Gilpin observer., 1909-06-24
"Dear Floyd: I'VE just got back from

Dr1ckS with me. The property ID q
sure winner and will make us rich. I'm
sending your share in one brick which
is pure and worth $2.500. l could
have sent the money instead. but don't
suppose you need 1t and thought you
would like to see the real yellow
stuff Yours, Bob"
Slicer folded the letter and gave it
to the elevator boy to give to Floyd
on his next trip up to the rooms, anc
then decided that he would deliver II
back into the hands of its owner him.
self. When he reached the room
Floyd was just passing $1,000 in bills
over to the dealer behind the table for
which he received in return two stacks
of canary colored checks. He seemed
too preoccupied to thank the hotel
man for bringing the letter, as he
showed it carelessly back into his
pocket and went on playing. Fasci-
mated by the play, as men will become
when watching it, Slicer stood behind
Floyd and saw him lose steadily. Every
few moments the player would call
for drink which he gulped down hur-
riedly. Slicer stood by the table for
an hour, in which time Floyd managed
to drop $4,000.
That's all the ready money I've
got" he muttered, flushed with ex-
element Let me have another
thousand and I'll give you a check
for it."
Sorry, Mr.. Floyd, but we can't take
any paper" was the polite but firm
reply of the dealer
Then, you'll cash my check for q
thousand, won't you, Slicer?"
why, Mr.. Floyd, you know-er-
that's not just regular stammered the
hotel man. 81 don't think you ought
to lose any more just now"
Lose nothing." spluttered Floyd
with all the fever of gambling showing
in the flush on his face, as he followed
Sicer from the room, and down the
elevator. See here, then; if you
won't cash my check, get that pack
age you put away in the safe for me
and bring it into your private Office"
The covering was taken from a
large, dull yellow brick of metal
which was lain upon the table in
Slicer's private Office while a bell boy
fetched file and small augur which
were demanded by Floyd. When these
were brought he filed small particle
from all edges of the block and then
asked Slicer to take the augur and
bore through any part of it.
Get your small scales and weigh it
and see if it don't weigh up $4,000
worth, and then If you think I'm trying
the gold brick bunco on you, take the
stuff you've bored out over to the jew
eler and have it tested. I've got to
have money to get even with that faro
bank and you can have the chunk for
$1,000. I'm not known at your one
horse bank here and they wouldn't
take chance of buying gold dollars
from me at so cents apiece. You can
| get rid of it for what it's worth and
make a good profit of nearly a loo
per cent. Now, hurry on to the jew
elry store and then go get me the
money at the bank and get back as
quick as you can so l can get even
with that game"
The finely ground metal was poured
into an envelope, and a sudden gleam
came into the eyes of Peter Slicer as
he thought he detected a sleight of
hand toying with the envelop.
, Wen just put this brick here in
the safe until l get back" said the
cautious hotel man. You can wait
here in the Off ce until return.
Instead of the jewelers., Slicer
headed for the court house as soon
as he left the office and succeeded in
finding the sheriff of the county
What do you think" he exploded to
that official. There's chap over at
| my hotel trying to work the old gold
brick game on me! Why, I've been
On to that game since was a boy.
want you to arrest him. I'm going to
show one of these swindlers up and
put him in the penitentiary, where he
belongs!"
Wait a minute, now" cautioned
| the sheriff. You say he is going to
| sell you $4,000 in gold for $500. We
must get him dead to rights. You 60
on to your bank and get the currency
and then I'll wait outside your Office
door and see you pay it over. Well
have clear case against him then"
Ten minutes later Floyd was just
placing a roll of bills in his pocket
when voice demanded that he throw
up his hands and submit to search.
And you needn't make any bluff,
young feller; we've got you all right,
declared the sheriff.
Two nights following his arrest
Floyd drove up to the High Rollers
club in a cab. Dismissing the driver.
he let himself in with his latch key.
Col. Powley and the alderman were
both present. having received tele-
gram that Floyd would meet them.