Holworthy Hall

“ The pool-room hasn't got the flash that they've started! They will take bets! Over hustles a man with a wad to put down on the horse that won! My friend waits until it's a cinch—then he clicks on his key, 'They're off!' Pool-room quits taking bets! A minute and forty seconds later my friend clicks off the winners! Don't you get it yet?"
"I do!" cried Sadie excitedly. "Say—put down a dollar ninety-eight for me, will you?"
"What do I need money for?" chortled Sewall. "Why—if we could get a good one, say, a thousand to one shot—"
"Or three or four medium ones," said McHenry thoughtfully. ”

“ Green, pounding the table with his fat fist to show sincerity. "Now, here's the idea—"
"Oh, wait a minute!" begged Sewall, trying to act as though the thought had just arrived. "Is it honest?"
Florence and Myrtle and Sadie simultaneously reached for their glasses. Sadie strangled, but the others were in time.
"Honest? Sure! Why, look here! These books are all crooked! You know that as well as I do! They lay odds, and even up things so they're bound to win! Is that honest? No! Well. ... I say that when a guy is out to do you, it's honest to do him, if you can get there first! That's all. ”

“ Mr. Green said they were dear old friends from socially prominent New York families, but that was after Myrtle had confessed to McHenry that she lived on West Twenty-Third Street. Still, cloak models happen in the best regulated families of society!
At any rate they dined together, as they had enjoyed the day together, at Mr. Green's expense; and it wasn't until the liqueurs were served that Sewall was able to remove his gaze from Sadie's hat, which was a marvelous confection composed of a velvet layer-cake, of the color of grape-juice, adorned with an ostrich feather and three limes. ”

“ What's the fun of coming to New York on a gebee unless it costs too much?"
"Well, we could have stayed at a cheaper joint, and saved a lot of these fool tips, and had more money to spend on the party—"
"You talk like a farmer," stated McHenry, boldly attacking his grape-fruit. "Don't you know by this time that you never have enough to spend on the party, no matter how much of a tight-wad you are on the incidentals? Besides, look at the company we're in!"
"I think he was out too late last night," retorted Sewall, inclining his head towards the only other occupant of the café. ”

“ Green, as soon as the waiter was out of hearing. "You'd get the same odds as you could at the track, and you'd get the returns over the wire—"
"That's a lot better than wasting time at the Bay," declared Sadie vivaciously. "I'd bet on a turtle race—but I'd hate to watch it."
"Let's take a shot at it," suggested McHenry. "I don't want to kill another day dodging automobile traps—I like action!"
"You're a true sport," proclaimed Mr. Green. "That's one grand little thing about you Chicago boys—you're real sports, and if there's any man I like, it's a real sport! ”

“ I'm proud to know you!"
"Where does the money come in?" demanded Florence.
"Simply this—" Again he swept the terrace for possible eavesdroppers. "Yesterday I ran across a man I once helped out of a hole—an old telegraph operator—and he's got the only sure thing in the world! You swear you'll never breathe a word of this?" They all swore it cheerfully. "Wire tapping!" said Mr. Green, in a voice barely above a whisper.
"Thought that was what they use to signal from cell to cell in the jail," said Sewall, tossing a silver dollar to a small newsboy who ventured to approach them. ”

“ She wasn't at all like the magazine pictures of New York society girls, she was obviously of the other side of life, but as she stood there holding McHenry's hand, and meeting his gaze squarely, there was something in her expression which convinced, and sobered him. He said to himself that she couldn't be more than eighteen or nineteen years old, and a couple of seasons ago she must have been very pretty ... and here she was telling him, as plainly as her eyes could convey the information, that he was a very nice young man, and that she liked him, and didn't want him to make any mistakes. ”

“ He gave the head-waiter five dollars for reserving a corner table, and when Sadie said she didn't like his tie, he sent another messenger to a haberdasher's across the street to buy half a dozen new ones, and retired downstairs to don the one which Sadie liked. Sewall sat stupefied, and thought of Bloomingdale, and Matteawan, and Waverly.
"Well, boys and girls," began Mr. Green at last. "We'd ought to be moving. First race in half an hour. Now—we men go over to the room, see? Two of us are pikers—it wouldn't look right if three of us laid big wagers on one race. ”

“ I haven't seen a kid like you for so long—the worst of us have good days, you know—Murphy's a Catholic—I've seen him come back from confession with the tears rolling down his face, swearing he'd turn straight—that's all—I liked you! ”

“ Scared freshman comes in for a subscription to the track team—hand him a hundred—"
"Oh, you can't fool anybody with that stuff!"
"You bet I can! People aren't as smart as you think they are! And then on the general proposition—well, it's the first time I've been in New York for two years, and I don't care if they charge me a nickel a breath, I'll pant all I want to!"
"Shut up. Pep! That guy—"
"You're too blamed conceited, old top! He wasn't listening—there! he's going out." McHenry poured his third cup of coffee. ”

“ He chuckled. "I'm a little shy myself, boys—the wires may not be working well yet, you know—we'll soon find out. And then—"
"By gosh!" said McHenry suddenly, "if I could double my wad, I'd buy that Packard!"
"Double it? My boy—well, we'll see! Now who's game for a good show?"
"I'm not," said Pepper, yawning. "We've been traveling a long time—I want to get some sleep!"
"Same here," said Sewall.
Mr. Green and the girls looked disappointed. ”

“ So—we all go in, and bet ten dollars on the first race. Then we wait for the word. My telegraph friend's going to hang on for a big one—five or six to one shot—and when it comes, he'll send a pal of his over to us. I know the pal—he comes in, goes up to the grill, planks down his money, and makes his bet. The one of us who handles the big money's right behind him. You get it, do you? Not a word exchanged—nothin' suspicious—the pal makes a bet, and we follow. ”

“ He lighted one of the cigars, and stowed the others away for Sewall.
"You're fortunate, sir!"
"If you call it fortunate to have to come to this bush town for a party," admitted McHenry. "Still—" Again the florid gentleman laughed easily.
"I'm not very familiar with New York myself," he alleged. "I'm much more at home in Chicago. My firm has a branch office there. I'm a broker—"
"Yes?" McHenry wanted to rejoin Ted Sewall, but he didn't like to be rude. ”

“ Green. "You're a real sport, my boy—true son of your father! And Gad! how I love a true sport!" But by this time McHenry was so sure of himself that he didn't need Miss Myrtle's hand under the table to tell him that the stage was being set for the grand climax. All that disturbed him was that he and Sewall had to stay over another day.
IV
They were to lunch at one. At half-past twelve McHenry, still coaxing his nonplussed friend, paid the hotel bill, had the suit-cases checked at the Grand Central, and bought tickets for Boston on the three o'clock. ”