the man who could not lose-第7章
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〃I'm Pinkerton；〃 said the big man genially。 〃You need a body…
guard。 If you've got an empty seat in your car； I'll drive home
with you。 From Cavanaugh they borrowed a book…maker's hand…bag and
stuffed it with thousand…dollar bills。 When they stepped into the
car the crowd still surrounded them。
〃He's taking it home in a trunk！〃 they yelled。
That night the 〃sporting extras〃 of the afternoon papers gave
prominence to the luck at the races of Champneys Carter。 From
Cavanaugh and the book…makers； the racing reporters had gathered
accounts of his winnings。 They stated that in three successive
days； starting with one hundred dollars； he had at the end of the
third day not lost a single bet； and that afternoon； on the last
race alone； he had won sixty to seventy thousand dollars。 With the
text； they 〃ran〃 pictures of Carter at the track； of Dolly in her
box； and of Mrs。 Ingram in a tiara and ball…dress。
Mother…in…law WILL be pleased cried Carter。 In some alarm as to
what the newspapers might say on the morrow； he ordered that in the
morning a copy of each be sent to his room。 That night in his
dreams he saw clouds of dust…covered jackets and horses with
sweating flanks； and one of them named Ambitious led all the rest。
When he woke； he said to Dolly： 〃That horse Ambitious will win
to…day。〃
〃He can do just as he likes about THAT！ 〃replied Dolly。 〃I have
something on my mind much more important than horse… racing。 To…day
you are to learn how I spent your money。 It's to be in the morning
papers。〃
When he came to breakfast； Dolly was on her knees。 For his
inspection she had spread the newspapers on the floor； opened at an
advertisement that appeared in each。 In the Centre of a half…page
of white paper were the lines：
SOLD OUT IN ONE DAY！
ENTIRE FIRST EDITION
THE DEAD HEAT
BY
CHAMPNEYS CARTER
SECOND EDITION ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND
In Heaven's name！ 〃 roared Carter。 〃What does this mean？〃
〃It means；〃 cried Dolly tremulously； 〃I'm backing my dream。 I've
always believed in your book。 Now； I'm backing it。 Our lawyers sent
me to an advertising agent。 His name is Spink； and he is awfully
clever。 I asked him if he could advertise a book so as to make it
sell。 He said with my money and his ideas he could sell last year's
telephone book to people who did not own a telephone； and who had
never learned to read。 He is proud of his ideas。 One of them was
buying out the first edition。 Your publishers told him your book
was 'waste paper；' and that he could have every copy in stock for
the cost of the plates。 So he bought the whole edition。 That's how
it was sold out in one day。 Then we ordered a second edition of one
hundred thousand； and they're printing it now。
〃The presses have been working all night to meet the demand！〃
〃But；〃 cried Carter； 〃 there isn't any demand！ 〃
〃There will be；〃 said Dolly； 〃when five million people read our
advertisements。〃
She dragged him to the window and pointed triumphantly into the
street。
〃See that！〃 she said。 〃Mr。 Spink sent them here for me to inspect。〃
Drawn up in a line that stretched from Fifth Avenue to Broadway
were an army of sandwich men。 On the boards they carried were the
words： 〃Read 'The Dead Heat。' Second Edition。 One Hundred
Thousand！〃 On the fence in front of the building going up across
the street； in letters a foot high； Carter again read the name of
his novel。 In letters in size more modest； but in colors more
defiant； it glared at him from ash…cans and barrels。
〃How much does this cost？〃 he gasped。
〃It cost every dollar you had in bank；〃 said Dolly； 〃and before we
are through it will cost you twice as much more。 Mr。 Spink is only
waiting to hear from me before he starts spending fifty thousand
dollars； that's only half of what you won on Red Wing。 I'm only
waiting for you to make me out a check before I tell Spink to start
spending it。〃
In a dazed state Carter drew a check for fifty thousand dollars and
meekly handed it to his wife。 They carried it themselves to the
office of Mr。 Spink。 On their way； on every side they saw evidences
of his handiwork。 On walls； on scaffolding； on bill…boards were
advertisements of 〃The Dead Heat。〃 Over Madison Square a huge kite
as large as a Zeppelin air…ship painted the name of the book
against the sky； on 〃dodgers〃 it floated in the air； on handbills
it stared up from the gutters。
Mr。 Spink was a nervous young man with a bald head and eye…
glasses。 He grasped the check as a general might welcome fifty
thousand fresh troops。
〃Reinforcements！〃 he cried。 〃Now； watch me。 Now I can do things
that are big； national； Napoleonic。 We can't get those books bound
inside of a week； but meanwhile orders will be pouring in； people
will be growing crazy for it。 Every man； woman； and child in
Greater New York will want a copy。 I've sent out fifty boys dressed
as jockeys on horseback to ride neck and neck up and down every
avenue。 'The Dead Heat' is printed on the saddle…cloth。 Half of
them have been arrested already。 It's a little idea of my own。〃
〃But；〃 protested Carter； 〃it's not a racing story； it's a detective
story！〃
〃The devil it is！〃 gasped Spink。 〃But what's the difference！ 〃 he
exclaimed。 〃 They've got to buy it anyway。 They'd buy it if it was
a cook…book。 And； I say；〃 he cried delightedly； 〃that's great press
work you're doing for the book at the races！ The papers are full of
you this morning； and every man who reads about your luck at the
track will see your name as the author of 'The Dead Heat；' and will
rush to buy the book。 He'll think 'The Dead Heat' is a guide to the
turf！〃
When Carter reached the track he found his notoriety had preceded
him。 Ambitious did no run until the fourth race； and until then； as
he sat in his box； an eager crowd surged below。 He had never known
such popularity。 The crowd had read the newspapers； and such
head…lines as 〃He Cannot Lose！〃 〃Young Carter Wins 70；000！〃 〃Boy
Plunger Wins Again！〃 〃Carter Makes Big Killing！〃 〃The Ring Hit
Hard！〃 〃The Man Who Cannot Lose！〃 〃Carter Beats Book…makers！〃 had
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
