The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1909-07-30

SsHsxs8 try with $4,000 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 $4,000 and lost that,
too.
Doc Floyd had asserted that even
in the twentieth century the time.
worn green goods game could be
worked
Have You got the nerve to tell me
that you can put over the old green
goods thing" was the amazed demand
OF Alderman Mehanty. I'll bet just
one more bundle of $4,000 and again
dinner for the crowd that 1t can't
be done Why the biggest sucker In
the country would take your flash
bank roll away from you II you tried
to work that"
We'll, maybe he would" returned
Floyd, but III just bet you 1t can be
done and will let Cleland do the rough
work and I'll just go along to oversee
1t, | may have to find the man, but
I'll let Jack do the trimming"
And I'll take half of Floyd's end
of the bet that they put it over" broke
in Col. Powley once more. Is it
bet?"
1t is. I'm game for another try"
replied the alderman.
How about it. Jack? Can we do it,"
CURED Floyd of tall, cold eyed dy-
speptic looking person who had sat
silent, slipping his wine and putting
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 belated passenger
climbed aboard the Twentieth Century
Limited train which was leaving the
La Sale street station, Chicago for its
18hour spin to New York. The big
engine throbbed and the long train of
rolling palaces sid out of the shed
without jerk or trem0r, as easily as a
trim sail boat propelled by a gentle
breeze. At the forward end of the
train, the buffet car, comfortable
small club on wheels already was
more than half filled with passengers.
Seated on one side of the car Doc
Floyd was Contentedly putting a cigar
cite while on the opposite side of the
aisle, Jack Cieland 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 imbbed 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 no
20 miles out of Chicago drinking witt
for "butting in with strangers could
not be overcome. Within ten minute!
after they had met, Solomon Rosen
berg was narrating the story Of tn
most recent happenings Of his lift
and riding to swift and certain fall
Oh yes, Solomon was wise one II,
knew 1t and was proud of it. Floy,
had listened to his talk and wondere,
the while, whether there was a chanc
to take some of Solomons easily got
ten wealth and also lower his stocI
of conceit. He concluded that it Nigh
be well worth while to cultivate hi
new acquaintance 1t was at least wort
trying, so he ordered another bottl
which further mellowed the talkativ
one, whose tones by this time had dis
turbed commercial traveller who sa
near him running over columns Of fiE
ufeS III MS safes DOCK,
The travelling man appeared slight
annoyed as he glanced toward tn
wine drinkers. Suddenly he SCENE
to think of something and placing hi
memoranda in his pocket he turned t
Floyd and his companion and asked
they cared to kill the time with
small game until the calf came fC
dinner in the dining car
Sure" was the, reply of Solomo,
answering for Floyd as we'll as hin
self My friend and | will play
you'll dig up some one else"
A telepathic thought seemed
travel from Floyd to Jack Cleland WI
was looking at the party from the o
posite side of the car The Other
also seemed to notice his presence /
the same time and it appeared a mel
chance that he was invited to mai
the fourth man in the game.
The play was not resumed after di
ner. CIeland saying that ne had To-
about all he could afford, but the part
stuck together and when 1t came tin
to retire for the night, Solomo
Floyd and Cleland had all agreed
make their headquarters at the Hot
Astor during their stay in New YoI
and see more of each other. tt
drummer had told them that his hon
was in the city but that he hoped