The Columbus journal. (Columbus, Neb.) 1874-1911, 1909-09-01

properties.
Doc F.cyd sat in the marble-finis
.otunda 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
acvoss the street filed With palms and
-Iseds Of br.ght-h;ied flowers. Neithe!
Col! Pcwley nor Jack Cleland had ap'
Feared, ard he was rather glad when
The young mining man he had met on
the train came upon him. and be 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 blue-serged, grcen-hatted and
ra,en,-leathcred. and altogether sporty
locking enough to belong to his own
set.
al, alone, I see." remarked Hopkins
as he touched Floyd upon the shoulder.
If you've not been to breakfast. Id
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 sn extra por-
lion OF sleep this morning. III not
wait any longer for them"
Down in the grillroom a breakfast
WAS served, the equal OF which is not
10 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. IL 1t isn't the
Big Doctor, and | haven't seen him
since Hamburg was q twO-year-oid.'
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 of in a cor
ner for long time and il 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 il does look like a crooked DEAL"
returned Hopkins: blu: I'm a lot loser
On the game, first and last. and it looks
like chance TO get even, so l was go
ing TO take il. II you know anything
about Camp. you know he has some OF
me best horses on the track. He says
he's been in hard luck this winter and
lost several thousand dollars buckiIg
the faro bank. His proposition is for
me TO put in $1,000 to help back q
book. He will put in $1,000 Of his own
money, making a good strong bank
roll. The books are all making money
row. 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.
What's 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 ! know"
No. Ill do nothing OF the kind" en-
swered Floyd. Put I'll bet you five
hundred now that if | don't save you,
Camp will trim you for whatever you
put in. If it's such a sure thing. what
Toes ne want with a partner TO share
The profits? Any time a man offers
lou something for nothing. lock up
'our bank roll and keep your hand on
you- jewelry. Do You follow me?"
Yes, it does look that way" as
sented 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 cn. 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
uied to be the goat" announced Floyd.
Did he explain to you just how he
was going to pull on one Of those al
legged sure things"
Yes, there's 2 race on the card TO-
morrow in which he has a horse en-.
tered that can win. He also controls
the only other contender in the race, 4
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
awfulIy hard. I can see now how
easy it will be for him to break the
hook and get Your 5000 on one race
Come on up 10 my rooms and-Iu 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 5000 in the bank, or
have trustee appointed to look after
il for YOU. You may be all right On
aiming proposition. but there are a lot
OF other things you've got to learn"
Within Is minutes Floyd. with the
aid of the telephone. had located Tony
'he 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
he summoned into the presence Of so
august q parsonage