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About The news-herald. (Plattsmouth, Neb.) 1909-1911 | View Entire Issue (July 29, 1909)
Gambling in By JOHN IRVING DAY Garnering the Gold by a Unique Method, Originated and Practiced by "Doc" Fioyd ERE'S hoping that you get even, alderman." Doc Floyd raised a goblet of sparkling burgundy, across the brim of which he glanced and smiled at the member of the High Rollers' club who was host at a dinner he was giving In part pay ment of a bet that there was not a man In the coun try with $5,000 who could be beaten out of that amount on the ancient "gold brick" game. The din ner end of the bet was merely a pal try side issue for the" big ex-alderman had also wagered $5,000 and lost that, too. Doc Floyd had asserted that even 'n the twentieth century the time worn "green goods game" could be worked. "Have you got the nerve to tell me that you can put over the old green oods thing." was the amazed demand of Alderman Mehanty. "I'll bet Just one more bundle of $5,000 and again a dinner for the crowd that it can't be done. Why the biggest sucker in the country would take your flash bank roll away from you if you tried to work that." "Well, maybe he would," returned Floyd, but I'll just bet you it can be done and will let Clcland do the rough work and I'll Just go along to oversee it. I may have to find the man, but I'll let Jack do the trimming." "And I'll take half of Floyd's end of the bet that they put it over," broke in Col. Powley once more. Is It a bet?" "It is. I'm game' for another try," replied tho alderman. "How about it. Jack? Can we do it?" quired Floyd of a tall, cold eyed dy Bpeptic looking person who had sat silent, sipping his wino and pufllng a big cigar throughout the banterlug con versation. Jack Cleland merely grunted his as- sent. He was the one pessimist of the party, but always dependable and a handy man to have In any deal. A bell clanged, a gate slammed and the conductor and a belated passenger climbed aboard tho Twentieth Century Limited train which was leaving the La Salle street station. Chicago for its IS-hour spin to New York. The big engine throbbed and the long train of rolling palaces slid out of tho shed without a jerk or tremor, as easily as a trim sail boat propelled by a gentle breeze. At the forward end of the train, the buffet car, a comfortable small club on wheels, already was more than half filled with passengers. Seated on one side of -the car Doc Floyd was contentedly pulling a cigar ette while on the opposite side of the aisle, Jack Cleland pulled at a strong cigar, and neither man glanced at or seemed to know of the presence of the other. All was quiet save for the businesslike conversation of two showmen. The vestibule door opened and Into the car came Solomon Rosen berg, wise man of the w?st In which section he had Imbibed the air of free dom in speech and manner. Acquaintances are almost as easily made in the smoking car of a train as on shipboard and here was Floyd not 20 miles out of Chicago drinking with a person whosa natural propensities for "butting in" with strangers could not be overcome. Within ten minutes after they had met, Solomon Rosen berg was narrating the story of tho most recent happenings of his life and riding to a swift and certain fall. Oh yes, Solomon was a wise one. He knew it and was proud of it. Floyd hud listened to his talk and wondered the while, whether there was a chance to take some of Solomon's easily got ten wealth and also lower his stock of conceit. He concluded that it might be well worth while to cultivate his uew acquaintance. It wa3 at least worth trying, so he ordered another boitlej which further mellowed the talkative one, whose tones by this time had dis turbed a commercial traveler who sat near him running over columns of fig ures in his sales book. The traveling man appeared slightly annoyed as he glanced toward the wine drinkers. Suddenly he seemed to think of something and placing his memoranda In his pocket he turned to Floyd and his companion and asked if they cared to kill the time with a small game until the call came for dinner In the dining car. "Sure," was the reply of Solomon, answering for Floyd as well as him self. "My friend and I will play If you'll dig up some one else." A telepathic thought seemed to travel from Floyd to Jack Cleland who was looking at the party from the op posite side of the car. The others also seemed to notice his presence at the same time and it appeared a mere chance that he was invited to make the fourth mau in tho game. The play was not resumed after din ner, Cleland saying that he had lost about all he could afford, but the party atuck together and when It came time to retire for the night, Solomon, Floyd and Cleland had all agreed to niako their headquarters at tho Hotel Astor during their stay In New York and see more of each other. The drummer had told them that his homo vas in the city but that he hoped to look them up during thMr stay. n Green Goods "What's th? game, Floyd?' Inquired Jack Clelanu who had visited his friend's room !:i the hotel ten minutes after they had reached the big Proad way hotel. "Well, old top, you know what we are on here for," was the reply. "You've got to sell an order of green goods to some one. You are lucky because I've already found your mau for you. It must be some one, so why not our friend Solomon? He's already delivered himself." The trio met in the lobby of tho hotel a few moments later and Solo mon insisted on having just one drink before they parted company for the day and then also Insisted that they dine together that evening. The only dissipation Cleland would Indulge in that evening after dinner was the the ater to which he consented to accom pany Floyd and Solomon. After the theater, however, Floyd was Indeed the gay man of law away from home fur a good time and he put Solomon through such paces as to endear him to the heart of that boisterous person. This journey through the tenderloin was followed by another. Solomon liked the gay life but was beginning to have a pain in his porketbook, so thnt when the third evening after his arrival in Gotham, Cleland proposed another game of cards, saying that he wanted revenge for his loss on the train, there was ready consent on tho part of the westerner, who proposed to make some one else pay his expanses If he could. Cleland already had fouud the drummers telephono number und Invited him to dine and join them In another little friendly game. Again Solomon won, but his win nings were small. The salesman, also, was allowed tp carry away a few dol lars for his evening's work. Floyd, however, made a heavy winning and Cleland lost $2,000, playing with tho feverish recklessness that conies to the average loser at cards. The game broke up when the sulesinan an nounced that he would have to quit and get a few hours' sleep before ap pearing at his place of business. Lie land went off to his room with a grouch, refusing even to take a "night cap" drink. Solomon, however, readily accepted Floyd's invitation to take In some of tho all-night restaur ants. "I wonder If our friend has left town without Baying goodby," remarked Solomon to Doc Floyd two days after the poker game In which Cleland had lost his money to Floyd. Ho hud not appeared since that time. "I wonder?" replied Floyd. "Let's inquire of tho clerk ut the desk and see If he's gone." Acting upon this sug gestion they learned that Mr. "McCie land," the name under which Cle land was known to them, was still In town, and vn fact was in his room ut that moment. "Let's go tip nnd see what ails Ulai," vil -i -Hi Inn 1 11 jm,MmmLMiwms&,m I'liil I f r B It Ml IVllfTi? VI U i . y-mm vi i t n ,w m m y Jjgyl h ,ff fgw proposed Floyd. "Maybo ho's not feel ing well." In his room tho two callers found Cleland pacing the floor with a wor ried look on his face. It was anything but a cordial welcome which ho gave them. "Not ill. I hope," said Floyd. "We'd missed you for a couple of days and thought we'd look you up. Haven't cut us out, have you?" "To tell you the truth, fellows, I haven't felt very cheerful since I made that losing. I'm only a salaried man, you know, und can't really afford to play that kind of a game, even If my salary is a big one. It isn't that I'm worrying about just now, though, for I've got a chance to get more than even. My conscience will hardly let me do It though, and besides I've got to have more money than I've got to put the deal through." "lluck up, and tell t.s about it" broke in Solomon. "And say, kid, don't let your conscience put too much weight on you. Throw It away and get rid of the handicap, but don't do anything to get Into Jail. I don't mind telling you that there aro two or three places In this country rlfiht now where I don't want to go for fear the Jail doors would open quick to get me. Our friend here is a lawyer. Let him ad vise you." "I wonder If I should tell you?" re plied Cleland, brightening perceptibly, polished actor that he was. "Yes, go ahead and out with it," re turned Floyd. "You know we lawyers hear some strange stories now and then and can't afford to be too partic ular as to our clients." "Well, I'll tell you on one condition," agreed Cleland. "That condition is that you come In on the deal with me. I haven't got enough capital to put It through, anyway. There's no danger in it, and It's u sure way to make a big haul." Poth Floyd and Solomon agreed to 'come in on any deal where they could "IT TOOK HALF AN HOUR TO see a sure and quick profit, and asked for particulars. "It's perfectly simple," explained Cleland. "I once did a young fellow a good turn and kept him out of a lot of trouble. He's tho trusted messenger in the Nineteenth National bank here now. This bank Is the clearing house for a lot of smaller hanks and also gets the biggest part of the city's de posits. They get thousands of dollars In old and dirty money every week which they turn In to the subtreasury on Wall street, getting new Mils in re turn. This young friend of mine has been the messenger and made the ex changes. Ho says they never even open the sealed packages of bills thnt he takes to them and which have been certified to by the officers of the bank. The Ktibtreasury simply O K's the amount on the buck of the package and forwards It with a lot of similar bundles to Washington, where the old and dirty money Is never counted, but Just ground up and destroyed. He has thought the whole plan out and says ho can substitute a phony package for the one with the old bills In It. He has to have some one In the deal with him, for he would never dare to try to get rid of the old money. I saw him this afternoon nnd to-morrow he will have to make his regular weekly trip, and the package already Is made up with :JO,000 In good money In It. All he wants Is half for his titan and I can give him $15.0)') in $100 and $500 clean bills an J take the jacka. 1 only have about $7,000 to my namo, so I will have to get some one to go In the deal with mo. You two can coma In for $.",000 each. Are you on? And wait a minute, you needn't agree right now, but meet me at ten o'clock In the morning and go with mo to the Nine teenth National and see my friend for yourself." The two agreed to meet Cleland on the morrow und said good night. "And what do you think of It?" Inquired Floyd as they went down on the ele vator. "I'm a little afraid of It." "Well, h.fg look Into it, anyway." re turned Solomon. "If there's a chance to pick up some easy money, , I want it." On the following morulng they were convinced that the deal was a good one when they went to tho Nineteenth National with Cleland. and visiting the safety vault section of the bank, met Danny Roberts as that young man came out of a small compartment In his shirt sleeves with a package of papers In his hands und a pencil be hind his ear. Danny looked the part of a busy clerk and they heard him whisper nervously to Cleland that "It whs all right." He added that ho would be at tho appointed place at precisely 12 o'clock. The appointed place was a small dingy o.llce of a dilapidated build ing on New street. Cleland ex plained that It was tho office of a friend v ho dealt In curb stocks and was soldo n in, but allowed him free use of the place. The trio wore wait ing when Danr.y Roberts, carrying a suit ease, entered. He immediately took from tho case two packages, ex actly alike in appenranco and as to outer signs and seals. Quickly cutting one of them open, he disclosed largo bundles) of money. It took a half hour to count this out nnd ascertain that there was $30,000 In the lot. Fifteen thousand dollars In large bills wero placed In the hands of Danny, who hurried away.' In five minutes tho old Mils of perfectly good money WW COUNT THIS." were divided Into three packages of equal amounts and tied up into neat paper-bound parcels on the roll-top desk. .Just at that moment there was a knock on the locked door of the of tlee and Cleland slammed down tho top of the desk nnd kicked the waste paper underneath before ho went to answer the summons. "It was only a customer looking for my friend," he remarked, as he re turned und raised the top of the desk, disclosing the three neatly tied par cels. "Y'oii fellows had better take your bundles and separate. Wo will all meet at the hotel for dinner." Solomon and Floyd, acting like two conspirators, agreed to take separate conveyances uptown to their hotel and to meet there later and drink to their good luck. Two hours later, when Floyd had not put In appearHiiee. Solomon began to feel nervous. Ho was afraid some thins had happened to Floyd nnd Cle hind, but for another half hour he did not suspicion anything further, and then he suddenly decided to go to his room and investigate his newly acquired wealth. "Stung!" yelled Solomon when he undid the parcel and found a tightly bound package of tissue paper with a dollar bill on each outer side. "And 1 never once thought of the old greeo goods game!" tCopvUM. bv V. n. rimpriian.) lv.'oji Tlulii Ir Un it lit. tain.) Angel Paradise Dy Ccorge Edwin Hunt (Copyright, by J. H. Upplncott Co.) Lonesome Llnthleum ui.a I sat In comfortable leather chairs before the open fireplace in the dub rotundu. The talk had been of Paradise Paradise, Arizona, where Lonesome had spent some years as cow-puncher nnd miner before he made his stake. In his hand was a letter from Pig Pill Jerultian, an old comrade of those days, now known as the Hon. William Jernlgun, member of con gress from the sovereign state of Montaun. Lonesome was reminiscent, and when oLnesome is reminiscent it behooved his friends to keep silence nnd give heed. I knew my cue, and this story wns my reward: Tho Hon. William Jernlgan! Think of It! Old long-legged Pig Pill Jernl gan! Well, there's heaps worse ut Washington. Did I ever tell you about the time Pill and I made faces at each other? No? It hnppened at Paradise. You remember what Saturday was ut Paradise. Town full of punches and miners, the punchers and miners full of liquor and devilment, and tho bar tenders full of business. . PHI and I had been up all night, bucking Three Fingered Pete's furo game, nnd were far from well. Pill made the bets and I played look out for us. Things broke bnd, und along about ten o'clock In the morning we quit, nnd wero stand ing at the bar. Pill had u grouch on more than a foot thick, nnd at thnt I think mine had his bent a block. So It was Just perfectly natural that noth ing cither of us said would suit tho other. I expressed a desire for corned beef hash and red pepper for break fast, and what Pill said about my gastronomic ideas was scandalous. Thru Pill said he saw a fellow In a stock company In Denver tho winter before that was a better actor than I'M win lioolh. I never know Kdwln Pooth, but I resented Pill's slur on his memory most deeply. Finally. Pill said he could rope, throw nnd tie more steers in ten minutes, j'lan'any man in Arizona, and that settled It. Stood There a Moment, Calmly Sur veying Things. I retorted some acrimonious. Pill was not polite. Diplomatic relations were busted, and one of us called the other a liar. I don't remember which one It was, but that makes no difference now. , The room was full of the tyoys, some playing cards arid Bouie at the bar, where Three Fingered Pete and Dutch Henry were 'serving drinks. When Pill and I stepped back 'and dropped our hands to our guns, they all respected our feelings nnd acted according. Dutch and Pete flopped to the floor behind the bar. Seven or eight of the boys broke for the safe. Now, make no mistake but you won't, because you knew those boys. They wasn't afraid; you couldn't scaro those fellows. Put they had sense. If Pill and I had a difference of opinion, that was our business, not theirs. And If we wanted to settle it by shooting holes In each other, that also was our business. So they durked. I knew there wasn't any use trying to fool around and shoot Pill in the leg or arm. I'd seen Pill shoot when he thought he had to shoot, and under those circumstances Pill shot straight and quick, mind you, mighty quick. So I decided the only thing that would leave me behind to herd the elusive maverick nnd eat the base born hominy and hog was to beat him to it, and I had a sneaking notion that I was just a little bit quicker on the draw and pull than he was. We stood there maybe ten seconds it seemed to me like un hour look ing each other in the eye, both crazy mad. Well, my nerves would have twisted up In little knots in about live seconds more, and I would have prob ably done something foolish and Hill would have potted me. but Just before I blew up a voice at the saloon door said: "Hello!" roft and sweet, and "retardo" on the "lo." Now, if that had been a man's voice neither of us would have paid any attention to It, or else we would have both turned in and licked the everlasting duylights out of him for Interfering with two gentlemen who were trying to settle a scientific differ enceaccording to how mad we were. Put it wasn't. On the contrary, quite the reverse. I saw Pill's glance waver, nnd I knew Pill couldn't phoot a man that wasn't looking, any more than he could weur a stiff collar; so, my curi osity being some aroused, 1 turned toward the door. I almost hate to tell you, it was so lovely. There on the tor steu. Just Inside the screen door, was the sweet est, cleanest, prettiest girl bab you ever saw. All dressed up In a white lawn suit, with a blue sash, white half-hose that showed her dimpled knees and fat little legs, white shoes, and a white bonnet with a lace frill around the front, tied under her dim pled chin with a big white ribbon. (ee! but she was the prettiest little thing thnt ever struck Arizona, bar none. I took one look and said: "Angel, angel!" You see, I went daffy at once. "Hollo!" she repeated as she looked round the room. "It Is a game? Oh I see. I spy!" Then she puddled over to the end of the bar, pointed one fat little finger at Pap Johnson behind the ice-box, shouted gleefully: "I spy!" nnd ran to Pill Jernlgan. She slapped old PHI on his chap-covered legB and said: "One, two, free for you! Now you are It! All the reB' is home free." Then sho threw both arms around Pill's left leg and waited for the boys to come "home." Y'ou ought to have seen Pill. He looked at me sort of dazed like, then looked down at the baby, then looked away far off some where, and Bald In a faint whisper: "Well, I'm darned!" And if he said It once he said it 20 times. Just stood there like a human hitching post and phonograph combined and said: "Well, I'm darned!" The boys all gathered round from their safety corners, looking as sheep- tsh as if tho teacher had caught them chewing gum, but I was too much in terested In Angel to pay any atten tion to them then. I always was fond of dogs and children and things like that. I knelt down, so as to get some where nenr on a level with that little white bonnet, nnd asked: "Whose little girl are you, honey?" "Mamma's," was the prompt reply. "I'd bet a stack of blue on that," said I. "Put what's your name?" "Anna Louise, thank you." "You're welcome. All right. I'll believe that, even. Anna Louise goes with me, but Anna Louise what?" "Nulnn. Jes' Anna Louise." "And where is mamma?" "Oh, she's right over there;" and she waved her hand vaguely around to embrace 'most three-quarters of the compass. Then Bhe proposed breath lessly: "Le'B play 'Lunnon Bridge." It's the mos'est fun!" We told her we would like to but thnt wo hud forgotten how. Pill then Bwung her up on the bar and gravely asked her w hat shj would have to drink.. She wanted soda-water and we all took the same, although some of the boys objected. When tho drinks were all In hand I got on a chair and made an eloquent, ornate and highly popular speech, in which 1 said that never before had I seen the wisdom of naming bur thriving municipality "Paradise,"' and that at times it had Beemed to me the party or parties naming It must have gotten mixed on their Scripture or else have waxed sarcastic; but that now a great light, the bright white light of truth, had busted in on my alleged Intellect, and Illuminated the Inmost recesses of an ever sluggish mind ("Hear, hear!" from the boys). An Angel had come to Paradise, I said, a sweet little angel straight . from heaven, or St. Louis, or somewhere. Her given name might be Anna Louise, as she told us, but it so It was a mis take. - Angel she wns. und An eel she must be. And inasmuch as she had no other name, according to her own statement, a statement I presumed no gentleman present would doubt (loud cries of "No, no!" from the boys). I took the liberty of giving her the name of the fair city she had honored with her presence, and proposed a toast to "Angel Paradise." Well, you never saw a toast excite such enthusiasm certainly not one drunk In Bodu-watcr. As we finished the drink, the door opened with some violence, and a chap rushed In, clad in spats, a white waist coat, a stiff collar, a derby hat, and some other useless outer habiliments. His glance fell on Angel, and he yelped: "Me child, me child!" Angel Btood there on the bar, wav ing a chubbv .and. and said: "Hello Iop!" ' After he had calmed down, he In troduced himself as Mr. Haw thorne of. Boston, who was touring Arizona for his wife's health. Ho explained they had stopped at the Cowboy's Retreat for a few hours' rest, and Angel had. wandered away. So Pill turned to Angel and Bald: "Come, sister, get on my shoulder, and it's us for mamma." Then he swung Angel up and strode out of the saloon. Papa introduced us to mamma nnd explained we were friends of his that bad found Angel and looked after her. They were Just starting for Tucson la the hotel surry, and we were soon forced to say good by to our little Angel Paradise. The blessed little baby patted old Pill on the cheek and said: "I love 'oo," and then, seelug I looked disappointed, which I was, Bhe graciously said: "An" 'oo, too. An' all of 'oo," as she took us all In with a wave of the hand. And the last we saw of her she was flirting mamma's handkerchief from tho back of the surrey as it disappeared in the dust around the bend. On our way back to Pete's, BUI put his arm around my shoulders and Bald: J "Lonesome, I'm some fond of red pepper on hash myself." 1 grinned a little and he went on: ','And Iorfeaome, como to think II over, that follow was a rotten bad actor, anyhow." We had reached Pete's and wera just going In when ho squeezed me a ilttlo: "Furthermore, Lonesome, when I wus talkln' about ropln' steers I ex cepted you In my mind all the time." And we never did finish that fltfhA rv