Argosy, Vol. 1 (1882) — page 160: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

THE SPORTING ELEMENT. Bert took the precaution to try the door before knocking. To his surprise it opened. The room was pitch dark. ‘* This doesn’t look as if he were in,” whispered Bert. “Well, now that we’ve come so far, we might as well make ourselves com- fortable and wait awhile,” said Dolph, striking a match and lighting the gas. ** Well, these are the dandy rooms!” exclaimed Bert in spontaneous ad- miration. ‘“ So much for being the son of a millionaire.” “Who probably doesn’t keep his money quite so dark as the careful son seems to,” observed Dolph, dropping into an armchair. ““And these are poor old Sed’s rooms!” murmured Bert, sitting on an end of the table and gazing around him. “To think what times we used to——”’ The bedroom portiére facing Bert was suddenly pulled aside, and Jack Burke appeared blinking in the gaslight and looking as if he had been asleep. He still had on the outing clothes with which he had started on his run. ““ Oh, so you ave at home,” exclaimed Bert after his first start of strprise. “ Sorry to. have disturbed you, I’m sure,’ with a sarcastic intonation. “Had a pleasant afternoon, I trust,” drawled Dolph. “You ran beautifully,” said Bert. “I haven’t heard whether you broke any records or not.” This gave Jack an opportunity to rub up his sleepy wits. At last he succeed- ed, and when he spoke it was decidedly curtly. ‘“ You want to know why I did not make my run, I suppose.” “We have no very violent interest in the reasons,” replied Bert, “ seeing you lost, while we ” “ Whistled!” interpolated Dolph. “When about an eighth of a mile from Harmon,” began Jack, ‘I met with a sudden ” “See here, Jack Burke,” broke in Bert, dropping his tone of easy sar- 151 casi, ‘‘ let us come to business at once. P’ve——” “Not so loud, please,” interrupted Jack.. “ I have a visitor whom I do not wish to have awakened.” “ Hang your visitors!” replied Bert. “ We want to know what you mean by dumping us as you did.” ‘“ Dumping you? Why, my dear Mr. »harpe, I’m the loser, and I am to wheel your friend around the college—with- out any dumping, | hope.” ‘ Fiddlededee with. that! just fifty dollars on you.” ‘“ Doesn’t that make you thrill with joy?” sneered Dolph. “Do you mean to say you bet on me?” “We did have a trifle of confidence in you as a man of honor,” replied Bert. ‘“ [ presume you propose to blame me for your loss, then ; whereas, I should not have started! But what is it you want? I have had a hard afternoon of it, though I confess I didn’t run much, and |_——”’ “This is the long and the short of it, Jack Burke—you'’ve played us a de- cidedly lowdown trick, whereby we're out fifty, and dead broke besides; and the least you can do is to advance that sum to us for thirty days.” ‘So you not only bet, but you did it without having the money to pay in case you lost,’ said Jack. ‘“ Thus beginneth the second lesson,” observed Dolph in a sing song voice. “Don’t be so fly at drawing infer- ences, Jack Burke; if Teddy Young had not skipped the ranch we wouldn’t have had any reason to come squealing to vou. You can well believe we’re in a tight place when we do thai. Let us cut it short now. Will you do the decent thing and tide us over—yes or no?” “T certainly shall not.” “What?” exclaimed Dolph with af- fected surprise; ‘you refuse us a few paltry dollars, when you have that snug balance which you have saved by rea- son of your not betting? Fie, my dear Burke! ” comiliclooo We're out SS) eo