Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-08-08


the table with his thin white fingers
Now. here Beau" and "Batty' spoke
father 'There'll be tall doin's to-
morrow an you'll need all yer steam.
You go home an take pill"
The plunger shook his head. and '.Bat-
ty'' took out the fat, black cigar. which
he affected. and leaned forward
whats worryin' yer. Bill?' he asked.
gently. eff they's anything I can do, JUS
holler."
The nervous twitching smile fiickerei
across the white face before him. but the
plunger said nothing.
II know you been in bad lately" Bat
ty'' went on. IAN yer've lost money
enough to sink a ship. but know yer've
got plenty more an 1t can't be that that s
worryin' you. If I thought 1t was-well
I've got about twenty-five thou yer could
have in a minute. But my rol'd look like
q penny in the Chemical National beside
your wad. Honest. Beau: now tell 1t to
me. It'll do you good
The pin-point came into the plunger's
eyes again, and for a moment they rested
on "Batty's'' face-but only for mo-
ment.
II think I'll run over and try the rou-
lette wheel for q little while." said the
plunger.
wheel. hell. You go to bed" advised
"Batty. Again the solicitous tone came
into his voice. 1T amt the international
handicap tomorrow that's got yer wingin'.
is it?' he asked. "Of course, Silver Heels
Is a dead moral cinch to win. If ever
there was one. but they amt another ia
vorite on the day that'll be one, two:
seven. 1 wouldn't let that worry me-if
it is that he added. half alphabetically.
There was a long pause. The light in
the plunger's eyes glittered.
You think Silver Heels will VIM, he
asked.
VIM "Batty" was scornful in his
superior wisdom. Twin? Amt nothin'
to it. Beau. He can stop for a lunch an
beat 'em block. Win? Oh me gram
mother!'
"I'm going over to the wheel for
while" and Carter arose suddenly. How
much is 1t you want for your friend?'
1.-Two hundred" said "Batty."
The plunger crossed the room to where
bookmakers on the Metropolitan turf, sat
with a party Of friends.
Have you got five thousand in your
pocket. Blake?" he asked.
Sure said Big Bill" and he pro O..
well. make it ten." replied Carter. as
he carelessly scratched an l o u on the
back of card. I'm going over to the
wheel and I didn't bring any money from
the track"
"As much as you like" said Blake
Thanks" said Carter. He didn't count
the money. but stuffed 1t into his pocket.
"Going to do anything with Silver Heels
tomorrow" asked Blake.
i maven u1dQ6 up my nluu yet, SdiA
the plunger. Good night" He returned
to "Batty," gave him $500 for me and
went out.
Blake sat for a moment nIusingly look
ing at the card the plunger had given
him: On 1t was simply: Il O $4,000.
Carter"
THAT sort Of thing wouldn't be possible
in any other business he said to the
crowd. Imagine walking into bank.
no matter how we'll they know you. and
alyf 40
$4,000 to play roulette? They'd call the
police. Or If they didn't 1t would take
week to get 1t, then you'd have to put up
security. tell EN- all about your ancestors
and what you had for breakfast. While
that" and he shook the card, "is just as
good security as I want, and I'm careful
whose markers I take. I held one Of
Carriers o US once overnight for
eighty-fve thousand. Good as gold.
wish / had a hatful of EN-"
But the plunger didn't go to the wheel
He paused irresolutely on the curb for a
time, then went home. His hand trem-
bled as he let himself in; his pale lips
were crushed tightly together He wrote
a few letters, then for hour after hour he
paced back and forth across the long
room; back and forth. restlessly. tireless-
~. his face even more palid under the
glare of the light. Finally he opened a
the loading and put 1t in his pocket. Once
more he began pacing. pacing, pacing
back and forth until the sun burst
through the dawn and day was come.
"Batty' Logan took the long. thick
heavy envelope which the plunger handed
to him and weighed 1t in his left hand
Across 1T was written in red ink. $780,
600" 1t was sealed with the stamp of
the Great Eastern Trust and Banking
Company.
"A measly little hundred thou" he re-
marked. AN maybe that amt some
money. Oh. me! Oh. my! Oh mamma! !
Think O. the pie that'd buy, Beau?"
Here's nine thousand. eight hundred
more" said the plunger. as he passed
over handful of bills. That envelope is
not to be broken unless 1t is necessary
1 want to use 1t on the International
handicap. Well probably not do much
business on the first three races"
"Is 1t plunge, Bill?" 'Batty'' asked
eagerly.
Yes. a plunge. 'Batty.'"
ooh. say" and the optimism which was
"Batty's' dubbed over. mo more pix
in for us, ! guess. Maybe we don't bet
two whole beans when we get started?
Yes? Maybe we won't have them other
bookies down the line clmbin a tree an
pullin' the tree up after em? Well.
guess we're nearly the real Bazooks II