Omaha daily bee., 1902-10-05
Copyright. 1902. by Mcclure. Phillips & Coz
CHAPTER XXI.

Copyright. 1902. by Mcclure. Phillips & Coz
CHAPTER XXI.
The next day, intent on persuadins Porter
to accept the money won over Diablo, Crane
took a run dowE to the Ringwood farm.
Crane stated the facts very plausibly.
very seductively, to John Porter. Porter
almost unreasonably scented charity I'm
Cranes proposal. He believed that tho
bet was a myth: Crane was trying to
present him with this sum as a COM
pensation for having lost Diablo. 1t
wasn't even q loan. IL was a gift, pure
and simple. His very helplessness, his
poverty. made him decline the 0ffer with
unnecessary herceness. II Allis had re-
fused II, II she were strong enough to
stand without this charity, surely he, a
man. battered though he was, could pass
It by. He had received a hopeful mes
sage from Allis as to Lucretia's chances
in the Derby; they felt confident Of win
ming. That win would relieve him Of all
obligations.
Il can't take IT," said Porter to Crane.
"Allis Is more familiar with the circum-
stances Of the bet-if there was one-than
I. It must just rest with her; she's a
man now, you know" he added, plain
lively; I'm but a broken wreck; and what
she says, goes"
But there's a payment on Ringwood
falling due in a few days" Crane remon-
stated. even as he had to Mrs. Porter.
Porter collapsed fretfully. He could
stand out against prospective financial
,stringency. but actual obligations for
which he had no means quite broke down
his weakened energy. He had forgotten
about this liability. that is. had thought
a. 4gr,, 90 royp,,nN NOR dHefapt He
would be forced to recall the money he
had given Dixon to bet on Lucretia for
the Derby, to meet this payment to the
bank.
Quite despondently he answered the
other man. II had forgotten al; about
It! this shake-up has tangled my memory.
l can pay the money, though" he added.
half dehantly; ut will hamper me-, but I
can do t."
A sudden thought came to Crane. an in
SEPARATION. rive got it," he exclaimed.
Porter frightened up; there was such a
world Of confidence in the others manner.
"we1l Just let this Diablo money stand
against the payment which is about due on
Ringwood; put 1t in the bank to cover 1t, so
to speak-later we can settle to whom it
belongs. At present 1t seems to be nobody's
money; it's seldom one sees a few thousand
going a-begging for an owner" he added.
,jocularly. you say II isn't yours; l know
Il isn't mine. and most certainly it doesn't
belong to the bookmaker. for he's lost 1t
fair and square. We can't let him keep IT.;
they win enough OF the public's money"
Reluctantly, Porter gave a half-hearted
- acquiescence. He would have sacrificed
tangible interests to leave the money that
was In Dixon's hands with him to bet on
Tyorofto IN Mould he lilo NOT faEinU tho
tide at it's food to let her run unbacked
when her chances Of winning we're so good
and the odds against her great enough to
insure a big return.
1t was after banking hours, quite toward
evening. by the time Crane had obtained
this concession. He had brought the win
nings for John Porter's acceptance, should
the latter prove amenable to reason. Now
It occurred to him that he might leave the
money with one OF the bank staff, who
could deposit II the next day.
Crane drove back to the village and went
at once to the cashiers (Mr. Lane's) house.
He was not at home; his wife thought per-
haps he was still in the bank. Crane went
there in search OF him. He found only
Mortimer. who had remained late over his
accounts. From the latter Crane learned
that the cashier had driven over to a neigh
boring town.
at doesn't matter" remarked Crane; 81
can leave this money with you. It's to meet
a payment of three thousand due from
John Porter about the middle of June. You
can put it in a safe place in the vault till
the note falls due and then transfer it to
Porter's credit"
"In attend to It, sir" replied Mortimer.
"Ili attach the money to the note and put
them away together"
Or his way to the station Crane met Alan
Porter.
81 suppose you'd like a holiday to see
your fathers mare run for the Derby,
wouldn't you, Alan ?" he said.
IL should very much, sir; but Mr.. Lane
Is set against racing
oh. ] think he'll let you off that day.
I'll tell him he may. But, like your mother,
] don't approve Of young men betting-I
know what II means"
lie was thinking with bitterness Of his
own youthful indiscretions.
III you go, don't bet. You might be
tempted, naturally. to back your fathers
mare. Lucretia, but you would stand a very
good chance Of losing"
Don't you think she'll win, sir?" Alan
asked. emboidened by his employers free
dom OF speech.
81 do not. My horse. the Dutchman, IL
almost certain to win, my trainer tells me. q
Then he added, apologize OF his confidential
moods; 81 tell you this, lest through loyalty
TO your own people you should lose youu
money. Racing, | fancy, is very uncertain
even when Il seems most certain"
Again Crane had cause to congratulate
himself upon the somewhat clever manipu.
iation OF a dihhcult situation, He had
scored again in his diplomatic love en-.
deayor. He knew quite well that Allis
determined stand was only made possible
by her expectation Of gaining financial re.
lief for her father through Lucretia's win.