The Iuka vidette. (Iuka, Miss.) 1894-1912, 1909-09-02


Doc Floyd sat in the marble-finished
rotunda of San Francisco's best hotel
the morning after his arrival He had
finished with his newspaper and
was gazing out upon the little park
across the street filled with palms and
beds of bright-hued flowers. Neither
Col. Powley nor Jack Cleland 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 self-absorption by a
CHEEKY greeting. Looking up, he saw
that young Hopkins no longer wore
corduroys and heavy hunting boots,
but was blueserged, green-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.
III 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 for his
friends. Those fellows who came
with me must be taking an extra por-
ton of sleep this morning. I'll not
wait any longer for them"
Down in 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 time Floyd and
Hopkins had lit their cigarettes they
were conversing as old friends.
"Oh, look who's arrived" burst out
Tony the Tout, upon catching sight of
Floyd and his party. 'If it isn't the
Big Doctor, and l haven't seen him
since Hamburg was two-year-old."
"And say" whispered Tony, in con-
fidential tones, find out tonight what
business that young man who was
with you this afternoon has with old
Tom Camp. They were off in a 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
well, I'm rather ashamed of it, be-
cause it does look like crooked DEAL"
returned Hopkins; but Pm a lot loser
on the game, first and last, and it looks
like chance to get even, so was go
ing to take it. If you know anything
about Camp, you know he has some of
the best horses on the 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 $1,000 to help back
book. He will put in $4,000 of his own
money, making 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," ques-
toned Hopkins. Il don't know why
I'm telling you all this, anyway. You
might queer my game for all l know"
mo, I'll do nothing of the kind an
swered Floyd. But I'll bet you five
hundred now that If l don't save you,
Camp will trim you for whatever you
put in. If it's such a 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?"
Eyes, it does look that way" as
scented Hopkins; "but you see he needs
$4,000 to make the book safe, and he
only has about $1,000 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 going to pull off one of those al
legged sure things?"
''Yes, there's a race on the card to-
morrow in which he has horse en-
tered that can win. He also controls
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?"
Yes, I've seen such things done, and
then again I've seen them fall most
awfully hard. l can see now how
easy 1t will 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, il there's any chance to
do it; and If there isn't then you'd bet
ter keep your $1,000 in the bank, or
have trustee appointed to look after
it for you. You may be all right on
mining proposition, but there are lot
of other things you've got to learn"
Within Is minutes Floyd. with the
aid of the telephone, had located Tony
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
be summoned into the presence ofsso