The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-07-06
glance on the tassel.
THAT, too. has Its meaning" says Tom
OF the Beads. ''if only we might read

The tassel Is a common, poor creature
Of worsted yarns and strands wrapped
about a clumsy mold of wood Tom OF
the Beads scans it narrowly as it lies in
his hand. at last he turns It, and the
fringe falls away from the wooden mold
There is little Three burned upon the
wood Tom of the Beads exhibits this
sacred sign to Reed and Roche; the while
his excited interest deepens. Then he
counts the strands of worsted which
constitute the fringe. There are eighty
one
Three times three times three" and
Tom of the Beads draws deep breath.
Who might resist these spectral mani
festation of Threes Tom of the Beads
turns from the window like one whose
decision is made. Without a word he
takes slip of paper from his pocket
book and going to the table writes his
name on its back. 1t is pleasant
seeming paper. this slip: and pleasantly
engraved and written upon. No less Is
it than q New York draft drawn on the
City National Bank by leading Bos-
ton concern for an even one hundred
thousand dollars. Tom of the Beads
places it In the hands of Roche
Tomorrow should be the luckicst of
days" says Tom of the Beads. Il must
not lose it. l shall return 20 Boston on
projects near to me, and which I've had
in train some time. As to the races to-
morrow. take the draft and put it all OF,
Roysterer.''
Man alive." demonstrates the amaz-
ed Roche; its too much on one horse!
Moreover, I won't have time, after I've
deposited this. to get all that money
down"
Get down what you can then" COM
IN,
no fears! I tell You, SO surely as the sun
comes up. Roysterer will win
The wise ones don't think So urges
Roche. Roche is not welded to the mys-
tic Three, and beholds nothing wondrous
in that numeral. This Roysterer is d
seven for one shot"
"And the better for us" retorts Tom
of the Beads. 'Roysterer is to Win"
'iBut wouldn't it be wiser to split this
money and play part of it on Roysterer
for a placer"
DO you suppose l don't know what / m
about? I'm forty-four years Of age; I'm
worth a million for each year of the for
ty-four; l made every silver of it by
the very method 1 take to discover this
horse. Can't you see that In, POI
guessing? that l have reasons for what
l do Roysterer for a place! Never!
finishes FIRST
Let me ask one question" observes the
cautious Roche. DO you know the
horse?"
Never heard of the animal in my life!''
remarks Tom of the Beads, pouring
complacent glass OF Burgundy. This he
tastes approvingly. Then he replaces the
glass: You must pardon me, my friend.
I've got to pay my bills, write a note or
two, and send my trunks to the station
for the train. I've not too much time
for d man who must be in State Street
when business opens tomorrow Take
my word for it; get all you can on Roys
terer If we win. were partners; II we
lose. I'm alone
Roche shakes his sage, experienced
head, while his face gathers a dubious
look. Reed and Roche take Tom of the
Beads by the hand and then withdraw.
What do you make of it?' asks
Roche.
The mans infatuated" replies Reed.
"And yet, you also believe in systems
remarks Roche.
It is the next afternoon. The Brlgh-
ton course is rampant with the usual
jostlns, pushing, striving, guessing, know
ing. wagering, winning, losing, ignorant,
exultinS, deplorinS, profane crowd. The
conservative Roche has so far obeyed
the behest of Tom Of the Beads that
he has placed fifteen thousand dollars
on Roysterer straight.
ITO lose fifteen thousand won't hurt
him. says Roche. and SO consoles him
self for a mad speculation wherein he
has no Joy.
Reed and Roche, as taking life easily,
are in q box: the race over which their
interest clings and chambers is called.
The horses are at the post. Roysterer
does not act encourasingly; he's too
-S-,, ri,,f -litrlof IA "a
vorite, steps about, alert and springy as
cat; it should be easy race for her
if looks go for aught.
They get the word; they are off
The field sweeps round the curve. A tall
man in a. nearby box follows the race
with a glass
AT the quarter" sings the tall man.
Starlight first Blenheim second. Roy
sterer third There is a pause. Then
the tall man: LAT the half! Starlight
first. Blenheim second. Roysterer third"'
that" says Roche, "or he'll explode the
of our friend" There is a
wait of twenty-five seconds Again the
tall binoculared man: '"Three-quarter
post! Starlight first Blenheim second.
Roysterer third-and whipping"'
Its as good as over" observes Roche.
- l wonder what Tom Of the Beads will
say to MS WltcN-cnain Wnen lls learS
the finish
Its surprising" remarks Reed peev-
ishly, that a man of his force and clear
should own such a weakness!
All his life he's followed this marvellous
Three about; and having had vast sue
cess he attributes 1t to the Three. when
he might as we'll and as wisely ascribe 1t
to the State House. or the Old South
Church. To-day's results may cure him;
and that's one comfort"
There is a sharp click as the tall man
in the nearby box shuts up his glass.
'Roysterer wins!" says the tall man.
Got down fifteen thousand. Won one
hundred and five thousand reads Tom
of the Beads from Roches telegram.
Tom of the Beads is in his State street
he has finished a victorious day at
once heavy and tumultuous with the
buying and the selling OF full three
shares Of stocks. They should
have wagered the full three hundred
thousand and let the odds look after
he says.
Then Tom of the Beads begins to ca
ress the gypsy chain You knew" he