Omaha daily bee., 1902-09-21

Ter DER bokle is playin for to trow yous
downe.
No moar at presen.
This was the wholly ambiguous eommu-
~nication that Crane had found under his
office door. There was no stamp, neither
plate nor date written in the letter, moth
ing but an evident warning from someone,
VINO no doubt, hoped to get into his good
graces by putting him on his guard.
AS 1t happened. Crane had just made up
his mind to make his plunge on Diablo
while the odds were long enough to make
1t possible with the outlay Of very little
capital. He smoked a heavy Manuel Garcia
over this new contingency. 1t did not mat
ter about the saddles. Langdon had con-
ided in him fully. But how had the writer
OF the nl-spelled missive known Of tina
matter2
Yes, he would better make his bet before
these whisperings came to other ears.
But the bookmaker mentioned? That
must be Faust. Why was he prowling about
amongst stable lads?
He sent for Faust. When the latter had
come Crane asked Diablo's price for the
Brooklyn
IT'S 30 to 1 now" replied the book
maker; somebody's backin' him"
Faust's small baby eyes were fixed fur
lively on Cranes pale, sallow face as he
Impaired this information; but he might as
well have studied the ingram paper on the
wall; Its %unfgured surface was not more
placid, more devoid of indication, than the
smooth countenance he was searching.
Crane remained tantalizingly silent for a
full minute; evidently his thoughts had
drifted away to some other subject.
yes said Faust, speaking again to
break the trying quiet, some one's nib
bin at Diablo in the books. wonder IL
it's Porter; did he he think him a good
horse?"
1T can't be Porter nor anyone else who
knows Dlablo. It's some foolish outsider
tempted by the long odds. l suppose. how
ever, it doesn't matter-in fact, it's all the
better. You took that IS, 900 to 500 for me.
didn't your"
"Yes."
"Well, just lay off; you can do so now at
a profit"
you don't want to back Diablo then
Shall l lay against him further?"
II you hke-in your own book. I don't
want to have anything to do with him one
way or the other. 1 always thought he
was a bad horse, and-and-well, never
mind; just lay that bet off. I shall prob
ably want to hack The nutchmar again
shortly"
When Faust had gone, Crane opened the
little drawer which held his betting book.
took 1t out and drew a pencil through the
entry he had made opposite Allis' name.
That's on for a few days, thanks to
Mr.. Faust" he thought. Then he ran his
eye back over several other entries. "Ah,
that's the man-Hummel; he'll do"
Next he consulted his telephone book;
tracing his finger down the "H' column,
he came to like Hummel, commission
broker, Madison 711S4."
Over the phone he made an appointment
for the next day at IL o'clock with Hum
mel and the result Of that interview was
that Crane backed DiStlo to win him a
matter Of SIS, 900 at the liberal odds of
IS to 1; for Jakey Faust, feeling that he
had made a mistake in backing the black
had laid off all his own bets and sent the
horse back in the market to the longer
odds. Crane had completely thrown him
off his guard.
Faust no sooner had congratulated him
self upon having slipped out Of his Dlablo
bets, than he heard that a big commission
had been most skilfully worked on this
outsider for the Brooklyn. In his new d.
lemma he went to Crane, feeling very much
ct sea.
They're backing your horse again, SIR
he said.
Are they?"
Eyes, heavy"
"If he's worth backing at all I suppose
he's worth backing heavily"
This aphorism seemed to merit a new
cigar on Cranes part, SO he lighted one.
Hes travelin' up and down in the mar
ket," continued Faust. He dropped to
thirty, then went back to seventy-hve, now
he's at twenty; I can't make 1t out"
Il shouldn't try" advised Crane, sooth.
ingly. TOO much knowledge is even al
great a danger as a lesser amount some.
times"
Faust started %guiltily, and looked will
quick inquiry at the speaker, but, as usual
there was nothing in his presence beyont
the words to hang a conjecture on.
II thought for your sake that I'd bette,
find out"
"oh, don't worry about me, that is, to-
much, you know. I go down to Gravesent
once in a while myself, and no doubt know
all that's doing"
A great fear fell upon Faust. Evidentl
this was an intimation to him to keep ava,
from the stables. How did Crane know-wh
had split on him? Was 1t Langdon or Sand
VI CAOAAg oohloOut udu tNlueuly arouse
Cranes suspicion, and this man Of a grea
cleverness had put him away while h
worked a big commission through someon
else. The thought was none the less bite
to Faust, that 1t was all his swn fault, hi
super-cleverness.
AN you don't want me to work a com
mission for you on Diablo," he asked des
perately.
mo, I shan't bet on him at present. An
say, Faust, in future when / want you to d
any betting on my horses, on my account
you know, I'll tell you. Understand? Yo'
needn't worry, that is-other people, I'll tel
you myself"
II didn't mean" Faust had started I
try a plausible explanation, but Gran
stopped him,
"Never mind. the matter is closed on
now"
"But. sir" persisted Faust. III you've 60
your money all on. can I take a bit now
is it good business? We've worked togethe
a good deal without any misunderstandin
before"
"Yes, we have" commented Crane.
Yes. an Ii like to be in on this now.
didn't mean to forestall you"
Crane raised his hand in an attitude {
=, supplication for the other man to desis
4 but Faust was not 70 be stopped.
4 81 made a mistake, an I'm sorry, an