Part 37 (1/2)

The boy would have interrupted, but Langdon motioned him to keep silent, and proceeded:

”You see, if it leaked out an' we'd won a lot of money over The Dutchman, d.a.m.n fools would say that I'd been at the bottom of it; an'

if they had me up in front of the Stewards I couldn't swear that I'd had nothing to do with it.”

He pulled a sheet of paper from his pocket, held it in front of Shandy's eyes, and said: ”What did you write that letter for?”

The boy stared in blank amazement. He trembled with fear; it was the warning note he had sent to Crane.

”Now if I was to show that to Faust he'd put a pug on to do you up, see?

I wouldn't give three cents for your carca.s.s after they'd finished with you.”

”I didn't mean nothin', s' help me G.o.d, I didn't,” pleaded the boy; ”give it back to me, sir.”

”You can take it, only don't play me the double cross no more. If you're doin' anything crooked, don't mix me up in it. You couldn't get into Porter's stable, anyway, if you tried to fix the mare.”

”I didn't say I was goin' to do no bloomin' job; but I could get in right enough.”

”Well, I ain't puttin' you next no dirty work, but if you hear that the mare gets this horse sickness that's goin' about, let me know at once, see? Come here quick. If Faust got a chance to lay against the mare he probably wouldn't say anythin' about that note, if he did know.”

”I'll give you the office, sir, when she's took sick.”

”That's right. You ain't got any too many friends, Shandy, an' you'd better stick to them that'll help you.”

”Do I get that five hundred, sure?”

”If Lucretia don't beat The Dutchman, you get it.”

When the boy had gone Faust came forth from his hiding like a badger.

”That's a bad boy--a wicked boy!” he said, pulling a solemn face.

”You're a good man, Langdon, to steer him in the straight an' narrer path. He'll take good care of The Dutchman for that five hundred.”

”Yes, if you don't pay these kids well they'll throw you down; an' I ain't takin' no chances, Faust.”

”The Porter mare might catch the influenza, eh, d.i.c.k?”

”If she does, I'll let you know at once, Jake. But I ain't in it. I threatened to kick that kid out when he hinted at something crooked.”

”I heard you, Langdon, I'll take my oath to that. But I must be off now.

You know where to find me if there's anything doin'.”

XXVIII

The next day, intent on persuading Porter to accept the money won over Diablo, Crane took a run down to Ringwood farm.

As Allis had foreshadowed, his visit was of no avail, so far as Porter's acceptance of the winnings was concerned.

With natural forethought Crane first talked it over with Mrs. Porter, but that good lady would have felt a sort of moral defilement in handling any betting money, much less this that seemed obscured in uncertainty as to its rightful owners.h.i.+p. She believed very much in Crane's bona fides, and had no doubt whatever but his statement of the case was absolutely truthful. But Allis had refused to accept the money; it would never do for her to go beyond her daughter's judgment. She even thought it unadvisable for Crane to discuss the matter with her husband; it would only worry him, and she was positive that, in his pride of independence, he would refuse to touch a penny that was not actually due him.