the man who could not lose-第4节

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but　twenty　dollars　plus　a　hundred　could　keep　us　alive　for　a　month！〃

〃Did　you；　or　did　you　not；　dream　that　Dromedary　would　win？〃　demanded
Dolly　sternly。

〃I　certainly　did；　several　times；〃　said　Carter。　〃But　it　may　be　I　was
thinking　of　the　horse。　I've　lost　such　a　lot　on　him；　my　mind　may
have〃

〃Did　you；〃　interrupted　Dolly；　〃say　if　you　had　a　hundred　dollars
you'd　bet　it；　and　did　a　hundred　dollars　walk　in　through　the　door
instantly？〃

Carter；　reassured；　breathed　again。　〃　It　certainly　did！〃　he
repeated。

Even　in　his　proud　days；　Carter　had　never　been　able　to　bet　heavily；
and　instead　of　troubling　the　club…house　commissioners　with　his
small　wagers；　he　had；　in　the　ring；　bet　ready　money。　Moreover；　he
believed　in　the　ring　he　obtained　more　favorable　odds；　and；　when　he
won；　it　pleased　him；　instead　of　waiting　until　settling　day　for　a
check；　to　stand　in　a　line　and　feel　the　real　money　thrust　into　his
hand。　So；　when　the　fourth　race　started　he　rose　and　raised　his　hat。

〃The　time　has　come；〃　he　said。

Without　looking　at　him；　Dolly　nodded。　She　was　far　too　tremulous　to
speak。

For　several　weeks　Dromedary　had　not　been　placed；　and　Carter　hoped
for　odds　of　at　least　ten　to　one。　But；　when　he　pushed　his　way　into
the　arena；　he　found　so　little　was　thought　of　his　choice　that　as
high　as　twenty　to　one　was　being　offered；　and　with　few　takers。　The
fact　shattered　his　confidence。　Here　were　two　hundred　book…makers；
trained　to　their　calling；　anxious　at　absurd　odds　to　back　their
opinion　that　the　horse　he　liked　could　not　win。　In　the　face　of　such
unanimous　contempt；　his　dream　became　fantastic；　fatuous。　He　decided
he　would　risk　only　half　of　his　fortune。　Then；　should　the　horse　win；
he　still　would　be　passing　rich；　and　should　he　lose；　he　would；　at
least；　have　all　of　fifty　dollars。

With　a　book…maker　he　wagered　that　sum；　and　then；　in　unhappy
indecision；　stood；　in　one　hand　clutching　his　ticket　that　called　for
a　potential　thousand　and　fifty　dollars；　and　in　the　other　an　actual
fifty。　It　was　not　a　place　for　meditation。　From　every　side　men；　more
or　less　sane；　swept　upon　him；　jostled　him；　and　stamped　upon　him；
and　still；　struggling　for　a　foothold；　he　swayed；　hesitating。　Then
he　became　conscious　that　the　ring　was　nearly　empty；　that　only　a　few
shrieking　individuals　still　ran　down　the　line。　The　horses　were
going　to　the　post。　He　must　decide　quickly。　In　front　of　him　the
book…　maker　cleaned　his　board；　and；　as　a　final　appeal；　opposite　the
names　of　three　horses　chalked　thirty　to　one。　Dromedary　was　among
them。　Such　odds　could　not　be　resisted。　Carter　shoved　his　fifty　at
the　man；　and　to　that　sum　added　the　twenty　dollars　still　in　his
pocket。　They　were　the　last　dollars　he　owned　in　the　world。　And
though　he　knew　they　were　his　last；　he　was　fearful　lest　the
book…maker　would　refuse　them。　But；　mechanically；　the　man　passed
them　over　his　shoulder。

〃And　twenty…one　hundred　to　seventy；〃　he　chanted。

When　Carter　took　his　seat　beside　Dolly；　he　was　quite　cold。　Still；
Dolly　did　not　speak。　Out　of　the　corner　of　her　eyes　she　questioned
him。

〃I　got　fifty　at　twenty　to　one；〃　replied　Carter；　and　seventy　at
thirty！〃

In　alarm；　Dolly　turned　upon　him。

〃SEVENTY！〃　she　gasped。

Carter　nodded。　〃All　we　have；〃　he　said。　〃We　have　sixty　cents　left；
to　start　life　over　again！〃

As　though　to　encourage　him；　Dolly　placed　her　finger　on　her
race…card。

〃His　colors；〃　she　said；　〃are　'green　cap；　green　jacket；　green　and
white　hoops。'〃

Through　a　maze　of　heat；　a　half…mile　distant；　at　the　starting…　gate；
little　spots　of　color　moved　in　impatient　circles。　The　big；
good…natured　crowd　had　grown　silent；　so　silent　that　from　the　high；
sun…warmed　grass　in　the　infield　one　could　hear　the　lazy　chirp　of
the　crickets。　As　though　repeating　a　prayer；　or　an　incantation；
Dolly's　lips　were　moving　quickly。

〃Green　cap；〃　she　whispered；　〃green　jacket；　green　and　white　hoops！〃

With　a　sharp　sigh　the　crowd　broke　the　silence。　〃They're　off！〃　it
cried；　and　leaned　forward　expectant。

The　horses　came　so　fast。　To　Carter　their　conduct　seemed　outrageous。
It　was　incredible　that　in　so　short　a　time；　at　a　pace　so　reckless；
they　would　decide　a　question　of　such　moment。　They　came　bunched
together；　shifting　and　changing；　with；　through　the　dust；　flashes　of
blue　and　gold　and　scarlet。　A　jacket　of　yellow　shot　out　of　the　dust
and　showed　in　front；　a　jacket　of　crimson　followed。　So　they　were　at
the　half；　so　they　were　at　the　three…quarters。

The　good…natured　crowd　began　to　sway；　to　grumble　and　murmur；　then
to　shout　in　sharp　staccato。

〃Can　you　see　him？〃　begged　Dolly。

〃No；〃　said　Carter。　〃You　don't　see　him　until　they　reach　the
stretch。〃

One　could　hear　their　hoofs；　could　see　the　crimson　jockey　draw　his
whip。　At　the　sight；　for　he　rode　the　favorite；　the　crowd　gave　a
great　gasp　of　concern。

〃Oh；　you　Gold　Heels！〃　it　implored。

Under　the　whip；　Gold　Heels　drew　even　with　the　yellow　jacket；　stride
by　stride；　they　fought　it　out　alone。

〃Gold　Heels！〃　cried　the　crowd。

Behind　them；　in　a　curtain　of　dust；　pounded　the　field。　It　charged　in
a　flying　wedge；　like　a　troop　of　cavalry。　Dolly；　searching　for　a
green　jacket；　saw；　instead；　a　rainbow　wave　of　color　that；　as　it
rose　and　fell；　sprang　toward　her　in　great　leaps；　swallowing　the
track。

〃Gold　Heels！〃　yelled　the　crowd。

The　field　swept　into　the　stretch。　Without　moving　his　eyes；　Carter
caught　Dolly　by　the　wrist　and　pointed。　As　though　giving　a　signal；
he　shot　his　free　hand　into　the　air。

〃Now！〃　he　shouted。

From　the　curtain　of　dust；　as　lightning　strikes　through　a　cloud；
darted　a　great；　raw…boned；　ugly　chestnut。　Like　the　Empire　Express；
he　came　rocking；　thundering；　spurning　the　ground。　At　his　coming；
Gold　Heels；　to　the　eyes　of　the　crowd；　seemed　to　falter；　to　slacken；
to　stand　still。　The　crowd　gave　a　great　cry　of　amazement；　a　yell　of
disgust。　The　chestnut　drew　even　with　Gold　Heels；　passed　him；　and
swept　under　the　wire。　Clinging　to　his　neck　was　a　little　jockey　in
a　green　cap；　green　jacket；　and　hoops　of　green　and　white。

Dolly's　hand　was　at　her　side；　clutching　the　bench。　Carter's　hand
still　clasped　it。　Neither　spoke　or　looked　at　the　other。　For　an
instant；　while　the　crowd；　no　longer　so　good…natured；　mocked　and
jeered　at　itself；　the　two　young　people　sat　quite　still；　staring　at
the　green　field；　at　the　white　clouds　rolling　from　the　ocean。　Dolly
drew　a　long　breath。

〃Let's　go！〃　she　gasped。　〃Let's　thank　him　first；　and　then　take　me
home！〃

They　found　Dromedary　in　the　paddock；　and　thanked　him；　and　Carter
left　Dolly　with　him；　while　he　ran　to　collect　his　winnings。　When　he
returned；　he　showed　her　a　sheaf　of　yellow　bills；　and　as　they　ran
down　the　covered　board　walk　to　the　gate；　they　skipped　and　danced。

Dolly　turned　toward　the　train　drawn　up　at　the　entrance。

〃Not　with　me！〃　shouted　Carter。　〃We're　going　home　in　the　reddest；
most　expensive；　fastest　automobile　I　can　hire！〃

In　the　〃hack〃　line　of　motor…cars　was　one　that　answered　those
requirements；　and　they　fell　into　it　as　though　it　were　their　own。

〃To　the　Night　and　Day　Bank！〃　commanded　Carter。

With　the　genial　democracy　of　the　race…track；　the　chauffeur　lifted
his　head　to　grin　appreciatively。　〃That　listens　good　to　me！〃　he
said。

〃I　like　him！〃　whispered　Dolly。　〃Let's　buy　him　and　the　car。〃

On　the　way　home；　they　bought　many　cars；　every　car　they　saw；　that
they　liked；　they　bought。　They　bought；　also；　several　houses；　and　a
yacht　that　they　saw　from　the　ferry…boat。　And　as　soon　as　they　had
deposited　the　most　of　their　money　in　the　bank；　they　went　to　a
pawnshop　in　Sixth　Avenue　and　bought　back　many　possessions　that　they
had　feared　they　never　would　see　again。

When　they　entered　the　flat；　the　thing　they　first　beheld　was　Dolly's
two…dollar　bill。

〃What；〃　demanded　Carter；　with　repugnance；　〃is　that　strange　piece　of
paper？〃

Dolly　examined　it　carefully。　〃I　think　it　is　a　kind　of　money；〃　she
said；　used　by　the　lower　classes。〃

They　dined　on　the　roof　at　Delmonico's。　Dolly　wore　the　largest　of
the　five　hats　still　unsold；　and　Carter　selected　the　dishes　entirely
according　to　which　was　the　most　expensive。　Every　now　and　again　they
would　look　anxiously　down　across　the　street　at　the　bank　that　held
their　money。　They　were　nervous　lest　it　should　take　fire。

〃We　can　be　extravagant　to…night；〃　said　Dolly；　〃because　we　owe　it　to
Dromedary　to　celebrate。　But　from　to…night　on　we　must　save。　We've
had　an　awful　lesson。　What　happened　to　us　last　month　must　never
happen　again。　We　were　down　to　a　two…dollar　bill。　Now　we　have
twenty…five　hundred　across　the　street；　and　you　have　several
hundreds　in　your　pocket。　On　that　we　can　live　easily　for　a　year。
Meanwhile；　you　can　write　'the'　great　American　novel　without　having
to　worry　about　money；　or　to　look　for　a　steady　job。　And　then　your
book　will　come　out；　and　you　will　be　famous；　and　rich；　and〃

〃Passing　on　from　that；〃　interrupted　Carter；　〃the　thing　of　first
importance　is　to　get　you　out　of　that　hot；　beastly　flat。　I　propose
we　start　to…morrow　for　Cape　Cod。　I　know　a　lot　of　fishing　villages
there　where　we　could　board　and　lodge　for　twelve　dollars　a　week；　and
row　and　play　tennis　and　live　in　our　bathing　suits。〃

Dolly　assented　with　enthusiasm；　and　during　the　courses　of　the
dinner　they　happily　discussed　Cape　Cod　from　Pocasset　to　Yarmouth；
an