The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1920-02-12
THE ROBBING
+. OF BURKE. j.. J

By LAURENCE D. YOUNG

trafled OUT behind. Burke liked his
bet on Lady Grace better than ever,
For the last eight months he had
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 Il.
At the six.furlong post Gretchen. un-
der whip. weakened. and there was
nothing for Grace to beat but the big
black Diavalo. who. at his best and
out to win was racing up the stretch
like whlrlwind. Robson with the
tilly challenged In the tast sixteenth,
and the black. worn down by making
pace throughout the long trip. re-
sponded for a few yards, hut could
not stall or the tinal push OF the fly
ing Lady Grace. who came home by
q safe lead.
A short time later, us Richard Ros-
common Burke stuffed the comfortable
bundle OF yellow bills into his pocket.
right for me-"
After season OF continuous mlsfor-
tune nj Gravesend and Sheepshead.
Burke had gathered together what lit
tie remained of mis- fuctuant capital.
told his circle OF lntlmates NJ the
Metropost 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 Lntonla.
Whether u 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.
but now, after four days OF racing as
l. told Matthews, who wrote turf"
for the Cincinnati Investigator, he was
"on 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 II oc-
Cured to him that he had 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 II ne would put
his winnings In the safe.
"rm sorry. Mr.. Burke" replied that
gentleman. "but the combination ol
our safe Is out OF order and II won'
lock. although they are working at =
now. can put the money In the cash
drawer. II you like"
A glance at this somewhat films!
contrivance convinced Burke that I
would never do as receptacle fo
anything Of his. so he said he woult
take care Of his property himself. III
went up to his room trying to think o
some hiding place for the roll. and pu
1t under the rug.
II made hump plainly perceptibl
from anywhere In the room. but II
moving the rug he noticed boar,
which seemed to he loose. With tn
aid OF his cane he prled It out, ant
! having placed the money In larg
white envelope. dropped II into tn
boxlike compartment revealed.
Hearing someone coming, he has
tily stamped down the board an
threw the rug back over the spot h
had molested. The person passed hi
door without stopping. and Burk
, shortly afterward went to join Mat
! thews and his friends.
In the course Of most agreeabl
: dinner question arose as to tn
. achievements Of certain horse. an
: Burke, saying he had a racing forr
IN his room and could prove his al
] sertion. went up TO get the book.
No sooner did he enter the ROOF
than he saw that n corner OF the ru
was turned back In such way tha
he felt sure he had not left II so. Ha
some onesbeen nt his money! In feve
lsh haste he tore up the board an
, looked into the hole. The envelop
was goneI
According to the elevator boy onl
one person had been on that fioc
since Burke went down. and that wa
man with a black beard who ha
. tuhtll " TOou hitut uiA'fhoohs 49,
hadn't come down yet. said the bo,
. in answer TO Burke's query.
, His thoughts were interrupted Jul
then by a slight noise like the clio
. OF a telephone In the next room. an
|. then mans voice saying:
. "Is this the clerk? won't be alb
, to stay here tonight as ! expected. ar
. would like to know when the ne,
. train south leaves. Oh. well. I'll ha,
I TO hurry. win you send me one 4
, my baggageT"
, Another click told the listener Il
! conversation was over.
: SO he wasn't going TO stay. as
4 had intended, thought Burke. and
would have TO hurry II he was golr
20 go south by the next train; we
he'd have TO go fast II he was goir
20 get away with that money. II WI
, now or never. decided Scarlet Burk
a "a .L