Part 24 (1/2)
They were a little surprised, however, to find Blackie Daw at breakfast with Wallingford, but they greeted that old comrade with great cordiality, coupled with an inward fear that he might interfere with their designs upon Wallingford.
”You haven't been making a book against J. Rufus on the day's races, have you?” inquired Phelps.
”Not yet,” said Blackie, laughing, ”but I'm willing. What's he on?”
”Whipsaw,” interposed Wallingford.
Blackie laughed softly.
”I don't know the horse,” he said, ”but I just seem to remember that he's the joke of the track.”
”No,” explained Larry; ”he's too painful to be a joke.”
”What odds do you expect to get, Wallingford?” asked Blackie, reaching for his wallet.
”Hold on a minute,” said Phelps hastily. ”You don't want to b.u.t.t in on this, Daw. We've been making book for J. Rufus all week, and it's our money. You hold stakes.”
”Don't you worry,” snapped Wallingford, suddenly displaying temper; ”there will be enough to go around. I'll cover every cent you four have or can get,” and he pushed his chair back from the table. ”This is my last day in the racing game, and I'm going to plunge on Whipsaw.
I've turned into cash every resource I had in the world. I've even soaked my diamonds and watch to get more. Now come on and cover my coin.” From his pocket he produced a thick bundle of bills of large denomination. ”What odds do I get? The last time Whipsaw was in a race he opened at twelve to one and I ought to get fifteen at least to-day. Here's a thousand at that odds.”
”Not on your life!” said Short-Card Larry. ”I wouldn't put up fifteen thousand to win one on any game.”
”What'll you give me, then? Come on for this easy money. Give me ten?”
No, they would not give him ten.
”Give me eight?”
They hesitated. He immediately slid the money in his pocket.
”You fellows are kidding. You don't want to make book for me. I'll take this coin out to the track and get it down at the long odds.”
His display of contemptuous anger decided them.
”I'll take my share,” a.s.serted Short-Card Larry, he of the quick temper, and among them the four made up the money to cover Wallingford's bet.
”Here's the stakes, Blackie,” said Wallingford, pa.s.sing over the money toward him. ”You're all willing he should hold the money?”
They were. They knew Blackie.
”Moreover,” observed Yap Pickins meaningly, ”we'll keep close to him.”
”Here's another thousand that you can cover at five to one,” offered Wallingford, counting out the money.
Now they were as eager as he.
”We'll take you,” said Teller, ”but I'll have to go out and get more mezuma.”
”All right. Bring all you can sc.r.a.pe together and I'll cover the balance of it at two to one.”
For just one moment they were suspicious.