Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1920-08-05
THE ROBBING
OF BURKE
By LAURENCE D. YOUNG
Copyright ,


Disvalo and Gretchen. split favorites
ont in front, and Lady Grace. hel
Jockey. Robson. rating her nicely
back an easy length. while the pack
trailed out behind. Burke liked his
bet on Lady Grace better than ever
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 1t.
At the siI-furlong post Gretchen. un-
der whip weakened, and there was
nothing for Grace 10 beat but the big
black Diavalo. who, ut his best and
cut TO win, was racing up the stretch
like q whiriwind. Robson with the
hlly challenged in the last sixteenth,
and the black, worn down by making
pace throughout the hong trip, re
sponded for a few yards. but could
not stall off the final push of the fly
ing Lady Grace. who came home by
q safe lead.
A 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 OF continuous misfor-
tune at Gravesend and Sheepshesd,
Burke had gathered together what lit
tie remained OF his fluctuant capital,
ri % fnff ha
AetropOst that he was going to try
his luck in pastures new, and betook
himself to Cincinnati, arriving at that
city for the opening Of the fall meet
ing at Latonia.
Whether II was the change Of scene,
advantage or that his happy star was
In me ascendant, he could not say,
but 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 10 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 IL &C.
CURED to him that he had great deal
too much money in bis pocket TO safely
carry around. especially that night.
when ne was going TO dine with Mat.
thews and some OF their friends in
common, and so ne stopped al the desk
and asked the clerk II he would put
his winnings In the safe.
I'm sorry, Mr.. Burke" replied that
gentleman, but the combination OF
our safe is out of order and 1t won't
lock, although they are working at IL
now. can put the money in the CASH.
drawer, If y5u Ike
a glancs q this somewhat himsy
contrfv16ce convinced Burke that IL
would never do as a receptacle for
anything Of his, so he said he would
take care of his property himself. He
went up to his room trying to think Of
some hiding place for the roll and put
II under the rug.
1t made a hump plainly perceptble
from anywhere in the room. but in
moving the rug he noticed a board
which seemed TO Be loose. With the
aid q his cane he pried IL out, and
having placed the money In a large
white envelope. dropped II into the
boxlike compartment revealed.
Hearing someone coming, he has
lily stamped down the board and
+h-n-- tho r,,o hail nvar sha .nnt H.
had molested. The person passed his
door without stopping, and Burke
shortly sfterward went to Join Mat
thews and his friends.
In the course of O most agreeable
dinner q 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
sertion. went up 10 get the book.
No sooner did he enter the room
was turned back In such way that
ne felt sure he had not left IL so. Had
some one been at his money? In fever
ish haste he tore up the board and
looked into the hole. The envelope |
was gone
According to the elevator hoy only
one person had been on that faor
since Burke went down. and that was
man with black beard who had
taken a room that afternoon. No. he
hadn't come down yet. said the boy,
in answer 10 Burke's query.
His thoughts were interrupted just
then by slight noise like the click
Of telephone in the next room. and
then a mans voice saying:
as this the clerk? won't be able
TO stay here tonight, as I expected and
would like 10 know when the next
train south leaves. Oh. well. I'll have
to hurry. VIII you send me one for
my baggageT
Another click told the listener the
conversation was over.
So he wasn't going to stay, as he
had intended, thought Burke. and he
would have to hurry IL he was going
10 go south by the aext train; we'll,
he'd have 10 go fast IL he was going
to get away with that money II was
now or never. decided Scarlet Burke,
and the longest kind Of a chance on
a clear blum might win. After slipping
revolver into his outside coat pocket.
he knocked on the door OF room 36s