The Argosy for May — page 15: what you’re looking at

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

202 rowing it without security. Look at the thousands of dollars passing through your hands every day. What’s to hinder you from holding out enough for our needs for a few hours? No one would ever know; for you could return it be- fore the bank opened in the morning, and—’”’ He broke off abruptly. Harry’s hor- rified expression warned him that it might not be safe to proceed, and* he attempted to turn off the suggestion with a laugh. ‘ ‘Of course, I was only joking about that,” he said; ‘“‘ but, Lord, how I do wish we could raise that money. Here we have the chance of a lifetime; yet we are compelled to pass it up simply because we both happen to be tempo- rarily strapped. Was there ever such beastly luck?” He dropped his head into his hands, and sat as though in earnest thought, striving to ponder out some way of meet- ing the exigency, when suddenly he roused up, his eyes beaming. SOW. Dige ton De=.sure:- > “he=. Cried: “Strange that I never thought of-—it before. I can borrow the money from Spear. Will you agree to stand good for half the loan if I make the touch? It’s a mere formality, of course, for we can hand him his five thousand as soon as the race is over.” Rock hesitated a moment; but finally nodded assent, and said he would. How he could ever pay back twenty-five hun- dred dollars to Spear, if the horse should happen to lose, he could not tell; but Corning had assured him positively that it must win, and then Spear himself, who was a practical horseman, must evi- dently think so, or he would not be willing to advance the money on mere personal security. Yes, he decided, he would be a fool if he failed to embrace this opportunity so providentially offered. Why, at one stroke he would recoup all the money he had squandered, and be once more on Easy Street. On Easy Street, and free to woo Anita! “All right, then,’ cried Corning. ‘“T’l] go right down and telephone Spear, and make sure he’ll stand for it. He’s up at the Dorfwald, I guess.” And, as he spoke, Corning was out ; ‘\ THE ARGOSY. the door, and half-way down the stairs. Harry waited on pins and needles for his return. At one moment, he was scared to death lest Spear should grant the loan; the next, trembling with ap- prehension for fear he should refuse. There was small need, however, for ithe anxious “ Well?” with which he greeted Corning’s reappearance; for the latter’s jubilant face bore its own answer. q Oh, it’s all right,” he said, resuming his seat. “I knew it would be. Ed Spear is one of the whitest boys that ever stood on two feet. He says we can have the five thousand and welcome, and pay him back after the race, or whenever we feel like it. But he says that in his opinion five thousand won’t be more than car fare to any of us after that race is over.” “That certainly sounds as though he expected the horse to win, doesn’t it?” murmured Harry. ‘Win? Why, according to him, it’s just the same as if there wasn’t any other horse in the race. But I forgot to tell you. Spear says that he’ll need all the ready cash he has with him for the big plunge he is going to take himself to- morrow; so, if he makes the loan to us, he will have to get cashed a Chicago draft, which he has with him, for six thousand dollars, and he was a little fearful that he might have some diffi- culty in getting the money. “IT told him, though, that he needn’t worry his head about that; if he came down to the bank to-morrow morning, you would probably cash it for him all right. You will, won’t you?” ‘Why, ye—es, I guess so,’ faltered Rock, scratching his head._ Caution was whispering in his ear, and urging him to refuse; but stronger sounded the voice of a rash optimism, telling him to go in and win back his money and Anita. Les, = ne decided, ==" Fell: him--to come around, and I’ll cash his draft for him!” CHAPTER V. WHAT HAPPENED TO A “SURE THING.” Rock took an afternoon off the follow- ing day, and accompanied Corning and COMMICLOOCKS. EO A