El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1914-01-03

Tracy stopped at the window a second.
tugging at his pocket to unloosen his
wad- Felix couldn't wait for him, al
though the tip came from him. He
planked his roll of gold certificates down
IN front Of the window and then thrust
them through into the hand of the
cashier"
Fifty thousand dollars on Old StoneF'
He stood to win 100000 on the wagerl
Felix was afraid the size of the bet
might cause the p7oprietors to refuse it.
He need not have been nervous. A ticket
was thrown to him. For the first time
he thought Of having beaten 'Mr Temp
kins" to the window. Where was Temp
kins," anyway Nowhere 4 sight
Hurry call came for Mr.. Tompkins'-
he had to CO." said the telephone attend
ant and Felix noticed he lad his over.
coat and hat on.
Funny he didn't stay to bet on that
last race" said Felix in a puzzled way.
"He had a pretty sure tip. I bet on it
"Oh, Mr.. Tompkins' is a true sport"
said the telephone attendant. "He fig
ures what he don't get to-day he'll ge- to
morrow Good day. That's the last
race. I'm going home"
Felix waited until the telegraph oper-
iatOT' called Summertime wins!'
You know how he felt and acted. Figure
out how you would look in the movies"
if It suddenly dawned on you that you
had lost $4,000 in six seconds. But cone
to think of it no one can figure it out
until he actually loses it. Felix looked
for the cashier" and he had gone. He
turned around to ask the operator a
question and he was gone. By the time
he wheeled about again the bettors were
gone, and, Of course, you have begun to
suspect there never was a particular
friend" Tracy had very good start. for
the instant Felix placed his $4,000 in
the window he left the room By a back
way and, opening a door behind the
cashier" that active receiver Of bets
handed him the full Felix roll.
Down to Police Headquarters hurried
Felix They threw out the net. Big
Lawson, one of Traey's chief associates.
fled to Australia. where be still is. After
a hunt Of several months they caught the
King" He was tried and convicted.
You might think that this properly ends
the chronicle. Not at all It only begins
the strange part Of It. Tracy had money
and good lawyer. He carried his case
to the Court of Appeals of New York
State
And a decision of this august tribunal
released the King Of the Fake Wire Tap
pers." Why, and howl Because Felix
clearly intended to swindIe as much as
Tracy did. You must come into court
with clean hands, you know. RecoIlect
fake wire tapping is distinct from real
wire tapping. which is punishable because
You must not molest a telegraph wire TO
steal news. The decision opened the eyes
even Of lawyers, because it practically
proclaimed that there is no legal punish
ment for the swindling game of fake wire
tapping. The man who risks his money
in such a scheme becomes q party to
questionable transaction. 1t may b
paradoxieal, but you can swindle man
up to his eyes and not be amenable to
punishment-if the man you swindls
planned to become your swindling partner
Bench. Bar and police were bewildered for
a time when it first dawned on them that
the penal code held no penalty FOR the fake
wire Taper.
at pays to be a predatory genius" said
King Tracy as he walked forth free
man upon the announcement Of the Court
of Appeals decision