The Lamar register., 1920-02-18
THE ROBBING
OF BURKE
By LAURENCE D. YOUNG

Diaval0 and Gretchen, split favOr1tes,
out in front. and Lady Grace. her
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.
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 It.
AZ 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
Ike q whirlwind. Robson with the
ally challenged In the last sixteenth.
and the black. worn down by making
pace throughout the long trip, re-
sponded for . few yards, but could
not stall OF the hnal push OF the fly
ing Lady Grace. who came home by
Z safe lead
A short time later, as Richard Ros-
common Burke stuffed the comfortable
bundle of yellow bills into his pocket.
As thought: These western tracks are
right for me-"
After q season Of continuous misfor-
tune at Gravesend and Sheepshead.
Burke had gathered together what lit
Ne remained of his fiuctuant capital,
told his circle Of intimates at the
Astropost that b was going to try
his luck In pastures new. and betook
himself to Cincinnati. arriving at that
aity for the opening OF the fall meet
ing At Latonia.
Whether II 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
hs told Matthews. who wrote ''turf"
for the Cincinnati Investigator. he was
''oa his feet again" During the jour
nsy from the track to the city his mind
was mainly occupied with the thought
q his winnings and how he could
bring them to double and treble their
present size.
A. he was entering his hotel 1t oc-
cured to him that he had q great deal
TOO much money in his pocket to safely
carry around. especially that night.
whss he was going to dine with Mat
thsws and some of their friends In
common. and % he stopped At the desk
and asked the clerk II he would put
his winnings in the safe.
Tn sorry. Mr.. Burke" replied that
gentleman. but the combination Of
eur safe is out Of order and II won't
isek. although they are working At It
now. ] can put the money in the cnsh-
drawer. II you like"
A glance At this somewhat fiimsy
csnfrivance convinced Burke that II
wsuld never do As q receptacle for
anything Of his. so he said he would
take care of his property himself. He
some hiding place for the roll. and put
II under the rug.
II made q hump plainly perceptible
from anywhere In the room. but in
moving the rug he noticed q board
which seemed to be loose. With the
aid Of his cane he pried II out. and
having placed the money In large
white envelope, dropped II into the
bexlike compartment revealed.
Hearing someone coming. he has
hly stamped down the board and
threw the rug back over the spot he
had molested. The person passed his
door without stopping and Burke
shortly afterward went to join Mat
thsws and his friends.
In the course OF q most agreeable
dinner question arose as to the
achievements Of certain horse. and
Burke. saying he had racing form
In his room and could prove his as
ssrtion. went up to get the book.
No sooner did he enter the room
than he saw that Q corner of the rug
was turned back In such a way that
hs felt sure he had not left II so. Had
some one been at his money! In fever
ish haste he tore up the board and
locked into the hole. The envelope
was gonel
According to the elevator boy only
ere person had been on that floor
since Burke went down, and that was
Q man with q black beard who had
taken q room that afternoon. No. he
hadn't come down yet. said the boy,
= answer to Burke's query.
His thoughts were interrupted Just
then by a slight noise like the click
Of . telephone in the next room. and
than \ mans voice saving: