Sequachee Valley news. (Sequachee [Sequatchie], Tenn.) 1896-1952, 1914-02-05

MT Ew YORK.-Money flashing in big
W wads; hoarse voices calling bets,
telephone bells ringing; messen-
aarS Skashing hither and thither; tele-
Er@Ea saunders clicking; excited
zzuzps circling about bulletin boards;
aReFTthing in tense yet subdued
h1okSn5 as John ]. Felix hurried
thcoHgh the smoke-laden atmosphere
asa6 thrust $4,000 into the Cashier
w1Rdow of fake poolroom to bet on a
EzSSe horse, running In a fake race
sEaaY programmed to yield half mil
han dollars by means of fake wire
G5Ening scheme. 1t took in actual time
in@t SIX ticks of the clock for talon
hine- hand to reach through the Cash
iar'' window, grab the $4,000 and jerk
The notes back to the other side OF
the partition. That was the last that
Felix ever saw of his money.
1t was the afternoon of February 6.
1906. when this famous bet was made.
The poolroom was very close to the
old Fifth Avenue hotel, and it was
ftzted up to play the plausible, pool
room part in a most natural and con-
pSng5ng way
FELIX was manufacturer of musical
instruments, with place in East
Thsrty-first street, just off Fifth ave-
na2s- He was a man who took an in
tlAxest in observing the various meth
ODDS by which an opinion on a hazard
MExht be backed with money. Some
hOw Felix's prediction for paying
a4&antion to pastimes of chance be-
GikEue known until it reached westward
Through Thirty-first street to the vi
entity of Broadway. where men Of rap
Idsare gambling tendencies congregat-
ssG- Et also became known at the same
tius that hidden in secret compart-
nlsut of the Felix Office safe were so
$A-@@e bills, "just aching to be taken
oaf FOR a walk" as the Broadway
gamblers and crooks put 1t.
MT THE corner of Fifth avenue and
a Thrry-first street, four o'clock
RHhTuary 5, 1905-the day before the
%1G, SEQ was grabbed by the talon-like
hund OF the fake "Cashier"-an i'm
nEzGn1ately groomed and CARRIED gen.
Herman gave his mustache a final pull
anil n pat as he mentally closed all
tsae details necessary to properly ap-
prcns:h Felix and acquire the $4,000.
Tracy entered the Felix Office the
quIBtessence of urbane suavity. Pro-
ffrseiy, yet not fulsomely apologize,
azaS1 in crisply polished phrases, he In
tn1dnced himself as one who had met
EsalfT tn a hazard parlor" and had
heen attracted to him by his sports
manlike bearing Passing by he had
noticed the manufacturer entering his
pkaGe of business and had recalled him
&C once. 1t was impossible to with
siana the temptation to renew ac-
auaaRtsnce, so he had made bold to en-
ter
FELIX was really glad to meet Tracy |
or Mr.. Charles j. Tompkins, as the |
'kzasg" styled himself for this ven
taux'e and you needn't smile in sar-
caEarSE:aliy superior way to see how
ezssszay the clever crook wormed his /
way into his victims confidence.
Txz4cy, just as he was saying good
wv az AAc uOOIt luIu0u III q iuOot CdSu-
al @zy and expressed a polished regret
thnt Felix did not have the time to
lszrn of magnificently good and
"s1zre thing" that had been impaired
TN Sl7rm by gentleman ION honor" not
t@ daxuige n single part of it. Felix
had the time and insisted that he had
~ He was already captivated by
'Eracy and was eager TO discover how
be might become an associate of his
visitor. This was the sure thing"