Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1920-02-27
THE ROBBING
OF BURKE
Ky LAURENCE D. YOUNG

I'Nh'H' honSnn. rating her nicely,
pack an easy length. while the pack
traisc' out behind. Burke liked his
bet on Lady Grace better than ever.
For the last eight months he Ind
watched the work Of this good little
daughter of the peerless Lord Quex.
until now he thought he knew pretty
certain what she could do and when
she could do it.
AT the Siz.furlons post Gretchen. I'M
der whip. weakened. and there was
nothing for Grace To beat but the big
Dlack DiavalO. who. at his hest and
out to win. was racing up the stretch
Ike whirlwnd. Robson with the
hi'y challenged in the last sixteenth.
anu the black. worn down by making
pace throughout the long trip, re-
sponded for a few yards, but could
not stall of the final push Of the fly.
Ing Lady Grace, who came home by
a safe lead.
4 short time later. as Richard Ros.
common Burke stuffed the comfortable
bundle OF yellow bills into his pocket.
he thought: "These western tracks are
right for me-"
after season cf continuous misfor-
tune at GraveSend and Sheepshead,
Burke had gathered together what lit.
tie remained Of his tluctuant capital.
told his circle OF intimates at the
MetropoSt that he WAS going TO try
his luck III pastures new. and betOok
himself to Cincinnati. arriving III TINT
city FOR the opening Of the fall meet
ing at Laton!a.
whether 1t was the change Of scene.
or that he knew: the horses to better
advantage. or that his happy star was
In the ascendant, he could not say,
hut now. after four days Of racing. as
he told Matthews, who wrote turf"
for the Cincinnati Investigator. he was
ION his feet again." During the jour
nsy from the track to the city his mind
was mainly occupied with the thought
OF his winnings and how he could
bring them to double and treble their
present size.
AS he was entering his hotel It oc.
Cured TO him that he had a great deal
too much money in his pocket to safely
carry around. especially that night.
when he was going to dine with Mat
thews and some Of their friends In
common. and so he stopped at the desk
and asked the clerk If he would put
his winnings in the safe.
Tin sorry. Mr.. Burke" replied that
gentleman. "but the combination OF
our safe is out Of order and it won't
lock. although they are working ut It
now. can put the money in the cash
drawer. If you like"
A glance at this somewhat fiimsy
contrivance convinced Burke that it
would never do as a receptacle for
anything Of his. so he said he would
tnke care OF his property himself. He
went up to his room trying to think of
some hiding place for the roll, and put
IL under the rug.
II made hump plainly perceptible
from anywhere In the room. but In
moving the rug he noticed board
which seemed to be loose. With the
aid Of his cane he pried 1t out. and
hnving placed the money In large
white envelope. dropped It into the
boXlike compartment revealed.
Hearing someone coming, he has
tily stamped down the board and
threw the rug back over the spot lie
had moicstcd. The person passed his
door without stopping. and Burke
shortly afterward went to join Mat.
thews and his friends.
In the course OF most agreeable
dinner question arose as to the
achievements Of a certain horse, and
Burke, saying he had racing form
In his room and could prove his as.
seTtion. went up to get the book.
No sooner did he enter TIT. room
than he saw that a corner OF the rug
was turned back in such way that
he felt sure he had not left IL so. Had
some one been ut his money? In fever.
Ish haste he tore up the hoard and
looked into the hole. The envelope
was gone!
According to the elevator boy only
one person had been on that floor
since Burke went down. and that was
man with black beard who had
taken room that afternoon. No, nc
hadn't come down yet, said the boy,
IN answer 10 Burke's query.
His thoughts were interrupted just
then by slight noise Ike the click
Of telephone In the next room. and
then mans voice saying:
"Is this the clerk? won't be able
to stay here tonight, as I expected. and
would like to know when the next
train south leaves. Oh, we'll, I'll have
to hurry. viii you send me one for
my bnggagef ~
Another click told the listener the
conversation was over.
SO he wasn't going to stay. as he
had intended. thought Burke. and lie
would have to hurry II he was going
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