Omaha daily bee., 1902-09-07

fresh cigar and let his thoughts circle about
Allis and Disblo. II would be Just like the
play Of fate for the horse to turn out good,
not that John Porter had got rid OF him.
When evil fortune set its hard face against
a man he could do little toward making the
wicked god smile, and Porter. even when
he was about, was a poor hand at COM
Polling success.
Jakey Faust learned Of Diablo's transition
from Porter's to Langdon's stable. This in
formation caused him little interest at first;
indeed he marvelled somewhat at two such
clever men as Crane and Langdon acquiring
a horse Of Diablo's calibre; certainly Crane
would not have touched him unless there
was more in the horse than the public
knew.
Faust's business relationship with Crane
was, to n certain degree, tentative. Crane
never conided utterly in anybody; II agents
obeyed his behests, we'll and good, and each
transaction was always complete in itself.
He had discovered Faust, and used him
when It suited 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.
There we're all the old campaigning handi-
cap horses, as familiar to Faust as his fell
low members OF the betting ring. AS his
eye ran down the long list, a sudden little
pig-grunt OF surprise bubbled up through
his fat throat; Gee, Dlablo! Ohio, Mr..
Cranel'
He tore out the list and put It in his
pocket; then he sat for a time thinking.
The result was a run low to Gravesend
to pay Just a 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 to-
ward each other.
Faust hoped that Langdon would talk
about Diablo; but the trainer was like most
Of his guild generally, a c~lose-mouthed man,
80 Jakey had to make his own running.
Whats the boss goin' to do with Dia-
blo?' he asked Langdon.
Must we bought him for a work horse,
I guess" the trainer answered.
"Is he any good?"
"He can eat; that's all l see from him
yet"
what did he buy him for?'
'"To help a snoozer that was sittin' in bad
luck"
t Faust had an odd habit Of causing his fat
l sides to ripple like troubled water when he
wished to convey the impression that he
Q was amused; he never laughed-just the
r rib ripple.
a whats funny7" Langdon asked, cycling
r Jakey, with querulous disfavor.
Q "Crane buying a horse to help a man.
t answered the cherub, wondering il Langdon
a was SO devoid Of humor as to take it seri-
d ously.
}, "Crane told me so himself" said the
trainer; 'Porter's hurt, an 1 guess they're
in a hole, an the boss took over Dlablo."
y Say, Dick" and Faust edged close
) enough TO tap the other mans ribs with
his thumb; were you born yesterday
e say" continued the cherub, for Langdon
had turned away somewhat impatiently
Il whats the good av givin' me that guf
y You didn't stand for it yourself-not on yel
life. TIL old mans pretty slick, buys q
Il bad horse to help a poor mutt, an enters
him in tn Brooklyn, eh?"
THE Brooklyn!" exclaimed Langdon
thrown off his guard.
Is with corpulent intensity the Cherub mel.
dramatically drew from his pocket tn
% clipping and rendered 1t to Langdon, watch
a ing the latter's face closely. That's thu
d pea, Dick, eh?' he asked
II Langdon was thinking. Was Crane
II doubling on him all around7 Why the devi
II hadn't he told him?
Now you amt takin' In that fairy tall
II of Cranes any more'n l am, Dick. VIII
n can't we do a bit for ourselves over this; 4
ia won't hurt the boss none-won't throw hin
a down? This horse was a good youngster
an Crane didn't get him without seem hin
Ie do somethin'. You Jest keep me posted, an
If II he shapes good I can back IN fer an old
time KILN, see? I'll divvy up straight"
Langdon didn't answer at once-not will
:. satisfaction to Faust; he knew that Crane
held the butter for his bread, even tn
bread itself; but here was a man with cake
|, and he loved cake. Finally, in the glamor
of JGkey's talk of untold wealth to be &C
ouired, Langdon swayed by Ne cupidity o
, his nature rather than his better Judgment
promised half-heartedly to cooperate will
Faust.
> But no sooner had the latter gone thar
the lode-star OF Langdon's s~elf-interes
4 fickered clearly in view, and he promised
Mr.. Jakey mentally a long trip to a yer!
\ hot place indeed rather than a surreptitioui
a partnership over Diablo.
It was some little time after this, while
Faust was feeling somewhat irritated a
A.. the absence Of information from Langdon
!, that he had an interview with Crane.
- 81 want you to back the Dutehman to viii
. fifty thousand for me over the Brooklyn
= Derby" the latter said.
But there's no winner book on it," OBJ
jected Faust.
4 That's just where your cleverness will
come In" suavely answered Crane. There
10 hurry, and there are always people look
ing for foolish money-there's one such II
Chicago, o'Leary; and fancy they coul'
even be found in New York. But you ough
|, to get fifty to one about it IL you put It Of
easy"
81 see you have Diablo entered for tn
Brooklyn" Faust put out as a feeler
Don't you want a commission worked Of
a him?
Il didn't enter him-that was somebod
e eIse'e foolishness, and l don't want to bacl
him"
m Hes a hundred to one"
"a thousand would be short odds,
should say" answered Crane. But wait
bit. I bought him Just lowell, I took hir
from some people who we're tired Of hi
ie cannibal ways, and promised to have
small bet on him the first time he ran, for
for the man" The equivocation was reall
a touch Of delicacy. You might take tn
odds to fifty for me; there's not one chanc
e. in a million of his starting. but l migf
he forget all about this little matter Of tn