The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1909-04-23


k1EfEM to Danny Roberts, player
;sRsszSkRb of juvenile roles in the
life drama enacted by the members
of the club.
But, old man, I've just to sell the
professor package, and there's moth
ing that would be so easy. He's bugs
on the races. I've met him and got his
confidence, and he doesn't know that
I've got it in for him so hard that I'm
going to make him take the high
jump"
But why have you got to resort to
the old wire game to land him?" ques-
toned Floyd And you haven't told
me what gave you your crouch against
him. Tell me about it."
We'll, il you only knew him, you
wouldn't need to ask why anyone
wouldn't want to hand him package"
replied Danny.
Could Herr Oberman, teacher of
vocal music, by any occult power have
overheard and comprehended the con-
versation that was going ON between
Danny Roberts and Doc Floyd he would
have locked his questionably acquired
fortune in the strong box of some safe
deposit company and thrown the key
away, Herr Oberman, graduate from
the ranks of rathskeller musicians. had
opened what he was pleased to term a
conservatory of music in Michigan
avenue building habited by others of
his kind There, in period of a few
short years, he had waxed fat in purse
and person, Turing into his net, by at
tractiye advertisements, young women
with ambitions to outshine the Melbas
and Mary Gardens of grand opera. To
all of these he promised great things,
but no prima donna ever had gradu-
ated from the school of Oberman. He
was only one of many who preyed on
the vanity of women who believed
themselves possessed of divine voices.
1t was smiling, cheerful Danny
Roberts that greeted the professor in
the dingy pool room the day after his
conversation with Doc Floyd.
so another good dip, We have" was
the gleeful remark of Herr Professor
when he had read the message which
advised good bet on Cheese Cake.
Ven make dose bedroom feliers sick,
eh?"
That's il" replied Danny. 1--WE al
ready got my bet down. You'd better
hurry up before they cut the price.
I'll see you later. I've got to get down
the street to meet 8 party"
Danny did not wait to see the frantic
look and hear the swear words in Ger
man which were emitted by the pro-
lessor when Cheese Cake failed to be
heard from in the race. He hadn't lost
cent of his own money, but had faxed
telegram for the express purpose of
having Oberman lose.
The next day Oberman was waiting
anxiously in the pool room when Dan
ny appeared. Before the excited Ger
man could start to tell of his hard luck
and how he had lost, whole hundred
dollars, Danny produced another tele-
gram explaining that Cheese Cake had
been kicked and crippled at the post.
which accounted for his poor race. The
second message also advised that
Danny get down good on Rarebit. This
time Danny waited with Oberman to
hear the running of the race called off
as its description was licked out over
the telegraph instrument.
They're off! Rarebit in the lead
Handy Bill second; the others
punched" and Danny shivered at the
announcer's words, for he had not ex.
pected Rarebit to be heard from any
more than Cheese Cake had on the pre.
vious day.
"Cashbox wins!" and Danny gave
sigh Of relief which Oberman took to
be one of pain accompanying his own
Aioah Oh anguish. Dandy Boy sec.
ond," continued the announcer. "Nar.
cissus is third"
Now what do you think of that for
hard luck?" was the mock moan of
Danny to the professor. There we
were leading all the way and then orr
horse drops out of sight. I'm going to
quit this game. It's impossible to heat
even with what is supposed to be the
very best of information"
Professor was too grieved to listen
to Danny. He had troubles of his own
1t was cheaper drink than wine tho
two took when they adjourned to tbe
bar room under the pool room. AS thew
took their drink Danny once more said
that ne was going to quit trying to beat
the pool room until he found a surer
way of beating it. He limited mvstari.
ousiy that he had some such way in
mind and told Herr obernan inas.
much as he had caused him to lose NV
allowing him to bet on his tins ba
might be able to let him In on oooa