Evening star., 1922-02-12

81 o0Ht I kHO" WnaL you 70 LAiklH
about" he began.
Sflsbee calmly turned his back and
started for the stables.
Here" cried the colonel, hastily.
Come back!"' S.r
Silsbee glanced over his shoulder.
AN cyards down. I said!"
All right, returned the colonel. re-
signediy. Come back"
Silsbee sauntered back. Now, as he
regarded his adversary. there was a
steeliy CLINT in his eye which Col.
Dawson could not very we'll overlook.
out with II. colonel! You and Sandy
Withers-what's the answer?
He's my nephew" said the colo
mel, humbly. Whats more. he's a
good-for-nothin' rascal! He run away
the other day and took flve hundred
of my money with him."
After you and him split on that
seven-afty you got out Of me-" said
SNsbee, acidly. know all about it.
colonel You nights well come across
and come blamed quick! I'know the
whole layout. You got to have that
hoss for the state fair, huh?"
Col. Dawson swallowed hard-aw-
fully hard. 1t was not entirely true
that Chick Silsbee knew everything;
as matter Of fact. he was taking a
long shot chiefly in the dark. But he
was good buffer.
You got me on the hip. I guess"
admitted the colonel. whats the
ante"
II amt running no blazer" said
siisbee. quietly. Il figger to take
White Stockings back to the range,
like said. She'll make me money
yet"
My boy, you've outgeneraled me-"
said the colonel. with q sulp. Come,
be fair! Put a price on the mare. TIL
buy her"
All right" he said. Lets say ff-
teen hundred and Vixen"
Dawson compressed his lips. shook
his head, then took a fresh start.
I'll do better'n that by you." he
said. affably. Now, listen! I'll put
my cards on tho table, like you say
and I'll show you where we can make
big money together"
DO It," said Chick, calmly. why
won't White Stockings win for me?"
Dawson glanced around, then spoke
in low. tone. =.
y II y
'7>HE mare was mine from a colt.
see? I trained her. Now, when
she's up for a race stand down by
the track as she's comm into the
stretch and yell and wave a yeller
handkerchief at her. savvy?
When she hears me and sees me
she goes to it for all she's. worth
and most always pulls down first
money. When she don't get the signal
from me she lays down on her rider.
You've seen how it works. hoy? What
you lookin' at me like that for?"
Col. Dawson was alarmed. for Chick
Silsbee had turned white with anger.
I was just wonderin' whether to
shoot you or kick you, colonel" he
said. slowly.
Come on, boy. don't get mad over
horse deal" said Dawson quickly.
Look here. now: White Stockings
has been losing steady for you. III
give you Vixen and fifteen hundred
for half interest in her. You take
her over to Hutchinson and enter
her Your ownself in the big race,
see?
- Then We get down all the money
in sight on her to win. After the
way she's been losing for you, we'll
get big odds. Ny land. Silsbee, jtist
You stop an think what it'ii mean
to US! Wen clean up several thou
sand apiece! Now my cards is
down-ain't that fair an square to
you?"
silsbee regarded the colonel with
that same angry glitter.
so that's Your game. is it?" he
said. That's the way you make
your clean-ups?"
That's IT," admitted the colonel
frankly. "And I'm lettih' you in on
it,
Siisbee laughed shortly.
Colonel, shore admire your
gall"' he said. You've got SO blamed
much nerve that amt got the heart
to shoot you, for a fact! Nope. I
reckon a gent with your nerve will
make his own rope and hang him
self in il sooner or later"
"what?" faltered the perplexed
colonel. You amt goin' to refuse
my offer? Why. boy, it'll make you
so rich that"
II don't aim to get rich that way"
said Silsbee. 'Dog-gone it all! I
don't guess I want to stay in the
race business half as much as l
thought I did, colonel. After this. IT.
me for the range, where they do
business OF the square. I don't want
to set in your dirty game and play
your marked cards, and that's nat.
I've done learned my lesson. and
after this I reckon all I want to see
Of hoss race is the gate
you're throwing down the chance
Of a lifetime"
'No. amt. I'm throwin' down a
crook, il you want it straight! And
he's dog-gone lucky I amt THROWN
down a gun on him! You come
across with Vixen and fifteen hun
dred, and I'll go back to where !
belong"
''All right" said the colonel hastily.
All right. But you're a fool"
IT know It." Silsbee lifted his gaze
to where Vixen was nickering from
her stall. 'I'm a plumb fool, COL
onel-but got fangr. Amt it
rirbto"