the man who could not lose-第6部分

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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　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　a