gone than
the lode-star of Langdon's self-interest
fickered clearly into view, and he prom
!sed Mr.. Jakey, mentally, a long trip to
very hot place indeed rather than a sur
reptitious partnership over Diablo.
1t was some little time after this, while
Faust was feeling somewhat irritated at
the absence Of information from Langdon,
that he had an interview with Crane.
81 want you to back the Dutchman to win
fifty thousand for me over the Brooklyn
derby" the latter said.
But there's no winter book on It," OBJ
5ected Faust.
That's just where your cleverness will
come in,'' suavely answered Crane. There's
no hurry, and there are always people look
ing for foolish money-there's one such in