The Iuka vidette., 1909-07-29

was host at dinner he
Yl was giving in part pay
"a v ~ ment of a bet that there
QA @M was not man in the coun-
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 if you tried
to work that
Well, maybe he would" returned
Floyd, but I'll just bet you it can be
done and will let Cleland do the rough
work and I'll just go along to oversee
it. 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 a
bet?"
1T is. I'm game for another try"
replied the alderman.
How about 1t, Jack? Can we do it?"
Quired Floyd of 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
the conductor and belated passenger
climbed aboard the Twentieth Century
Limited train which was leaving the
La Sale street station. Chicago for it's
18-hour spin to New York. The big
engine throbbed and the long train of
rolling palaces slid out of the shed
without jerk or tremor, as easily as
trim sail boat propelled by gentle
breeze. At the forward end of the
train, the buffet car, a 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 Cleland pulled at 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 "butting in with strangers could
not be overcome. Within ten minutes
after they had met, Solomon Rosen-
berg was narrating the story of the
moSt recent happenings of his life
and riding to swift and certain fall.
Oh yes. Solomon was wise one. He
knew 1t and was proud of 1t. 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. 1t was at least worth
trying, so he ordered another bottle
which further mellowed the talkative
one, whose tones by this time had dis
turbed commercial traveller who sat
near him running over columns of fig
ures 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 II
they cared to kill the time with a
small game until the call came fol-
dinner In the dining car.
sure, was the reply of Solomon
answering for Floyd as well as him
6slf my friend and | will play II
3 xo1I'l dig up some one else"
4 telepathic thought seemed tc
svais from Floyd to Jack Cleland who