the man who could not lose-第4章
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exclaimed breathlessly： 〃It's from PLYMPTON'S MAGAZINE！ MaybeI've
sold a story！〃 He gave a cry almost of alarm。 His voice was as
solemn as though the letter had announced a death。
〃Dolly；〃 he whispered； 〃it's a checka check for a HUNDRED
DOLLARS！〃
Guiltily； the two young people looked at each other。
〃We've GOT to！〃 breathed Dolly。 〃GOT to！ If we let TWO signs like
that pass； we'd be flying in the face of Providence。〃
With her hands gripping the arms of her chair； she leaned forward；
her eyes staring into space； her lips moving。
〃COME ON； you Dromedary！〃 she whispered。
They changed the check into five and ten dollar bills； and； as
Carter was far too excited to work； made an absurdly early start
for the race…track。
〃We might as well get all the fresh air we can；〃 said Dolly。
〃That's all we will get！〃
From their reserve fund of twenty…seven dollars which each had
solemnly agreed with the other would not be risked on race…horses；
Dolly subtracted a two…dollar bill。 This she stuck conspicuously
across the face of the clock on the mantel。
〃Why？〃 asked Carter。
〃When we get back this evening；〃 Dolly explained； 〃that will be the
first thing we'll see。 It's going to look awfully good！〃
This day there was no scarlet car to rush them with refreshing
swiftness through Brooklyn's parkways and along the Ocean Avenue。
Instead； they hung to a strap in a cross… town car； changed to the
ferry； and again to the Long Island Railroad。 When Carter halted at
the special car of the Turf Club； Dolly took his arm and led him
forward to the day coach。
〃But；〃 protested Carter； 〃when you're spending a hundred dollars
with one hand； why grudge fifty cents for a parlor… car seat？ If
you're going to be a sport； be a sport。〃 〃And if you've got to be
a piker；〃 said Dolly； don't be ashamed to be a piker。 We're not
spending a hundred dollars because we can afford it； but because
you dreamt a dream。 You didn't dream you were riding in
parlor…cars！ If you did； it's time I woke you。〃
This day there was for them no box overlooking the finish； no
club…house luncheon。 With the other pikers； they sat in the free
seats； with those who sat coatless and tucked their handkerchiefs
inside their collars； and with those who mopped their perspiring
countenances with rice…paper and marked their cards with a hat…pin。
Their lunch consisted of a massive ham sandwich with a top dressing
of mustard。
Dromedary did not run until the fifth race； and the long wait；
before they could learn their fate； was intolerable。 They knew most
of the horses； and； to pass the time； on each of the first races
Dolly made imaginary bets。 Of these mental wagers； she lost every
one。
〃If you turn out to be as bad a guesser when you're asleep as I am
when I'm awake；〃 said Dolly； 〃we're going to lose our fortune。〃
〃I'm weakening！〃 declared Carter。 〃A hundred dollars is beginning
to look to me like an awful lot of money。 Twenty… seven dollars；
and there's only twenty of that left now； is mighty small capital；
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； sp
