the man who could not lose-第6章

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and　read　it；　and　then　you　and　Spink　will　have　to　take　shelter　in　a
cyclone　cellar。〃

When　he　arose　to　make　his　bet　on　Ambitious；　his　friends　from　the
club　stand　and　a　half…dozen　of　Pinkerton's　men　closed　in　around　him
and　in　a　flying　wedge　pushed　into　the　ring。　The　news…papers　had
done　their　work；　and　he　was　instantly　surrounded　by　a　hungry；
howling　mob。　In　comparison　with　the　one　of　the　previous　day；　it　was
as　a　foot…ball　scrimmage　to　a　run　on　a　bank。　When　he　made　his　first
wager　and　the　crowd　learned　the　name　of　the　horse；　it　broke　with　a。
yell　into　hundreds　of　flying　missiles　which　hurled　themselves　at
the　book…makers。　Under　their　attack；　as　on　the　day　before；
Ambitious　receded　to　even　money。　There　was　hardly　a　person　at　the
track　who　did　not　back　the　luck　of　the　man　who　〃could　not　lose。〃
And　when　Ambitious　won　easily；　it　was　not　the　horse　or　the　jockey
that　was　cheered；　but　the　young　man　in　the　box。

In　New　York　the　extras　had　already　announced　that　he　was　again
lucky；　and　when　Dolly　and　Carter　reached　the　bank　they　found　the
entire　staff　on　hand　to　receive　him　and　his　winnings。　They　amounted
to　a　sum　so　magnificent　that　Carter　found　for　the　rest　of　their
lives　the　interest　would　furnish　Dolly　and　himself　an　income　upon
which　they　could　live　modestly　and　well。

A　distinguished…looking；　white…haired　official　of　the　bank
congratulated　Carter　warmly。　〃Should　you　wish　to　invest　some　of
this；〃　he　said；　〃　I　should　be　glad　to　advise　you。　My　knowledge　in
that　direction　may　be　wider　than　your　own。〃

Carter　murmured　his　thanks。　The　white…haired　gentleman　lowered　his
voice。　〃On　certain　other　subjects；〃　he　continued；　〃you　know　many
things　of　which　I　am　totally　ignorant。　Could　you　tell　me；〃　he　asked
carelessly；　〃who　will　win　the　Suburban　to…morrow？　〃

Carter　frowned　mysteriously。　〃I　can　tell　you　better　in　the
morning；〃　he　said。　〃It　looks　like　Beldame；　with　Proper　and　First
Mason　within　call。〃

The　white…haired　man　showed　his　surprise　and　also　that　his
ignorance　was　not　as　profound　as　he　suggested。

〃I　thought　the　Keene　entry〃　he　ventured。

〃I　know；〃　said　Carter　doubtfully。　〃If　it　were　for　a　mile；　I　would
say　Delhi；　but　I　don't　think　he　can　last　the　distance。　In　the
morning　I'll　wire　you。〃

As　they　settled　back　in　their　car；　Carter　took　both　of　Dolly's
hands　in　his。　〃So　far　as　money　goes；〃　he　said；　〃we　are　independent
of　your　motherindependent　of　my　books；　and　I　want　to　make　you　a
promise。　I　want　to　promise　you　that；　no　matter　what　I　dream　in　the
future；　I'll　never　back　another　horse。〃　Dolly　gave　a　gasp　of
satisfaction。

〃And　what's　more；〃　added　Carter　hastily；　〃not　another　dollar　can
you　risk　in　backing　my　books。　After　this；　they've　got　to　stand　or
fall　on　their　legs！〃

〃Agreed！〃　cried　Dolly。　〃Our　plunging　days　are　over。〃

When　they　reached　the　flat　they　found　waiting　for　Carter　the　junior
partner　of　a　real　publishing　house。　He　had　a　blank　contract；　and　he
wanted　to　secure　the　right　to　publish　Carter's　next　book。

〃I　have　a　few　short　stories〃　suggested　Carter。

Collections　of　short　stories；　protested　the　visitor　truthfully；　〃do
not　sell。　We　would　prefer　another　novel　on　the　same　lines　as　'The
Dead　Heat。'〃

〃Have　you　read　'The　Dead　Heat'？〃　asked　Carter。

〃I　have　not；〃　admitted　the　publisher；　but　the　next　book　by　the　same
author　is　sure　to。　We　will　pay　in　advance　of　royalties　fifteen
thousand　dollars。〃

〃Could　you　put　that　in　writing？〃　asked　Carter。　When　the　publisher
was　leaving　he　said：

〃I　see　your　success　in　literature　is　equaled　by　your　success　at　the
races。　Could　you　tell　me　what　will　win　the　Suburban？〃

〃I　will　send　you　a　wire　in　the　MORNING；〃　said　Carter。

They　had　arranged　to　dine　with　some　friends　and　later　to　visit　a
musical　comedy。　Carter　had　changed　his　clothes；　and；　while　he　was
waiting　for　Dolly　to　dress；　was　reclining　in　a　huge　arm…chair。　The
heat　of　the　day；　the　excitement；　and　the　wear　on　his　nerves　caused
his　head　to　sink　back；　his　eyes　to　close；　and　his　limbs　to　relax。

When；　by　her　entrance；　Dolly　woke　him；　he　jumped　up　in　some
confusion。

〃You've　been　asleep；〃　she　mocked。

〃Worse！〃　said　Carter。　〃I've　been　dreaming！　Shall　I　tell　you　who　is
going　to　win　the　Suburban？〃

〃Champneys！〃　cried　Dolly　in　alarm。

〃My　dear　Dolly；〃　protested　her　husband；　〃I　promised　to　stop
betting。　I　did　not　promise　to　stop　sleeping。〃

〃Well；〃　sighed　Dolly；　with　relief；　〃as　long　as　it　stops　at　that。
Delhi　will　win；〃　she　added。　〃Delhi　will　not；〃　said　Carter。　〃This　is
how　they　will　finish〃He　scribbled　three　names　on　a　piece　of
paper　which　Dolly　read。

〃But　that；〃　she　said；　〃is　what　you　told　the　gentleman　at　the　bank。〃

Carter　stared　at　her　blankly　and　in　some　embarrassment。

〃You　see！〃　cried　Dolly；　〃what　you　think　when　you're　awake；　you
dream　when　you're　asleep。　And　you　had　a　run　of　luck　that　never
happened　before　and　could　never　happen　again。〃

Carter　received　her　explanation　with　reluctance。　〃I　wonder；〃　he
said。

On　arriving　at　the　theatre　they　found　their　host　had　reserved　a
stage…box；　and　as　there　were　but　four　in　their　party；　and　as；　when
they　entered；　the　house　lights　were　up；　their　arrival　drew　upon
them　the　attention　both　of　those　in　the　audience　and　of　those　on
the　stage。　The　theatre　was　crowded　to　its　capacity；　and　in　every
part　were　people　who　were　habitual　race…goers；　as　well　as　many
racing　men　who　had　come　to　town　for　the　Suburban。　By　these；　as　well
as　by　many　others　who　for　three　days　had　seen　innumerable　pictures
of　him；　Carter　was　instantly　recognized。　To　the　audience　and　to　the
performers　the　man　who　always　won　was　of　far　greater　interest　than
what　for　the　three…hundredth　night　was　going　forward　on　the　stage。
And　when　the　leading　woman；　Blanche　Winter；　asked　the　comedian
which　he　would　rather　be；　〃The　Man　Who　Broke　the　Bank　at　Monte
Carlo　or　the　Man　Who　Can　Not　Lose？〃　she　gained　from　the　audience　an
easy　laugh　and　from　the　chorus　an　excited　giggle。

When；　at　the　end　of　the　act；　Carter　went　into　the　lobby　to　smoke；
he　was　so　quickly　surrounded　that　he　sought　refuge　on　Broadway。
From　there；　the　crowd　still　following　him；　he　was　driven　back　into
his　box。　Meanwhile；　the　interest　shown　in　him　had　not　been　lost
upon　the　press　agent　of　the　theatre；　and　he　at　once　telephoned　to
the　newspaper　offices　that　Plunger　Carter；　the　book…maker　breaker；
was　at　that　theatre；　and　if　that　the　newspapers　wanted　a　chance　to
interview　him　on　the　probable　out…come　of　the　classic　handicap　to
be　run　on　the　morrow；　he；　the　press　agent；　would　unselfishly　assist
them。　In　answer　to　these　hurry　calls；　reporters　of　the　Ten　o'Clock
Club　assembled　in　the　foyer。　How　far　what　later　followed　was　due　to
their　presence　and　to　the　efforts　of　the　press　agent　only　that
gentleman　can　tell。　It　was　in　the　second　act　that　Miss　Blanche
Winter　sang　her　topical　song。　In　it　she　advised　the　audience　when
anxious　to　settle　any　question　of　personal　or　national　interest　to
〃Put　it　up　to　the　Man　in　the　Moon。'〃　This　night　she　introduced　a
verse　in　which　she　told　of　her　desire　to　know　which　horse　on　the
morrow　would　win　the　Suburban；　and；　in　the　chorus；　expressed　her
determination　to　〃Put　it　up　to　the　Man　in　the　Moon。〃

Instantly　from　the　back　of　the　house　a　voice　called：　〃Why　don't　you
put　it　up　to　the　Man　in　the　Box？〃　Miss　Winter　laughed…the　audience
laughed；　all　eyes　were　turned　toward　Carter。　As　though　the　idea
pleased　them；　from　different　parts　of　the　house　people　applauded
heartily。　In　embarrassment；　Carter　shoved　back　his　chair　and　pulled
the　curtain　of　the　box　between　him　and　the　audience。　But　he　was　not
so　easily　to　escape。　Leaving　the　orchestra　to　continue　unheeded
with　the　prelude　to　the　next　verse；　Miss　Winter　walked　slowly　and
deliberately　toward　him；　smiling　mischievously。　In　burlesque
entreaty；　she　held　out　her　arms。　She　made　a　most　appealing　and
charming　picture；　and　of　that　fact　she　was　well　aware。　In　a　voice
loud　enough　to　reach　every　part　of　the　house；　she　addressed　herself
to　Carter：

〃Won't　you　tell　ME？〃　she　begged。

Carter；　blushing　unhappily；　shrugged　his　shoulders　in　apology。

With　a　wave　of　her　hand　Miss　Winter　designated　the　audience。
〃Then；〃　she　coaxed；　reproachfully；　〃won't　you　tell　THEM？〃

Again；　instantly；　with　a　promptness　and　unanimity　that　sounded
suspiciously　as　though　it　came　from　ushers　well　rehearsed；　several
voice　echoed　her　petition：　〃Give　us　all　a　chance！''　shouted　one。
〃Don't　keep　the　good　things　to　yourself！　〃　reproached　another。　〃　I
want　to　get　rich；　TOO！〃　wailed　a　third。　In　his　heart；　Carter　prayed
they　would　choke。　But　the　audience；　so　far　from　resenting　the
interruptions；　encouraged　them；　and　Carter's　obvious　discomfort
added　to　its　amusement。　It　proceeded　to　assail　him　with　applause；
with　appeals；　with　commands　to　〃speak　up。〃

The　hand…clapping　became　general…insistent。　The　audience　would　not
be　denied。　Carter　turned　to　Dolly。　In　the　recesses　of　the　box　she
was　enjoying　his　predicament。　His　friends　also　were　laughing　at
him。　Indignant　at　their　desertion；　Carter　grinned　vindictively。
〃All　right；〃　he　muttered　over　his　shoulder。　〃Since　you　think　it's
funny；　I'll　show　you　！〃　He　pulled　his　pencil　from　his　watch…chain
and；　spreading　his　programme　on　the　ledge　of　the　box；　began　to
write。

From　the　audience　there　rose　a　murmur　of　incredulity；　of　surprise；
of　excited　interest。　In　the　rear　of　the　house　the　press　agent；
after　one　startled　look；　doubled　up　in　an　ecstasy　of　joy。　〃We've
landed　him　！〃　he　gasped。　〃We've　landed　him　He's　going　to　fall　for
it！〃

Dolly　frantically　clasped　her　husband　by　the　coat…tail。

〃Champ！〃　she　implored；　〃what　are　you　doing？〃

Quite　calmly　；　quite　confidently；　Carter　rose。　Leaning　forward　with
a　nod　and　a　smile；　he　presented　the　programme　to　the　beautiful　Miss
Winter。　That　lady　all　but　snatched　at　it。　The　spot…light　was　full
in　her　eyes。　Turning　her　back　that　she　might　the　more　easily　read；
she　stood　for　a　moment；　her　pretty　figure　trembling　with　eagerness；
her　pretty　eyes　bent　upon　the　programme。　The　house　had　grown
suddenly　still；　and　with　an　excited　gesture；　the　leader　of　the
orchestra　commanded　the　music　to　silence　A　man；　bursting　with
impatience；　broke　the　tense　quiet。　〃Read　it！〃　he　shouted。

In　a　frightened　voice　that　in　the　sudden　hush　held　none　of　its
usual　confidence；　Miss　Winter　read　slowly：　〃　The　favorite　cannot
last　the　distance。　Will　lead　for　the　mile　and　give　way　to　Beldame。
Proper　takes　the　place。　First　Mason　will　show。　Beldame　will　win　by
a　length。〃

Before　she　had　ceased　reading；　a　dozen　men　had　struggled　to　their
feet　and　a　hundred　voice　were　roaring　at　her。　〃Read　that　again　！〃
the　chorused。　Once　more　Miss　Winter　read　the　message；　but　before
she　had　finished　half　of　those　in　the　front　rows　were　scrambling
from　their　seats　and　racing　up　the　aisles。　Already　the　reporters
were　ahead　of　them；　and　in　the　neighborhood　not　one　telephone　booth
was　empty。　Within　five　minutes；　in　those　hotels　along　the　White　Way
where　sporting　men　are　wont　to　meet；　betting　commissioners　and
hand…book　men　were　suddenly　assaulted　by　breathless　gentlemen；　some
in　evening　dress；　some　without　collars；　and　some　without　hats；　but
all　with　money　to　bet　against　the　favorite。　And；　an　hour　later；
men；　bent　under　stacks　of　newspaper　〃e