The Red Cloud chief. [volume] (Red Cloud, Webster Co., Neb.) 1873-1923, 1909-09-02
| 5 SIS

properties.
Doc Floyd sat in the marble-l flushed
rotunda of San FranciscO's best hotel
the morning after his arrival lie had
finished with his newspaper and
was gazing out upon the little park
across the street filed with palms and
beds of brighthuCd flowers. Neither
Col. POwley nor Jack Clcland had ap.
peared. and he was rather glad when
the young mining man he had met on
the train came upon him, and he was
reused from his selfabsorption by n
CHEEKY greeting. Looking up he saw
that young Hopkins no longer wore
corduroys and heavy hunting boots,
but was blueserged, grccn.hatted and
patent-leathered, and altogether sporty
looking enough to belong to his own
set.
"All alone. See" remarked Hopkins
as he touched Floyd upon the shoulder.
IF you've not been to breakfast. I'd
like to have you Join me-"
I'D be pleased to-" assented Floyd,
who had grown hungry waiting Tor his
friends. Those fellows who came
with mo must be taking an extra por.
tlon of sleep this morning. I'll not
walt any longer for them"
Down I'm the grillroOm a breakfast
was served. the equal of which is not
to be had In any other city IN the
United States, excepting, perhaps,
New Orleans. by the umc Fiuyu u.d
Hopkins had lit their cigarettes they
were cOnversng as old trends.
"Oh. look who's arrived" burst out
Tony the Tout, upon catching sight of
Floyd and his party IF II isn't the
Big Doctor. and | haven't seen him
since Hamburg was "A two.ycar.old"
"And say" whispered Tony, In con.
hdential tones. find out tonight what
business that young man who was
with you this afternoon has with old
Tom Camp. They were off In n cor
ner for long time and If your friend
amt some wise fish he's apt to be bit"
That night after dinner Floyd, in
conversation with young Hopkins. eau.
tiously led the talk up to Tom Camp,
and then asked the fiat.footed question
as To whether Hopkins had entered or
was about to enter into any deal
We'll, I'm rather ashamed of it, be-
cause II does look like n crooked deal"
returned Hopkins; but I'm lot loser
on the game, first and last, and II looks
like a chance to get even, so | was go
ing TO take 1t. II you know anything
about Camp, you know he has some of
the best horses on tho track. He says
he's been In hard luck this winter and
lost several thousand dollars bucking
the faro bank. His proposition is for
me to put in $4,000 TO help back a
book. He will put In $4,000 of his own
money. making IA good strong bank
roll. The books are all making money
now, and besides the even break we
would get In on the regular play:
Camp says he can fix race or two so
we can win some sure money. He Is
certain that we can pull out $4,000
each In week"
THAT all listens we'll" broke in
Floyd
whats the matter with it?" cues.
toned Hopkins. Il don't know why
I'm telling you all this. anyway You
might queer my game for all know"
No I'll do nothing OF the kind" an.
swered Floyd. But I'll bet you five
hundred now that If don't save you,
Camp will trim you for whatever you
put In. Ii It's such sure thing, what
does he want with a partner TO share
the profits? Any time man offers
you something for nothing, lock up
your bank roll and keep your hand on
your jewelry. Do you follow me?"
yes, 1t does look that way" as.
sented Hopkins: "but you see he needs
$4,000 to make the book safe. and he
only has about $4,000 in ready money
that he can lay his hands on. That's
why he wants some one to come in
with the other $1,000"
That's just what they all say, and
now I'm convinced that you are SEIZED.
uled to be the goat" announced Floyd.
Did he explain to you just how he
was Ioing to pull Off one of those al.
legged sure things""
Yes, there's q race on the card TO.
morrow in which he has horse en-.
the only other contender in the race.
He can throw the race to whichever
horse he wants to. You know that's
possible, don't you?"
Eyes, I've seen such things done, and
then again I've seen them fall most
awfully hard. | can see now how
easy Il viii be for him to break the
book and get your $1,000 on one race.
Come on up to my rooms and I'll in.
itiate you into the art of beating the
double cross, If there's any chance to
do 1t; and If there isn't then you'd bet.
ter keep your $1,000 In the bank, or
have trustee appointed to look after
IL for you. You may be all right on a
mining proposition, but there are a lot
OF other things you've got to learn"
Within 10 minutes Floyd, with the
aid OF the telephone, had located ToMy
the Tout, and in another half hour
that wise bug of the turf had arrived
at Floyd's rooms. wondering for what
he was wanted, and pleased all over to
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