Gamblers Don't Win Read Free Page B

until they get a price built up and then win with them. I don’t know who’s giving Jarney orders, but I do know that if he tries any more funny business, I’ll have him put on the ground and he’ll stay there the rest of his life. I’ll see that he never gets a leg up on another horse.”
4
    H ER face had a white, pinched look. “Listen, Bill, I’m asking you this, not because you were a friend of Bert’s, but because I need help. If Frank were to listen to you, he wouldn’t live twenty-four hours. He’s got to ride according to orders, not only on Spurck’s horses, but on others, and I’m telling you this; he’s not the only rider that’s taking orders. There are others, not because they want to, but because they’re afraid not to.”
    Lennox stared at her. “You’ve either said too much, Kid, or not enough. Who’s giving these orders?” he asked again.
    She shook her head.
    His voice gained a harsher note. “Meaning you don’t know, or merely that you won’t tell?”
    She said: “Don’t ask me; please don’t. There’s a reason why I won’t—can’t answer you.”
    â€œAre you in love with Jarney?” His tone was blunt.
    She shook her head. “Please, won’t you please do what I ask?”
    Lennox shook his head slowly. “I tell you what I will do. If Jarney is afraid to refuse to ride Spurck’s horses, I’ll see that he doesn’t have to. I’ll have him fired.”
    Her eyes darkened. “Don’t do that.”
    Surprise made him silent for the moment. “Now, listen. Tonight over the phone Jarney asked me to do just that. What’s the idea? Just what are you trying to pull?”
    She said, desperately: “Nothing. Please believe me, but it’s too late for you to do that. They heard him talking to you tonight. If he were fired, they’d still do something to him. Why can’t you leave things as they are? What does it matter to Spurck whether he wins a few races or not? He’s got plenty of money. He has everything.”
    Lennox’s lips were twisted. “I’m a funny guy, I guess. It isn’t the purses he loses that I’m thinking about; it’s the public, the betting public. I can’t use a roulette wheel that’s wired, Kid, and crooked dice burn me. It’s the same with this. Thousands of people go out to the track and bet their dough. They bet on Spurck’s horses, not because they really know anything about the nags, but because they know who Spurck is; they know he’s on the level, and they figure that his stable will be run that way.” He broke off, embarrassed. He wasn’t used to expressing his feelings so frankly.
    Betty Donovan was staring at him, her fingers working with the edge of the napkin. “And you’d get a boy killed for that?”
    He narrowed his eyes. “Listen, Kid. If you know something, the thing for you to do is to go to the cops, or better, to the track officials. Gamblers can’t win. They will go along swell for a while, but in the end, the judges will catch up with them. Come on, I know the chief steward, where he’s living. We’ll go over there—” He started to rise, but she stopped him.
    â€œPlease, you’ll—you don’t know what you’re doing.” There was fear in her voice, more than fear.
    He dropped back heavily into his seat. “Listen, Betty. Your brother was a swell pal of mine. I want to help you, but I can’t if you don’t come clean with me, I—”
    Her voice changed. “You aren’t a reformer, are you, Bill?”
    He shook his head. “I’m not.”
    â€œThen wait. I can’t tell you anything now. All I ask is that you don’t interfere.”
    â€œWell, I’ll talk to Jarney.”
    She hesitated. “I don’t know—”
    He said: “I