The evening world. Newspaper, February 12, 1915, Page 17

CAPTAIN VELVET'S GAMBLE] "Liound With | Yate mn 9 Peay % ree e ven fTTING in the cuter Garkness, the Gnake ané Wiitiem Ryan 'f it conferred at length and to no end at all. They were stilt when the doors th followed bis. Primarily, there was a. massive, tow-headed person, clad as a sallor- man all In white, who lumbered to the car and stood there, waiting for the more moderately built, tow- "ended person, similarly clad, but tn blue, who rolled after him. Captain Velvet motioned the larger to the seat beside the Suake, He en- fered it and caused the car to rock @ little, and then, murmuring pleas- tly in an unfamiliar tongue, folded great hand: d shifted his feet aller companion could T emerged with a little, very dark eallor, also uniformed in white, and just now Waving his bands and sputtering un- ¢ ble words. im they tucked between them in _ fe back, while Captain Velvet re- ected aloud: ‘eDwe Swedes and one Kyetalian— they ain't what I'd ‘a’ picked with but I can make ‘em do. es, “Go on with the scheme, é “Do you know where to locate Doc Steyr” pursued the lender phd urs e ¥ [the swell con mant” asked Will- “Take the car. Go te Wiltsvilic e Doc. Say that I want cnet hima at Wittavilie this after. § o'clock sharp. Andrews with him. ‘him to bring all the money he can lay hands ‘on, and tell him, in addition, that he'll bring home roeety, dollars for every dollar he brings. him that that 1s absolutely straight. H® the back! lows me!” nae 1 do, Robby?” asked Ryan. t to the stable and @addie Lizette for me,” ordered the ‘master mind... to the club for a while.” ‘The two departed on their errands. At the club Pollard singled out @ jorting man of wealth. Posty dear Mr. Bittington,” he said 4m an undertone, “I can tell you post- tively that Captain Velvet sent one ~faundred thousand dollars to his bet- ting commissioners inst night to be bet on the Lavinia to-morrow, up ‘or anywhere else. That's a ee- ‘eret, of course, but"—— ‘anxious “fed bet all was so 0 privately at the club last night, en?” “The captain told me last night,’ Pollard, “the ae pee] the vinia isn’t known al a id ts that she hasn't been sailed ly or rigged properly. He swore —and I’ve never known him to fail in his judgment of a boat—that before to-morrow morning he'd have her in pass anything of her class eo sure that he'll do it could “Well-—wait till the last minute, gen. and take all the money In her. There be q@rowd at the club, but goa sums of money eaet Nonenese was lazy, ‘The A yeader the trio quite un oe « Pollard, indeed, icative. after a ti for a long Evid of the boatman, down by the @ock. |, bi ing contentedly, Bie reterast, yoo Lg ges the car for his ride to Wilts- Siiens ries uneventful in every and ending with the sight of Bee etere's white vest In front of the office. "the eeif-atyled doctor greeted Mr. Pollard with hts usual benevolent wgrevity, wringing his hand and q over bi borrow from them. with Spike Andrews, cast of coummen sens re ne somewhat 0! 5 Ms ted kim too; and the felt that he wi bout to learn devilment afoo' Ne erred. Mr. Pollard, with one ‘arm through Doc Peters’s and the ether through that of Mr. Andrews, far up a country lane. ne until the sun had drop behind the hills, Then the too self-contained leader of the trio beside the car and said: » ““Just slip me that roll of money ‘without attracti ttention, Jim. “Ropby"— the Snake began faint- 1” smiled Mr. Pollard id, ly ine white- au oo . handed Foote man, “That's twenty that Al ted iT Pet aves OO TeS eee ae ‘to lose!” emiled Doc 7 ¥ - was very gloomy. But. to-morrow we CHAPTER Xill. The Day of Days. IGHT Grifted by slowly into the golden glow of a new Gay's eunrise. All nature seemed to be In tune; and the frequently turbulent soul of Robert Pollard appeared to be in tune as well, for the Snake heard him singing in the next room. fag to his side just as Mr. Pollard Duttoned the second of bis two clean collars. “Robby,” he said, “I don’t know what's afoot and I don’t know just what you and Doo were fixing yee- terday and I don’t know any of the Getails; but there's something aasty coming off here!” “Twas read! the cards and—" ‘Do— the cards.” There was nothing bu! and th ions . and Bill standing in "en— but let it ‘go at that!” now has nocent to do oy Bi maybe, bat—Willy the Weasel just wane tare these grounds!” “Willy the Weasel. You'kaow bim little, “I know the fellow,” be said. “It's too bad, but it will do ope arn. probably tipped im to the good we have to-day.” . guy bas shot four men in the Saake. “Never mind, #0 long as he doesn’t shoot you in the badk,” chuckled Mr. Sati tt parnn eire ish Brute, entered, 4i4 not return bis leader's welcoming amile. Instead, his face was long as be came nearer and whispered “Robby, whatever this is you've got on, don’t you know better thaa call in Cotes Enea o° Hatchet MoCarty’s?” @own Leb aw went, The 8; in. o the old scoundrel heard over the wit \kfast.” ci Velvet diem: and if the elderty adventurer had been aboll with enthusiasm yee- terday, his calm this morning was lit- pomething so languid about him. in 01 2 im, fact, that after a time Mr. Pollard dasarded “You're not excited, captain?” “I never get excited over a sure thing, Robby.” ped ‘ou're Send corgatn that you're ing to win, then’ Captain Velvet stretched his power- ful legs beneath the tabi “T always win, Robby,” he said placidly. “I don't want you to bet om the Lavinia.” 've nothing to bet, sir,” returned master mind in sad e . ‘That's just so much the better, Robby, the captain informed him- with his kindly smile, “because when you see what you might have won the Lavinia if you hadn't gambled foolish before, it'll be such a tess on gambling in general that you'll let all of it alone in future.” He wagwed his head soberly at Mr. Poliard, and Mr. Pollard nodded.. “Where you going to watch the race, Robby?” eal thought wi a tase, te car and ind a place on the sround, up near the club somewhere.” “Then start early and get a good location,” chuckled the captain, “be- cause I'm going to show these how to sail! And it'll be worth watching, too. I don't suppose ‘'. @ man in the world can get the speed out of a boat that I can. Look at ‘em out there now, jockeying around and altering things at the moment! *"Tain't more'n eight mow, and that fitty-footer race doesn’t start till ‘ ! There was the strangest tighten!: of Mr, Pollard’s lips as he vied ‘But you're not i time ta ware, cht You ‘havent changed Lr be gh Get under way, if thie breene i 2 Give HimtheRightNumber!! :::: dust about the time they‘re all won- dering if I've dropped dead, And I'l! @0 ever that etarting line inside of two seconds, one way or the other, o the time their starting cannon shoots off. That'll give ‘em something to talk about when I’m gone!” Tavoluntarily a little sigh of relief tobert Pollar@. The Snake, high- keyed this morning, noted the sigh and mentioned it when they had left the table. He brought from Mr. Pol- lard the first really brilliant smile of the morning. “That blasted old fool's habit doing the spectacular thing is w! going to make us all rich, Jim!” he “I was half afraid be'd get nervous and slide out to the boat after all.” “So you just rustle that car around and we'll find the comfortable spot,” added Mr. Pollard. ‘it was all beyond the Snake—just as it was all beyond William Ryan. He obeyed; and with his leader wav- an 4ffectionate farewell to Capt. ve t, on the veranda, sent the car down the drive and out of sight of the house. Lost for the time in a mase of speculation, the Snake found himself fuddenly, for Mr. Pollard’s fingers had settled on his shoulder, and the lately smiling face that appeared over the same shoulder was drawn into tense white lines. “You dig straight for the village. Look for a sign that says ‘Parker— Boats to Let,’ and go down that alley to hid the dock.” “But’ end of ick!" said Mr. Pollard. ello, Ike!” the Spanish Brute lied unexpectedly as he half rose \d_ waved a large hand. “What the devil are you doing?” their leader snapped. “Why—calling to ‘Rummy _ Ik Smith,” stammered William Ry: See him?” the green the Snake I Squinting across their own tereswatie) property and to the field ‘ond. Mr. Pollard, shading his eyes, and sat down. Beyond the gas wall half a dosen hands waved to » them, and their owners hurried on. “Yes, and that red headed Bow and little Joe Levy are with them be contributed, getting breathless. “Why—they’ the leaders of the Tin r ie Sn too, had risen and con- trived 2 field glass with his closed hands, raking the far, shady side of distant field. “There's a regular chowder-party parade of Tin-Dippers over beyond!” he cried. “What in blazes are they doing up here?” “Because—I tell you on the level, Robby,” put in the Spanish Brute hastily, “I don't ecare easy, but I don't want to mix up anything with that Tin-Dippe: crowd. Every poor guy they've ever started to get—they it! Now, if” Mr. Pollard shook himself together with an effort. “They've nothing to do with u:! he snapped. “Go on there, Snak Into the briliiant road they went then, and down it toward the little village a mile or more away. Carriages d them, and cars ‘and men on prancing saddle-horses, coming from a distance and heading for the country club and its yacht club annex. Superbly dressed people bowed to Robert Pollard, and Mr. Pol- lard, bowing in return, had all but re- gained his composure when the car slowed down and James Evans cried Tony’ Well, will you took at Tony S| dono!” vociferated the Spanish and a little, dark, Sam, berm spgearing person, jy dressed showing his white teeth, came out of the dust and stood orld Da s+ Rr somewhat strained. er—hear about it?” “Through 2 Doo," grinned the little @aid you'd given it to him straight.’ ‘And who's this bunch coming?” baths aye apna yg % “Just_ some e crowd,” . Mr. Spidello answered A “They wanted to get a little plece of change down, you know. ona you see this race good?” “How 414 you “Go—down near the water!” Robert ! Pollard said thickly. “You'd better hustle now, Jim.” The car moved on. Mr. Pollard’ hands, clenched tight, rested upon his knees and he breathed heavily. The Spanish Brute's smile faded slowly, for as they bowled along a line of ‘well dressed young men stepped out of the road to let them pase—and standing thus, the well dressed men grinned and shouted and wa) their hands until the scene looked almost like a popular demonstration of some sort. And then they too were behind and the Spanish Brute was asking: “Say! Is every crook in New York up here to-day?” “I don't know," said Mr. Pollard, staring ahead. “Well, every gunman is!” the Snake informed them, plainly disturbed, “Did you see that gang of Tony's?” “Yes.” His leader was bitter, “There ain't a cop in New York City’ go through Tony's district alone after dark!” said the Spanish Brute. “They go in pairs after 6, and some- times only one gets through the trip on his feet. And when @ crowd like that gets into a place like this, I wanter blow so fast that"—— The Snake slowed down before a pretty white house with # picket tong and green shutters. “That was Dick and Pareons Larry we just passed,” he stated. “I didn't yy; know their time was up.” “They were pardoned last week,” muttered the Spanish Brute. “Say, “and they got fifteen ra for shooting up @ man that off the BER, by accident,” began the Melee said Mr. Pollard in r, words trickled coldly down Ja spine. “I don't know wi! of all this, and it's none of my goln, but it doesn't affect us—and ff yor stop once more between here and Par- ker’s dock there'll be.some shooting in this car that'll get me more than fif- teen years, believe me! The car, therefore, did not stop again until they had rolled down the alley and to Parker's dock, Doc Peters was waiting there, all alone. He expanded his white vest and beamed benevolently on Mr. Pol- lard, while he Lage | his hand with customary fervor and purred: “It's all fixed, Tobby. Spike's out », there in the launch, waiting with six of the boys, and I had all of 'm dolled up in white clothes so they wouldn't look different from the swell bunch, Now as to"-——- Robert Pollard’s tongue leaped into action, “What the name of Heaven have you done’ he 4. “Hare you Upped off every desperate criminal within fifty miles of York? Have you dumped the whole visible supply of gunmen down on this town to queer the game? What?" ‘The doctor, who was not fluatered, stared over the water and smiled “"Tisn't as bad as that, Robby,” he said softly. “I tipped off one or two, and—why, yes, it looks to if they might have passed the word to a couple more of the boys. No harm done.” “There isn't, eh?” choked Mr. Pol- With an effort he controfied low many crooks are up rubbed his fat op ements § ily Magazine. F 4: Tere Austere t, 1018, Ané this time Doo Peters faced im, bland and innocent. ch Set eer aan et Ee my yword—just got how and they wanted to come in on it.. Why not? They're good fellows, tor, wt" a “Well, I'll tell you,” beamed Mr. Peters. “Some of the boys had a roll, and them that didn’t got on uick it night. Some of ‘em all night collecting the little iron men and putting them up in nice stacks to o bet with the swells. I put it to ‘om straight that all winnings had to be OoRy Taree ways and you got yours.” “And now, Robby, you quit worry- ing!" Doo Peters said kindly. “There's your dinky rowboat and you're losing time. I've got five men—and Dia- mond Lew Morris is them, @o you know they're right! got five men over at your country club and thereabouts, and the last I beard was that they’d managed to get down 7 Vand at odds.” o “And how much ie—every penny Mr. Pollard asked throatily. Tho white-vested criminal emiled a fat aie “Well, I don’t want to get you ex- cited, Robby,” he eaid. ut the boys must bave ‘way ‘over a hundred thousand dollars down by this time, tense ay Jast lad put down his whole roll.” He beamed at Mr. Pollard, and Mr. Pollard, returning the beam with an entirely different expression, did not epeak. Instead, he stepped down the small ladder to the little landing stage =a, yoy oe bedyrod ba the row- re, cated arther with a brief: my “Unhitch You'll row.’ The Spanish Bruite obeyed silently. ir, Evans, who had started thri epeak, shut bis teeth and stepped after him—and Mr. Pollard was with them and pushing off quickly. “Go away out, Bill, and then up,” he said simply. “And then come around to the far side of the yacht.” ‘What yacht?” demanded the Spanish Brute. “Our yacht, of course.” “But Mr. Pollard glanced toward the shore; the gap was widening under a) wane Prunes pewertul strokes, t jer’s voice dropped very low and he spoke swiftly: sas Us “Now you're out here and you can't throw a fit without drowning, so I'll give you the whole thing in mighty few words,” he smiled, “This time we're going to Vel and this is how we're going to do it: The old man’s half crazy on this seafar- ing stuff; once he gets the wheel of that yacht in his hands he hasn't an- other thought on earth. And ouce ‘s actually sailing that race he'd never know it if the yacht caught fire under him!” “I don't believe it Evans with tremendous conviction, “IT believe it, because I know It; T've studdied that old demon pretty carefully, and I know! Get the drift of this tiilng now?" “No.” “We'll go aboard on the off-shore sido of the thing—stick up that comic opera crew with our guns; get into their clothes so that Velvet cun't see the change from the shore; dump all three of them into the launch Spike we took their places there'll be no time for argument. He'll have to bie race with us or quit, and up, too erled the Spanish Brute, rowing. Capt. Velvet has both his mind on a eae fore veaing Worth) aid James » SSN me riday, “February 12; By Robert Minor “Ana and they'll all Make money gsoun weit cash we rough shouldn't buy in England or for good!" Tt was all utterlv astounding, of course. Had it come from another man, William Ryan and the Snake ‘would have headed promptly for shore and deposited that other man on solid fFa'aid for bie troubled brain, Yet in apite of rene writhe mentally as they might, there was that about Robert Pollard just now which held them fast—a mystic, com- pelling force, a strange variety personal m: lam that emana' from him, gildin, convincing realism and shooting them into two minds like so many glitter- ing gems! ‘The leader's eyes were spappiag, too, just as they had snapped a hun- dred times before when victory was pinioning above the trio; his keen, nee suntle Was fastened on them, and— “Can we—put that over?” the fas- ted Snake asked breathlessly. pit it over with such a slam that this Dillionaire crew‘ll be telling their great grandchildren about it fifty years from now,” eald Mr. Pollard, 7 team-work—and a Ut- a ib in Doo Peters; an her and get in, Bin, “red a hd was plentifully sprinkled with craft, big and little, this morn- ing; yet the trio attracted small at- tention and no reci ition at all. For one thing, most other vessels afloat were moving swiftly under eail or power; for another, interest was cen- tered at the yacht club landing, off which two bemutiful little v of the Lavinia type were gliding up and trio the Lavinia her- ahead, motionless and with three tiny figures walking the deck. ‘Willlam Ryan, having studied her position, bent his back, and for @ long time conversation ‘In the row- boat was limited to the swift, dis- jointed low-toned remarks of the Bnake and Robert Pollard, They e abreast of the Lavinia, not more than a quarter-mile off ashore, and turned in her direction, moving lazily, Behind them a bi, launch swirled up and passed an while not one of the white-flanneled figures so much a! humbler craft, the Snake started violently and asked: “Hey! Hell-Fire McTeague's tn that “T specified him, emiled Mr. Pollard “You're not-—not going to have that crew killed, Robby?" “They'll jet ve removed Island in our clot! "maid the Jeader, “Well—here ad There was the merest suspicion of @ tremor in his voice as they drew alongside the Lavinia’s little ladder. A large tow head appeared at the rail, stared and then smiled; a smaller one followed and then a very dark head—and being courteous sailor men the crew assisted Mr. Pol- lard and his friend: ourd, ‘he large person You ban going sail race, too, sir?” ‘We certainly ban going, Olaf,” eaid Mr. Pollard. His revolver flashed for the fraction of a second and then settled squarely on the large person's stomach. “You get down that companion lad- Ger in three seconds or you're a dead man—and don't yell!” t, “Yi Dan”— the migh o. gteped, "and bis bands Tose rose 1" gald the leader, and the among other io Long * sai ect fot ts TE. 1915 | BY RANDALL PAR ‘Word itself was like a shot. The gigantic one obeyed, staggering 2 F € i : F 3 2 i i efy 2 HE i ‘ H mM i g ; F j f : i 3 i i if a fl ij an i E : i F i : i g sit g Fy fal “1 i 4 5 £ i = i i i H 3 B g E f i é |! u i : ; i E i “E in A yor ia y way we could lose thie race, crowd like that come 3 ‘bot thelr his wild words with bi CHAPTER XIV. Vigdory! EAB the cannen shooting!” @attered the Gnake. “They'll never Bit him!” The Spanish Brute ‘was gloomy. “That's one of the starting guss, you dias! fool!” cried Mr, Pollard. “Get over here, where he’s not likely to see us before he actually comes aboard!” He herded them to the Lavinia’s Port rail and looked shoreward again. Things were even better than he had dared to hppe. The boatman was with Capt. Velvet now, to take back the little craft, but the captain him- self rowed and his broad back was equarely toward them, The guiding mind, therefore, was calm and smiling as he aid: “Leave every bit of the talking to me, unless it seems necessary to con- firm something I say. We're the crew of this boat until and going like everything he saya! we're well started I'll give the signal by taking off my hat. I'll get close to him first, and you come after me, Bill, to ask something or other—in fact, you and Jim had better etart an argument of gome sort and come after me to settle it. That's the idea. Watch me take off my hat and smooth in, and we o! And as per-4 in “Then I'll be in command here,” chuckled Mr. Pollard, “Hush!” They hushed but too willingly. There were thoughts within both of them that could nave been uttered to no good purpose just then. They looked at one another, did the Rneke and William Ryan, with wide, frightened eyes; then, each observi the stare of the other, they smil ghastly encouragement and spent king at and admiring d's calm. y, as those few minutes passed, Pollard lolled against the rail, glancing up for a second only now and then, to note the position of the comer. A boat scraped the starboard side of the Lavinia. There came a hearty: “All right, Joe, Thanks! G'-by!"* And Capt. Velvet had clambered to abt ae g 5 Lal 5 Fremtceliy; nn ones enptala wr YOU wee that? Did you ase e gets under way ont cre e know it?” the 1d hig, volce » \ "Grigya'd not!” snapped the leader, ‘They grinned. at Ho surveyed them for @ and sour. TI ae Rwelle we've: mictiea!” said with significance. “So now we—do It?" ried faintly. The master caressed: | smooth chin. nine the deck, and Robert Pollard was gun stepping forward quickly. Now, @ dosen feet from the et: elderly adventurer, he cried wil great dramatic effect: “Captain! The crew bas deserted!” Capt. Velvet should have started back aghast; should have leaped into rage a bis ent the crew, and bewled about them. of that, after a aret