Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-09-29
THE BLACK BOOK
Dukes Luck Changes and His Money and Spirits Are
Nearly Gone-He Suddenly Gets
"Good Tip"
By CHARLES E. VAN LOAN

The Grays might be depended upon to
make a clean sweep against the tailend-
ers, and with this in view Orendorf and
Hawley were not the only members OF
the Pony team who had given thought
to taking vengeance on Merry and the
Dudes. Clifton hadn't thought of IL, for
the Duke had troubles of his own. All
his plans centred around some coup
which should repair his fortunes, some
long shot which he might fish out of the
morass OF figures which engulfed him
day and night
That evening at the small hotel where
he lived when in the home town Clifton
was introduced to a Western turfman
whose name he had seen in the owners
column on the form charts. The West
erner. whose name was Gilfeather, had
been trihing with metropolitan cocktails
and he was very glad to meet a ball
player. In his condition he would have
been glad to meet any one. The Duke
purchased him a few more of the same.
which brought Gilfeather's regard for
ball players to an acute stage.
Can you keep a secret?" he demanded,
looking at the Duke with the stern grav-
ity Of intoxication. ''If 1 should tell you
something-something good-would you
keep IT under your hat, and not go toutin'
all over town? Oh, 1 know you fellers;
you all like to act as II you knew some
thing.'
I'm no tout" said the Duke carelessly,
"and l didn't ask you to tell me any
thing"
Gilfeather thumped the table with a
heavy fist
That's a man talkin'w he said. by
grab, l like to hear a man speak out!
Now, then, l kind OF like you, Duke
read so much about you, but never seen
you before, you know-and I'm goin TO
tell you where you can pick up some sort
money TO last you over the winter. Real
money!"
at listens wen," said Clifton. Think
you can stand another one of those
things?"
'I could stand a barl of emf said
signs to the barboy.
How" said Gilfeather. Back East
here they say Here's how" That's dead
wrong. It's an Injun toast, and an Intun
never wastes a word. Just Howl Like
that. Savvy?"
IT do" said the Duke. Lets see:
you were speaking about picking up
some soft money. Horse race, is it?"
You're whistlingw calculated Gil
feather. 81 got a colt In my barn that
can run away and hide from anything
or tnat fAcelfhck at nNe luIloHSs. OHly
started him once at this meeting. and
then he wasn't goin for the downs. Just
a workout. Wanted to throw a race
under his belt, see? Well, he got away
bad-I had a stableboy on him that
couldn't ride a pig-and after being all
but left at the post, he's running twice
as fast as any horse in the race at the
finish, and came mighty near bein third
You bet, l took rattan cane to that
fool jock! Little more and he'd have
ruined the price for me. Next Tues
day I've got him in n race against pretty
fair horses, and, Duke, he'll make suck
ers OF 'em ALI Just stand 'em on their
heads. There'll be a good price against
him, and you can hook your shirt to bet
because this baby's there! You can go
as fairs you like, and II this bird don't
win I'll give you your money back"
Clifton laughed.
That's fair enough" he said. "What
did you say was the name of this colt?'
Gilfeather looked all around. then
leaned across the little table and whis-
pered hoarsely.
"Cheyennep" he said. "And bet your
shirt on him right on the nose. because
that's where he'll finish. I've been here
for months, waitin' 10 put him over and
the big show comes OFF next Tuesday"
Now, IL the Duke had spent more time
among racing men he would have been
hardened 10 a tale OF this sort The tout
ing owner. common enough on a race
track, was a stranger TO Clifton. He