The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-01-20
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EORGE RANDOLPH CKESTEr

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 'I,ll be real pleased" smiled HoodOo Mann. "We'n finish np the business at your hotel tonight
 ttAn right" again dssented Frazier and hurried away to give all the mon ey in Higgle county to T. Rufus Wal lingford.
 Two hours later, in Wallingford's room at the hotel, J. Rufus produced William Harrison Frazier's financial anatomy and held postmortem on tt.
 Forty thousand backs" he annOunc1 ed, counting 1t on the bed. "Dedncting $1 900 I paid Frazier for his patenf and $5,O0O I gave Mann to pay Fra zier and $1,oO0 split up with the sta ble boys for help and information that leaves $3S,G~o to the merry-and out Of a jay tank town at that! Ten per cent makes S3,3Oo, and not a bad little rake of for your outfit, Mann. added to whatever you knocked down ont Of the $5,oOo gave you to string cur lollop.
 Hoodoo Mann accepted the money soberIy, but he did not tuck it into tue fat canvas packet inside his shirt Inc stead, he folded 1t up and showed tt into his trousers pocket.
 q only held out $500 on you, Wal lingford,'' he gloOnnily stated. But it didn't do me any good Some dip got Co it, and I think it was one of my own men-the pie faced gun that tried to glom Fraziers change the time you stopped him. I never seem to have any luck"
 ssWeI, hold out on him. ehucEled Waningford. dividing the remainder of the money into two piles and toss ing Blackie his share.
 Wait a minute, Jim You're shy $250.', Blackie objected.
 seWhat for" puzzled WaHingfOrd
 'sYour half of the come on coin lost to Frazier at monte.'' ePm astonfshedr chided WalIings 1 ford 'sHow much besides did you lose 1 at the game you thought you could 1 still play? Give me the total, and HI help you out on the rest of it.
 4sWallingford's right Blackie.9 said Mann. with grin at J Rufus. EeE a boy once supposed to have been the 4 best card tosser on the circuit you certainly did put up the rankest job ever saw for this Frazier person, On the level. B1ackie. why, fl I had a cop per so raw in his work''-
 "That'H be about all.'' announced Blackie majesticaIly. Mann. where's l that outft?"
 ,'Never mind, BIaekie." chucEled
 
 I Here's your $25o''
 Keep itr stormed Blaekie "I want mine from Dog Face Frazier. Has he I any money left?s
 .sAbout two thousand, I think" laugh ed Wallingford-
 ..Its mine announced Blackie. and he would not be paciled until he hur- ried back to the fair grounds with the three card layout.
 Wallingford made careful study oE the town in the meantime and decided. tha. it was not worth the exercise of bis business talents. He returned in time for their train and found Blaelzae and Mann together in deep silence
 .sWeIl have to hustle" he rena0u' strated as he Jumped into the packing. ttOur train leaves at S. and we don want to miss it, for Mann would have to see Frazier shortly after that"
 Blackie blew thick ring of cigarette smoke at the ceiling and surveyed ns i long legs admiring1y as they sprasFfea l before him under the legs of the little folding card table. Frazier won $ bother anybody tonight. he promised i He's pinched.''
 stFof running in that ringer this att ernoon r, inquired WalIingford. "I | knew 1t would get him. Crooked YvoFS always does.
 ..No, for making holler,D replied Blackie, deeply content. T charged him S2O80 and his watch and chain and this diamond ring for bad guesses on the ace of hearts: then he called me a swindler and tried to fight. so l had : to collect a souvenir from him and , turn him over to a deputy constable for disturbing the peace. Here's the souvenir and he greefuHy exhibited seven long. glossy red whiskers WallingforCl laughed heartily. but save for Blackie's superior smile. he ,, laughed alone.
 .sWhats the trouble with you, Mann?'' he wanted to know. Rfhy don't you join the festivities7 Or have YOU heard the joke hefore?"
 q got a thirty third degree groueh
 on" confessed Mann. Say, Walling ford could you lend me couple oi
 hundred?"
 "Could I what?" demanded Waliing
 ford, looking about him The littlA
 folding table still stood neatly in Irole7 of the peacefully smiling Biselzie. CT the floor lay the ace of spades On ths ' table, face up. was the ace of aAA
 monds. By it's side, with slight
 bent corner, was a card. face down
 Wallingford picked it up. It was th'
 ace of hearts! You boobF' he charget
 Mann.
 | I'm hoodooedt' complained tha : luckless individual.