The Columbus journal. (Columbus, Neb.) 1874-1911, 1909-07-28

II a
9ll was giving in part pay
NVR ment OF a bet that there
los ~ was not a man in the coun-
try with $1,000 who could
be beaten out of that amount on the
ancient gold brick game. The din
ner end of the bet was merely a pal
Try side issue for the big ex-alderman
had also wagered $1,000 and lost that,
100
Doc Floyd had asserted that even
n the twentieth century the time
worn green goods game" could be
worked.
Have you got the nerve TO tell me
hat you can put over the old green
Goods thiEg. was the amazed demand
Of Alderman Mehanty I'll bet just
one more bundle of $4,000 and again
dinner for the crowd that it can't
be done. Why the biggest sucker in
The country would take your flash
bank roll away from you if you tried
10 work that
Well, maybe he would" returned
Floyd, but III just bet you it can be
lone and Will let Cleland do the rough
work and I'll just go along to oversee
ii. | may have 10 find the man, but
III let Jack do the trimming
And Iii take half of Floyd's end
Of the bet that they put it over" broke
in Col. Powley once more Is it a
bat?''
1T is. I'm game for another try"
replied the alderman
How about il, Jack? Can We do it,
quired Floyd of a tall, cold eyed dy-
speptic looking person who had sat
silent, slipping his wine and putting a
big cigar throughout the bantering con-
versatiOn.
Jack Cleland merely grunted his as
sent. He was the one pessimist of the
party, but always dependable and a
handy man to have in any deal.
A bell changed. a gate slammed and
the conductor and a belated passenger
climbed aboard the Twentieth Century
Limited train which was leaving the
La Sale street station. Chicago for its
1S-hOur spin to New York The big
engine tnrobbed and the long train of
rolling palaces slid out of the shed
without jerk or tremor. as easily as a
trim sail beat propelled by gentle
breeze. a. the forward end of the
train, the buffet car, a comfortable
small club on wheels. already was
ha hnf y-ifh
Seated on one side of the car Doc
Floyd was contentedly putting a cigar
cite while on the opposite side of the
aisle, Jack Cleland pulled at a strong
cigar, and neither man glanced at or
seemed to know of the presence of the
other. All was quiet save for the
businesslike conversation of two
Showmen. The veStibule door opened
and into The car came Solomon Rosen-
berg. wise man of the west in which
section he had imbibed the air of free
dom in speech and manner.
Acquaintance are almost as easily
made in the smoking car of train as
on shipboard and here was Floyd not
20 miles out of Chicago drinking with
a person whose natural propensities
for Quitting in with strangers could
not be overcome Within ten minutes
after they mad met Solomon ROsen-
berg was narrating the story of the
most recent happenings of his life
and riding 10 a swift and certain fall.
Oh yes, Solomon was a wise one He
knew it and was proud of it. Floyd
had listened TO his talk and wondered
the while. whether there was a chance
to take some of Solomon's easily got
ten wealth and also lower his stock
Of conceit. He concluded that it might
be well worth while TO cultivate his
new acquaintance. Ii was at least worth
trying. so he ordered another bottle
which further mellowed the talkative
one. whose tones by this time had dis
turbed a commercial traveller who sat
near him running over columns of fig
nres in his sales book.
The travelling man appeared slightly
annoyed as he glanced toward the
wine drinkers. Suddenly he seemed
to think of something and placing his
memoranda in his pocket he turned to
Floyd and his companion and asked if
they cared to kill the time with a
small game until the call came for
dinner in the dining car
Sure" was the reply of Solomon,
answering for Floyd as well as him.
self. My friend and I will play if
you'll dig UP some one else"
A telepathic thought seemed to
travel from Floyd to Jack Cleland who
was looking at the party from the op-
posite side of the car. The others
also seemed 10 notice his presence at
the same time and it appeared a mere
chance that he was invited to make
the fourth man in the game.
The play was not resumed after din
ner, Cleland saying that he had lost
about all he could afford. but the party
stuck together and when il caxle time
to retire for the night. Solomon,
Floyd and Cleland had all agreed to
make their headquarters at the Hote;
Astor during their stay in New York
and see mere OF each other. The
drummer had told them that his home
as in the city but that he hoped to
-,oE thor, nm d,,r;ro their Stay