Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 890 — page 2: what you’re looking at

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

avert | “ | As far as the general public knew, Mulgraff’s ‘wus vnijy a saloon, and a very respectable one, too, as such places go, Few persons were ever seen in the bar-room, and there were those who wondered how the place lived. There were others who lost no time in wondering. ‘Messenger 999, baving thought only for busi- | ness, passed through the front room and uncere- mouiously opened a small door upon the orna- muental glass of which was marked the word, ** Private.” ) Once past this he knocked in a peculiar way upon a second door, which was cautiously opened by a man on the other side. He recognized Ace High at once, Hullo, youngsteri” he saluted. ‘‘On busi- ness ‘* What else do you suppose?” the messenger replied. ‘We couldn’t let you bet.” ‘ ‘Nobody asked you!” was the sharp retort, ‘* When you hear of me being so green as to blow in money on the races, just say so plain, will you? 1l’m here on the usual business, with a note to be delivered only to Mulgraff, if I wait ali the Pp. M. for him.” ‘‘Ob! all right, my hearty! Don’t take of- fense, but we wouldn’t let any boy bet here, Come in!” Ace High obeyed. He entered.a room well filled with men, and blue with tobacco-smoke, The men were of all sorts and conditions, from the aldermanic- stomacbed ‘‘sport” to the pale-faced, wasp- waisted clerk—wonderful contrast, though sport and clerk were nuw moved by the same ruling impulse, At one side was a long blackboard, and upon this were the names of the starters in all the prominent horse-races of theday. A ‘‘ ticker” was busily recording the resuks, as race after race was finished and reported, and the men were watching the records with interest more or less painful, It need scarcely be added that this was a pool- room, and that the chance was open for the per- sous present to stake their money. ‘his the greater part were doing, as each event was called, and the house was doing a fi;urishing business, both in this line and at the, inner bar. | Ace High looked at the crowd and at the | tiackboerd with a skeptical smile, The matter possessed no attraction forhim, He had been used to active life, hard life, and ways of life that bad made bim shrewd beyond his years, and he had a fixed opinion of borse-racing on the modern plan. Without pretending to know, he did not be- lieve that the running races were ‘‘on the square.” He regarded the whole matter as a conspiracy of a few to defraud the many, and thought that the result of the events was deter- mined in advance so that those in the secret could make money out cf the uninitiated, He had heard others assert the same thing, and, too, had heard believers declare that was done with strictest honor. Not being a bettor, he did not care, personally, how it was; he never won or lost on the results. One thing was certain: There were men in : that crowd who had no business to be there— low-salaried clerks, and others, who hardly . knew a race-horse from asaw-buck, yet were & risking their small earnings week after week, £ and baa! after year, lured on by the passion for Bh. / gambling and the thirst for gains which never sum came, Pe Ace High was not likely ever to go in with that eager crowd, Naturally sensible and far- seeing, he had the advantage of being a New York boy, born and bred, and did not fall into traps easily. , His real name was Asa High, Years before, some one had made a pun on his name and dubbed him ‘‘ Ace High, the Trump Card,” ba? The name had stuck to him, and many of his ee public acquaintance had vo idea what his aye” actual name was, Asa was looking over the crowd in an idle way, when he gave a sudden start and mut- tered: ‘* He here!” | It was a young man of about eighteen years that had caused ‘he messenger’s abrupt increase a 8 _of interest. He stood in the edge of the group, ae - and was all bound up in the excitement of the | - hour. Ais manner and his face were alike fe- | gt: verish, though it was plain that the flush in bis | ae face rose from a cause other than mental feel- | ing. He bad been drinking heavily, and by far ae too much for bis own good. = - A man twelve years his senior approached and slapped him on the shoulder. . : : : F ‘17 De a Pr oJ . ndt.s x é . axed? *) 2 “a wohl ys & f bee 4 wie * Ls 4 ie ~ i Wd M ees at Bae . LES (2! 2 aio sted Ae) ah gate oe eee sc way .! we y . <<. ‘?¢ he ‘efi vets Saceelt) "sc, ek A, i -. < ™ ape iy iO card yr: ~— a ey aks be Messenger 999. ‘* How goes it, Tildrake?” he demanded, The youth started and wheeled nervously, a look of alarm in his face, whereupon the speaker added: | ‘* You act asif you expected to see an officer. That ought not to be, when your old mau is a ‘* Hush!” was the reply, and the young man looked around nervously. ‘* What’s up?” ‘** Don’t speak of my father.” ‘‘Why? You ain’t ashamed because he’s a policeman, are you?” ‘* The shame is not on bim.” **On whom, then?” **On me!” ‘* Nonsense! Why?” ‘* What would he say, if he saw me here?” ‘*T know what he would say if he didn’t see ou—notbing. Come, Harry, take a brace! on’t let the ghost of the old man haunt you all the time. Palmer Tildrake is old-fashioned and strict, but he’s been a cop twenty years, and it’s grown on him. He means well—’ : ‘‘My father is all right. Don’t mention his name again, sir!” This was said sharply, and the wily elder man did not fail to profit by the hint. He laid one hand upon his companion’s shoulder, and deftly changed the subject. ‘* By Jove! that was a good race that Red Bat ran!” ss Yes,” ‘‘What’s up next? Oh! the seven furlongs.” sé Yes.” ‘© W ho will get it?” ** High Boots.” ** Think so?’ “ce Yes,” ‘*T incline to Nokomo. But say; Ill go youa tenner that High Boots don’t win.” 3 ** I don’t care to bet.” ‘On! your faith ain’t so strong, then?” ‘*T; *s, but, to tell the truth, Brown, Ive backeu High Boots heavily already—so heavily that, if she loses, I shall be dead broke.” ‘*T bat alters the case. Come over and take something.” j° This was an invitation the young man could not refuse, and he followed Brown to the . ar. Ace High sttuok his head gravely. He knew Harry Tildrake well, and would have been recognized in return if the race-mad youth had chanced to see him. The former was the son of a policeman, and on She whole force there was not a more honesc, wortby man than Palmer Tildrake, Such praise could not be given to Harry. He was sowing wild oats with a ven- geance, and all of his father’s efforts could not keep him out of bad company, : ‘* Headstrong as ever!” muttered Ace High, There lay the trouble. Hurry did not intend to do uarm to himself or any one else, but was doing both, and all of his elders’ counsel was thrown away on him, He wanted to see *‘ life,” and was seeing it in full earnest. He was in a whirlpool, and the }, mee was going fast. hen he had taken another drink, Herman Brown spoke pleasantly. ** Tell you what, Hal, I'll go you twenty toten that High Boots don’t win!” The youth cast a feverish glance at the line of names on the board, He had great confidence in High Boots, and had been given so-called 1n- side information that the mare was sure to win. His courage was good—too good! It was so strong that he had already risked money on the seven furlongs event which be bad no right to risk, and the faint voice of prudence left warned him not to go any deeper. ‘* You can’t expect bigger odds,” Brown added. Harry was not thinking of the odds, but of the money which was in doubt. Unfortunate- ly, his sense of honor was not aroused, Two hisses, only, occupied his attention—personal risk, and the thirst for gain. = ‘Pll go you,” he answered,in an unsteady voice. After another drink they went back to the crowd. The room had grown quiet. It was announced that the starters were off in the se furlongs, and all anxiously awaited the result, Asa saw that young Tildrake could not keep hiscomposure, The liquor he had poured down bis neck served to stupefy, rather tban exbilar- ate him, but bis mind was clear enough to make the situation plain to him. His face was pale, ani his eyes had a wild gleam, The ticker began to work, and the marker stepped to the board. 2 : - : ax. ; : fi. ; ~ 5 RT ee fh st ; Fy “ [2 . ¥ a § alr, eg? er ‘ et ae! dg =P e: bine Of With a single sweep of ; the crayon he marked an oval ring around the lt TT —— eee name of one horse; over another he puta fig- ure ‘*2,” and over yet anotier, the figure ‘‘ 3,” High Boots remained unmarked. She had lost the race, and, also, ‘‘place;’ she had not even come in third. i} rry Tildrake drew a quick, sharp breath, and then put out onehand vaguely. Themotion was one a blind man might have made, and the policeman’s son was blind then. He bad risked more than his all on High Boots; he had risked what did not belong to him; and the money had gone faster than the mare’s legs. Ruin stared him in the face. CHAPTER ILI, RACE-MAD, AND RACE-BROKEN. Atv that moment the proprietor of the room came in, and Asa hastened to deliver to him the note with which he had been sent there. He was thus occupied for several minutes, after which he was free to go. He remembered Harry Tildrake, however, and looked for him, The unhappy young man was standing at the bar, and the way he clung toit sbowed ‘that the liquor he had swallowed was fast overcoming him. Herman Brdéwn, his evil genius, was by his side, and gave the young man a hearty slap on the back, — ‘‘Brace up, me boy!” he advised, heartily. ‘“VYouwll be out of this in a little while, To- morrow you will undoubtedly call the turn and pocket the stuff!” To-morrow! Tildrake shivered as he thought of the morrow. He wishedit might never come! If it did, be would no® be in Muigraff’s sepul- cher of broken hopes and ruined lives, He might be in prison, but was more likely to bea fugitive from justice, ‘+ Take anotuer drink,” Brown advised, The messenger’s indignation could be curved no longer, and he stepped quickly forward and laid hold of Tildrake’s arm. ‘¢ Harry, ain’t you going home?” he asked, Brown turned sharply upon tbe speaker, ‘‘ Who in perdition are you?” ke demanded. ‘¢T know Harry.” ‘What of it?” 7 think he had better go home,” ‘‘Keep your thougiits to yourself, You are not wante 1 bere, anyhow, , Get.out /” ‘‘T travel on my legs, not on yours!” Asa re- torted. ‘Come, Harry, ain’t you going?” Tildrake was looking at his young friend in a dazed way. — ‘‘ Are you in the whirlpool, too?” he muttered, vaguely. . “I didn’t bet on High Boots, anyway. Come; you have been here long enough,’ ‘““T’m ruined. Why sboula 1 go? Why enditall? Have you a revolver, Brown?’ ‘¢ Don’t talk nonsense, Stick under oy fe) not and I will see you through all right, this kid?’ ‘*T live near ge ‘¢ Are you his brother, or guardian?” ‘¢No, but I am—” ‘‘Then get out! I’ve told you twice; now see that you go. If you don’t, I'll report be to your employers, They don’t want you loafing in a saloon.” ‘‘Youwre mighty solicitous for the standing between employers and employees, all of a sud- den. How about Harry and his bosses?” Brown’s face flushed with anger, and he half- raised his hand asif to strike the bold boy, but prudently refrained from dcing 80. Tildrake suddenly aroused. ‘‘T can’t go home now, Ace,” he remarked, ‘‘ Are you going that way?” _ “When my day is up.’ ‘¢ Will you do mea favor?” ** What is it?” ‘‘ Don’t tell father where you saw me—don’t tell him you saw me at all.” ‘See here, Harry, this isn’t just the square thing. You are in mischief, and you know it, I’m not any tell-tale, and don’t inteud to go to your father; but you owe it to yourself to get away from here. There ain’t any good in the place—or in the folks.” Half-unconsciously he looked at Brown as he added the last words, and the latter’s anger rose higher than ever. io | “If you don’t get out of here, TH pitch you out!” he declared, hotly. “No, you won't!” retorted Tildrake. ‘‘No- | body is going to lay a hand on the boy while I am bere. Still. you.reinthe wrong, Ace, You mean well, but I don’t want you hangin around me. Go about your business, and | will come later.” ‘ Ly , ¥ . | fh , : - . - : sa i s\e pes bee by nh C1 Oy @