Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-10-02

THE BLACK BOOK
Merry PLAYED Dirty Trick, but It Worked Tempo
rarily-Duke Forsakes His Little
Black Book
By CHARLES f. VAN LOAN
... ,,,o.,a,. or.a,sst writer Of Baseball Fiction.

the black book. with nervous, savar.
movements Of his hands ne wrenched ~,
the cover, broke Il across, tore the leaves
into bits ana hurled the fragments down
among the worn-out shoes and the ais
carded stockings. II was a relief TO and
something on which to vent his rags
against horses. poolrooms and toutlng
owners.
And that's the last OF your he said.
Just then a nying step sounded on the
runaway outside, and Bo burst into the
room.
I'VE win, Duker he cried. I'VE win
in a walki'
clifton shook his head.
mo" said he duly; ne was left at
, the post"
Something In the absolute hopelessne.s
OF his tone took all the breath out of
the enthusiastic Bo, but only for an In.
stant
"Nyhat's the matter with your" he d..
| manded. Wasn't / right there in ths
poolroom when the returns come I'M
Wasn't sittin' right on the end Of the
wire2 Left at the postl 1 wish all the
horses ia bet on would get left at the
post the way he vast He run away
from 'em, Dukel They never got closs
enough to him to tell the color of his
eyesv' Bo began to tumble IN his pockets.
Isis that right?' stammered the
Duke. You're sureT'
Certainly I'm eure" clamored Bo
thrusting dozen pasteboards into the
Dukes hands. II was the busiest little
bee you ever saw gettin' that big bank
| roll down. but / made II. Pipe thesel
| Some at 10. some at IL, none lower than
10 to /. Say. Duke, was that goin' TO be
a pretty expensive diamond ring?"
A last terrific outburst OF sound fairly
jarred the clubhouse. Bo rushed to the
window.
Here comes the gangV' he cried. by
the looks OF II they must have won In
the ninth. Well. what do you know about
thati"
And when the victorious Ponies clat-
| tered into the room, willing to forgive
and forget, they found the Duke still sit
| ting on the bench in front of his locker,
shuf1ing q bunch of tickets in his fingers.
Half an hour later the Duke sauntered
| out into the dusk, his own man again, and
| his nose in the air. on the way to the
| gate Johnny Merry overlook him and
would have passed on but Clinton hailed
| him.
"I don't like a hair on your head.
| Merry" he said; but I've got to hand
It to you Just the same. What I'd like
10 know is who put you wise that l
was down on Cheyenne?'
Johnny eyed the Duke curiously. He
had been prepared for an outburst much
less mild than this one.-He thought
It strange that the Duke did not show
more resentment. Why, the fellow was
actually smiling!
"That was inside ball. all right, Merry"
| continued the Duke. New stun, too.
Reading a fake telegram where I could
hear It! Pretty smart feller you are,
but l notice that 1t didn't get you any
| thing Slade pulled a boot in the ninth,
| didn't he7'
Merry grunted.
''Who tipped you off?" demanded
Clifton.
Slowly the twinkle came back into
Merry's eyes. After all. of the field he
was the prince of good fellows.
"By the way" he inquired. Whatever
did happen to that good thing of yoursY
"He breezed," said the Duke lightly.
"Get out !" calculated the little man.
ager. And I wouldn't play him! You
must have won bunch"
81 did" said the Duke; "and I'd give
bunch to know now you got onto me-"
Merry laughed and offered his hand.
"Will you take a tip from me and ask
no questions?" he said
The Duke nodded.
Change your betting commissioner
said Johnny. with grin. HE talks toe
much"
81 thought that was IT," said the Duke
much relieved. Now. you take a tiT
from me. and don't try that fake-telegram
gag again, because there won't be any
more betting commissioners to pump
I'm through"
And after Merry had audited the win.
ming tickets, he agreed that there was moi
only wisdom but expediency in the Dukes
reputation of the black book.
CTHE END.)