The evening world., 1915-02-10
'"Then lend mo that five hun.

Xnen l0no mo tnat tlv0 nun
dred'-
"I'll tell you. Robby." the simple
soul broke In earnestly. "Td do it in
a minute. but I've got a sorter super
stitution. too, about any money that
touches that money. You see, that's
all money I've collected. one way and
another. and I've never seen a cont
Of It 80 out. kinder &C. the Idea
that II 1t ever started away it'd never
stop. That's foolish, Robby. but
tain. This whole place S beionxs Ia s"t to
you. though
"An right. then. damn ''it!" said
Mr.. Pollard. in sudden fare Of
anger. "Pll bet the place!"
Next thing Is. what on?" mused
their benefactor. and permitted his
keen eye to rove the landscape In
search of opportunity. you know.
this Is all fun for me-this little ex-
citement after the quiet life I've been
leading for o year. This-aha!"
His thick forefinger pointed straight
ahead.
There's our racetrack and we've
got two hosses. Well have q hoss-
race!" thundered Capt. Velvet.
mot on your life!" exploded the
Spanish Brute.
"why not. Bill?" asked the captain.
taken aback.
Because you've got something
planted In that stable-you've got
something nxed with one OF those
horses"-
Mp. Pollard's scowl halted him, to
be sure, yet not before a look Of pain
had come to Captain Velvets eye. II
was with pity, too. rather than anger
that he gaxed at William Ryan as he
said:
IT dunno what call you had to say
that, Bill. but I don't take 1t at all
kindly. I never see those hosses be-
fore yesterday and ! amt seen 'em
since. And-by ginger! ! don't like
that kind of talk at ALI" cried the
captain, with growing vigor. III you
feel that way about It Ill 40 1us'
this: you go look over those hosses
and pick the one that looks pest. w
take the one you don't want ano
back. him ten to one to win! - ina, .s
, snortin' or amt 1T" His cheek mad
flushed darkly again.
Mr.. Pollard thrilled. ~
"Do you-really mean thatf" ne
asked,
manded the captain.
The guiding mind laughed lightly.
"It's absurd as the dog-hght, o,
, course, but--we'll get a little fun out
of it," he said. run along to the
stables. all Of you. I'll Join you there
I'm going TO the house for q moment
to see II there's any mail"
He grinned at them and moVee
away slowly. Glancing backward. M
found that they were on their way tt
, the stables; and he quickened HI
pace, smiling animatedly to himself.
Parting with their capital. o.
, course, had been something OF
, shock, but II was really unimportant
, Tho good captain was keyed up u
;. betting now and had found what n
!. desired to back. The rest OF II wa
merely detail work.
q so that the elderly gardener. look
Ing up from q flower bed minute o
two later, found the new owner re
: sarding him benignly as he asked:
: You've been e. here for a good while
q Twenty years or more. sir" sal
the gardener.
And ths-sr-racing stable?" sal
Q Mr.. Pollard. THAT has been hero al
those years?"
. The present one'"
!. The gardener removed his hat an
. mopped his honest brown.
Henry p. was here whom I came-
Q fins horse In them days. too. siI
}. He was In his prime when cam
% hero twenty years ago. He's all don
now. Lisetts. she's considerabl
J. younger"
.. How old u shef"
70 "LAsetts can't be much more'n a.
= teen years old, str" said the "a
q dsnsf. "ehe's dne horsenssh, too. si
= xss.,t ,s 2 ssnias running on ho'f' e0u