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whetted their curiosity and filled many with absolute faith in his
luck。 Men he had not seen in years grasped him by the hand and
carelessly asked if he could tell of something good。 Friends old
and new begged him to dine with them； to immediately have a drink
With them； at least to 〃try〃 a cigar。 Men who protested they had
lost their all begged for just a hint which would help them to come
out even； and every one； without exception； assured him he was
going to buy his latest book。
〃I tried to get it last night at a dozen news…stands；〃 many of them
said； 〃but they told me the entire edition was exhausted。〃
The crowd of hungry…eyed race…goers waiting below the box； and
watching Carter's every movement； distressed Dolly。
〃I hate it！〃 she cried。 〃They look at you like a lot of starved
dogs begging for a bone。 Let's go home； we don't want to make any
more money； and we may lose what we have。 And I want it all to
advertise the book。〃
〃If you're not careful；〃 said Carter； 〃some one will buy that book
and read it； and then you and Spink will have to take shelter in a
cyclone cellar。〃
When he arose to make his bet on Ambitious； his friends from the
club stand and a half…dozen of Pinkerton's men closed in around him
and in a flying wedge pushed into the ring。 The news…papers had
done their work； and he was instantly surrounded by a hungry；
howling mob。 In comparison with the one of the previous day； it was
as a foot…ball scrimmage to a run on a bank。 When he made his first
wager and the crowd learned the name of the horse； it broke with a。
yell into hundreds of flying missiles which hurled themselves at
the book…makers。 Under their attack； as on the day before；
Ambitious receded to even money。 There was hardly a person at the
track who did not back the luck of the man who 〃could not lose。〃
And when Ambitious won easily； it was not the horse or the jockey
that was cheered； but the young man in the box。
In New York the extras had already announced that he was again
lucky； and when Dolly and Carter reached the bank they found the
entire staff on hand to receive him and his winnings。 They amounted
to a sum so magnificent that Carter found for the rest of their
lives the interest would furnish Dolly and himself an income upon
which they could live modestly and well。
A distinguished…looking； white…haired official of the bank
congratulated Carter warmly。 〃Should you wish to invest some of
this；〃 he said； 〃 I should be glad to advise you。 My knowledge in
that direction may be wider than your own。〃
Carter murmured his thanks。 The white…haired gentleman lowered his
voice。 〃On certain other subjects；〃 he continued； 〃you know many
things of which I am totally ignorant。 Could you tell me；〃 he asked
carelessly； 〃who will win the Suburban to…morrow？ 〃
Carter frowned mysteriously。 〃I can tell you better in the
morning；〃 he said。 〃It looks like Beldame； with Proper and First
Mason within call。〃
The white…haired man showed his surprise and also that his
ignorance was not as profound as he suggested。
〃I thought the Keene entry〃 he ventured。
〃I know；〃 said Carter doubtfully。 〃If it were for a mile； I would
say Delhi； but I don't think he can last the distance。 In the
morning I'll wire you。〃
As they settled back in their car； Carter took both of Dolly's
hands in his。 〃So far as money goes；〃 he said； 〃we are independent
of your motherindependent of my books； and I want to make you a
promise。 I want to promise you that； no matter what I dream in the
future； I'll never back another horse。〃 Dolly gave a gasp of
satisfaction。
〃And what's more；〃 added Carter hastily； 〃not another dollar can
you risk in backing my books。 After this； they've got to stand or
fall on their legs！〃
〃Agreed！〃 cried Dolly。 〃Our plunging days are over。〃
When they reached the flat they found waiting for Carter the junior
partner of a real publishing house。 He had a blank contract； and he
wanted to secure the right to publish Carter's next book。
〃I have a few short stories〃 suggested Carter。
Collections of short stories； protested the visitor truthfully； 〃do
not sell。 We would prefer another novel on the same lines as 'The
Dead Heat。'〃
〃Have you read 'The Dead Heat'？〃 asked Carter。
〃I have not；〃 admitted the publisher； but the next book by the same
author is sure to。 We will pay in advance of royalties fifteen
thousand dollars。〃
〃Could you put that in writing？〃 asked Carter。 When the publisher
was leaving he said：
〃I see your success in literature is equaled by your success at the
races。 Could you tell me what will win the Suburban？〃
〃I will send you a wire in the MORNING；〃 said Carter。
They had arranged to dine with some friends and later to visit a
musical comedy。 Carter had changed his clothes； and； while he was
waiting for Dolly to dress； was reclining in a huge arm…chair。 The
heat of the day； the excitement； and the wear on his nerves caused
his head to sink back； his eyes to close； and his limbs to relax。
When； by her entrance； Dolly woke him； he jumped up in some
confusion。
〃You've been asleep；〃 she mocked。
〃Worse！〃 said Carter。 〃I've been dreaming！ Shall I tell you who is
going to win the Suburban？〃
〃Champneys！〃 cried Dolly in alarm。
〃My dear Dolly；〃 protested her husband； 〃I promised to stop
betting。 I did not promise to stop sleeping。〃
〃Well；〃 sighed Dolly； with relief； 〃as long as it stops at that。
Delhi will win；〃 she added。 〃Delhi will not；〃 said Carter。 〃This is
how they will finish〃He scribbled three names on a piece of
paper which Dolly read。
〃But that；〃 she said； 〃is what you told the gentleman at the bank。〃
Carter stared at her blankly and in some embarrassment。
〃You see！〃 cried Dolly； 〃what you think when you're awake； you
dream when you're asleep。 And you had a run of luck that never
happened before and could never happen again。〃
Carter received her explanation with reluctance。 〃I wonder；〃 he
said。
On arriving at the theatre they found their host had reserved a
stage…box； and as there were but four in their party； and as； when
they entered； the house lights were up； their arrival drew upon
them the attention both of those in the audience and of those on
the stage。 The theatre was crowded to its capacity； and in every
part were people who were habitual race…goers； as well as many
racing men who had come to town for the Suburban。 By these； as well
as by many others who for three days had seen innumerable pictures
of him； Carter was instantly recognized。 To the audience and to the
performers the man who always won was of far greater interest than
what for the three…hundredth night was going forward on the stage。
And when the leading woman； Blanche Winter； asked the comedian
which he would rather be； 〃The Man Who Broke the Bank at Monte
Carlo or the Man Who Can Not Lose？〃 she gained from the audience an
easy laugh and from the chorus an excited giggle。
When； at the end of the act； Carter went into the lobby to smoke；
he was so quickly surrounded that he sought refuge on Broadway。
From there； the crowd still following him； he was driven back into
his box。 Meanwhile； the interest shown in him had not been lost
upon the press agent of the theatre； and he at once telephoned to
the newspaper offices that Plunger Carter； the book…maker breaker；
was at that theatre； and if that the newspapers wanted a chance to
interview him on the probable out…come of the classic handicap to
be run on the morrow； he； the press agent； would unselfishly assist
them。 In answer to these hurry calls； reporters of the Ten o'Clock
Club assembled in the foyer。 How far what later followed was due to
their presence and to the efforts of the press agent only that
gentleman can tell。 It was in the second act that Miss Blanche
Winter sang her topical song。 In it she advised the audience when
anxious to settle any question of personal or national interest to
〃Put it up to the Man in the Moon。'〃 This night she introduced a
verse in which she told of her desire to know which horse on the
morrow would win the Suburban； and； in the chorus； expressed her
determination to 〃Put it up to the Man in the Moon。〃
Instantly from the back of the house a voice called： 〃Why don't you
put it up to the Man in the Box？〃 Miss Winter laughed…the audience
laughed； all eyes were turned toward Carter。 As though the idea
pleased them； from different parts of the house people applauded
heartily。 In embarrassment； Carter shoved back his chair and pulled
the curtain of the box between him and the audience。 But he was not
so easily to escape。 Leaving the orchestra to continue unheeded
with the prelude to the next verse； Miss Winter walked slowly and
deliberately toward him； smiling mischievously。 In burlesque
entreaty； she held out her arms。 She made a most appealing and
charming picture； and of that fact she was well aware。 In a voice
loud enough to reach every part of the house； she addressed herself
to Carter：
〃Won't you tell ME？〃 she begged。
Carter； blushing unhappily； shrugged his shoulders in apology。
With a wave of her hand Miss Winter designated the audience。
〃Then；〃 she coaxed； reproachfully； 〃won't you tell TH