Evening star., 1922-07-23

When he went out to play golf she
was on the links But, try as he
might, he could no more than catch
her eye. She was obviously there
to be seen but not to be approached.
Arthur made cautious inquiries about
her at tho hotel and found out merely
that she was supposed to be from New
York and that the hotel people had
every reason to respect her.
A FTER ten days Of watchful wait
ing Mr.. Arthur met Miss Blue in
~ surf, as the result Of a shark
scare. She was in swimming, and
he. likewise. when some of the bath
ers took alarm at passing school
Of porpoises. The girl apparently was
panicstricken and Arthur went to her
aid. in shoulder-deep water, please
note. Thereafter his advances were
coyly permitted. He dined the young
woman, took her golhng and motor
ing and chair riding. In the course
OF one Of these latter rambles Miss
Blue and Mr.. Arthur encountered
Mrs. White. out rowing alone. The
women greeted each other familiarly
and 80 Arthur met the wife Of the
first con man. Invitations to dinner
followed and Arthur was introduced
to Mr.. White in a natural, polite and
social way, having already been in
formed by the beautiful Miss Blue
that the Whites were wealthy Chicago
people and that Mr.. White was a very
clever and interesting man. And so
Arthur found this veteran confidence
swindler. who acted as the steerer in
the operation which followed.
White did no moro and no less
than the old-fashioned steerer in the
days OF the GondorfS greatest sue
cess; did what every steerer has done
since the remote days Of banco and
the green goods game. By cultivat-
ing Arthur. by making himself So
cfally agreeable, by dint Of repeated
invitations to outings and dinners
that invariably included Miss Blue
and Mrs. White, the swindIer soon
got the friendship and confidence Of
Arthur and made him an intimate
Arthur, like most incautious men,
talked a great deal about himself.
grew confidential as to his business
and standing and did a good deal of
boasting and showing of, for he was
paying assiduous court to Miss Blue,
who took all his pretensions with an
air of ingenious belief and admira-
ton.
Now Black, the principal con man.
entered the picture. When Arthur
and White were on the beach one
day, watching their ladies parading
and swimming, Black happened to
pass without noticing any member of
tho group. But White pointed out
Black to Arthur.
See that big fellow there in the
blue fiannels?" said White. That's
Billy Black"
Mr.. Arthur pretended that he knew
Blacks name, but couldn't just place
him.
White seemed surprised.
You don't know Billy Black?" he
aueried incredulously. why he's the
biggest bettor In the country. Cleans
mp . fortune every year on the races
met him once At Havre dc Grace,
but he probably doesn't remember
me-"
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50 ARTHUR and White sat down in
the warm sand and fell to talking
about races. horses and the way the
tracks were conducted and the futil-
ity Of betting unless one were on the
inside. and especially of the Napole-
onic operations Of Billy Black. White
assured him that this remarkable and
subtle man had wires into all the
leading racing stables. that he was
the friend Of all the richest owners
and that. in addition. he was always
able to corrupt Jockeys and hx races.
That was the way Black made his
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