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7he0I
z j A m u Q .
WZ WG/GHT-—
Author of "Gambler's Gold," "A
Game o/ Chance" and "In the Last
Stride."
CHAPTER 2
T0. roam in the city for gaming
purposes is unlawful, but conducing
of gambling "schools" do not lose
much sloop over thai fact. They might
ho badgered from pillar to post by the
jiolico. but they contrive to carry on.
JUJ>1 now, after a chequcred but none
the Ir*^ prosperous carccr, the game
managed by Ginger Gorrup was ployed
niglith and until further notice in
iar^o room on the top floor of Skyline
Chambers in the very heart of the city.
Regular patrons had no difficulty in
paining admission to the room, after
a Iont* lift trip skyward", but it __
always wise to "word" Squizzy the
Scout on the corner beforehand, for
fear of a sudden change of location.
Tonight a motley crowd of humanity
lias found its way to this temple of the
••.-nosh" early in the night Representatives
of many nations are there. Greeks.
Svrians. Russians; sons of sunny Italy
aiid a few of darker color, mix indiscriminately
with Britishers and Americans.
and money is plentiful indeed.
Thr game was proceeding briskly when
.Stan Coulthan joined the gamblers.
Kverv s«?at around the playing table
was occupied, while row upon row of,
anxious players stood behind. For the
moment it was impossible to do what
he and all the rest had come there
for-gamble on the "pull" of the cards
in ilie hands of the banker.
ANGRY HOOTS
Throe days ago at Rand wick, he had
seen his colors carried to victory in
race for one of the big prizes of the
turf, which was to benefit him not at
all: listened to the angry hoots of the
multitude and the bitter imprecations
which were hurled at everyone who
hod anything to do with the unpopular
win, and since that day he had
hardly been responsible for his actions.
Tonight, with wild, bloodshot eyes
,md face inflamed from heavy reckless*
drinking, he had come to this place,
with the Inst remaining remnant of his
capital, hoping at least to inc:
suflicionih- Jo enable him to get back
y> iho bush, from which hc should
never have emerged. Five pounds
notes and some silver. He almost
toughed as he fingered the paltry sum
in his pocket. Still, hope springs eternal
in the gambler's breast, and while
there's cash there's hope.
Rl'INED AND DISGRACED
Yes, hack to the bush—ruined and
disgraced. They had hauled him bef<>rc
the stewards and accused him
of corrupt practices. Losing control ot
himself, hc had -made his C8se worse
• by accusations against others which he
could not prove. He had denounced
his trainer, his jockey, and bookmaker
Bmnain. who had taken his horse from
him. in settlement of his gambling
<iobts. All to no purpose, as
Binnam was concerned. That honest
layer of odds had admitted that he had
become the owner of Rimoya, but denied
any connection with the running
of ihe chcsUiut, cither before or during
the nice for Tattersall's Cup.
"I did not back Rimoya at any time.'
lit lied, and hc was believed despite
.. s statement,
wliich was public
knowledge, that a
fortune had been
won, not so much
on the course perhaps,
but from stiirting-prico
operators
in every part of
Australia. The inquiry
was adjourned
until the next
day. Stan did not
attend. Instead, hc
nad indulged in a reckless orgy of dissipation,
to learn Inter, during a partially
sober moment, that sentence of one
year's disqualification had been imposed
upon Sim Strysal and Rex Reddy, who
were ns guilty as could be, and upon
himself and Rimoya, who were mere
innocent tools in the hands of scoundrels.
Railing against such injustice which
permitted a crook like Broin Binnam to
gather up his ill-gotten gains, whilst ho.
who had been guilty of no wrong doing.
was condemmed to bear the brand
of dishonesty, hc continued to drink, so
that ho might not have time to think
for sometimes unwelcome thoughts would
obsess his disordered mind: thoughts of
striking down, even to their death, those
who hnd conspired to i*uin him. And
i desperation he had conic to the
"mosh" game. From small beginnings
manv had made a big rise here. Often,
had 'he played before, but with pockets
filled with mcney and indifferent to
•hether hc won or lost, and often he
had won. How different now, when
winning night would mean so much.
HOrED FOR LUCK
For a time he watched the game, vhicb
•as favoring the players. Punters W.MC
picking all the cards, and the bank
being badly hit. How hc hoped
that luck would also fnvor him. Many
ere there with whom hc was acquaintj.
One, in particular, at the sight
I whom these black unwelcome
thoughts came surging through his brain.
The man he hated more than any on
earth, for he had trusted him implicitly,
only to be ruined and degraded. Sim
Strysal, his late trainer, brazen and unashamed,
gambling in large amounts
with the proceeds of his roguery, and
winning.
Trving not to notice the fellow, who
had "already felt the weight of his
punches, Coullhan endeavored to concentrate
on the table, where amounts ranging
from shillings to hundreds of pounds
were being won and lost. Soon, hc
found himself near enough to lean over
those in advance of him and indulge
in the game. During the period of
watching, he had ncted the quseu and
king turning up winners all the time.
he decided to play there for a start.
At once it was evident that ill-luck
still clung to him. He had ventured
to place a pound between the kinequeen,
and in the first pull of the cprc
the lady showed up a loser.
Chagrined at this disastrous tasinninj
Stan decided to stand off for a fe<
pulls." At oncc the king caid won
twicc in succession. Muttering curst
on his bad luck. Stan swore ;o have
done with the picture cards, and. in
desperation, gaining a seat that a play*
had vacated, he placed a note on ihe
four and one on the Ave, only to southern
swept away.
Nervously fingering his last note, he
debated with himself for a moment, but,
with the gambler's instinct .strong wiU>
in him, he staked again—and lost.
With a strange, sinking sensation
weighing on his heart, he rose to his
feet. Of what use to remain? A hand
touched his watchchain. and his eye
caught the sparkle of the diamonds in
his ring. Broke, while these remained.
What was he thinking about? Remov.ng
his ring, and detaching the gold ohain
he handed them to the banker. "A tenner
on these." he said hoarsely, and
was accommodated promptly.
FINANCIAL AGAIN
Again he was financial, and his hick
had changcd. A succession of winning
investments brought £50 to hi? h?nd.
Now was his chance. His luck was in.
There was nothing to stop h
becoming a big winner if hc game,
If he staked the lot-
It was only a matter of minui.es. Thd
vein of luck vanished speedily, and
despair was once more his portion.
Everything was lost.
The smokc-ludcn room became a blur
he straightened up, with a choking
sensation in his threat. Rising, he groped
way from the throng, like one
stricken with blindness. This was the
Cleaned out. Stone motherless
broke, with the exception of a small
amount of silver. He had onb.rcd the
room with a fiver, a gold watch and
chain, a diamond ring and no*'-—
Better had he pledged those valuables
during the day. as he meant to do, and
beat it for the bush, instead of stopping
and trying to make u rise per medium
of the "mosh." When Ihe luck \;< against
an hp can do nothing rigli'. For a
moment, he toyed with those miserable
'hillings in hi.s pocket, debating in his
grog-doped mind whether hc could return
to the table and give that also
"fly." Perhaps—
With a granted curse hc r'^missod
the thought, swung away from ihe group
of gamblers, and made for '.he door.
Engrossed in the game, the players did
not bother to glance in Jiis direction.
His going or coming held no interest
for them, so the gocd night curse whicn
he hurled in their direction as tho doorkeeper
allowed him to pass out was unheard.
He was alone on a darkened landing,
many floors above street level. Drawing
close to a protected window, he
could see the lights in the city streets far
below, and in the near distance the Post
Office clock, which told that the hour
was half past ten. For a while hc lingered
there undisturbed, then with a
heavy sigh sought the lift, which rested
at the floor on which hc stood. Sliding
back the door he entered the cage. Another
man was there sitting in a corner
very quietly with his hat drawn down
over his face. With little interest in his
fellow passenger Coulthan touched a
button to start the lift on his journey
downward to the street.
For more than
half an hour after
Coulthan's departure
from the gaming
school, no player
left or entered
ihe room. Then,
two wont out homeward
bound, only to
return quickly with
white scared fa
"Cut it
G i n gcr.' 1 warned
one hoarsely. "Th*
work.
Must be the Bulls.
They've got us trapped."
Instantly there was a mad scramble tor
the money on the table, followed by a
stampede of the players.
Many rushed
headlong for the stairs, to dash down in
a panic, wondering if they would encounter
a posse of police on the way.
Others sought the roof, thinking a means
of cscapc might
be found
from that
elevated spot.
,,
The leader of the retreating gamblers
making downward, encountered a solitary
individual
toiling
upward, with such
force that they rolled to the bottom of a
flight together, before ihere was time
for explanations.
The rearguard was
upon them quickly.
"What's, doing," gasped the man who
was descending. "Is it th Jack*?"
"I ain't seen none." growled his victim.
"I'm the caretaker of these chambers.
I've bin out for a couple of hours,
and get back to find the lift gone bung.
Arc you blokes mad.
Where's Ginger.
Who's bin foolin 1 around with th" lift?"
Ginger Gorrup spoke
from out the
murk.
"Two guys went to use the lift
and it wouldn't budge. They thought it
was the johns try in* to trap us. sn* raised
a scare. I'm off back."
"Let's go up
an* see
what's gone
wrong," growled the caretaker.
"Sup-
pose she's blown cr fuse or something. I'll
soon sec."
The man went up. Ginger and others
followed, though many were content to
continue the downward journey. Arrived
at the top Caretaker Orleck
cended further to where the switches
and electrical equipment which worked
the lift were situated. Presently he
called to those below.
"Just as I thought. Fuse blown,
fixed. Bring her up."
Hc joined them immediately as
lift came steadily upward. Soon it stopped
beside them and the waiting gamblers
were astonished to find il occupied.
The door was dashed aside, and a wildeyed
man stepped out.
"I've been hung up—imprisoned—ir
there, for God knows how long. Locked
up with that . The man's face
deathlike. His hands were bloodstained,
the lift as they strained forward
the others saw a ghastly object huddled
the floor of the lift. It was a man,
but
"He's dead," gasped the prisoner of
the lift.
men grasped the awesome thing,
and lifted it out on to the floor, and
the scared "mosh" pi ay el's gazed down
upon a white face across which was a
thick rod smear of blood.
"BEEN DONE IN"
"Hell!" gasped Ginger Gorrup.
"It's
Sim Strysal. "He's been done in. This
guy Coulthan must've done it, I c'n
swear he said he'd gel him."
"Then hold him," snapped Orleck. "I'll
ring the police."
"An' get us all pinched,'' protested
Ginger.
""Who says I killed him?" demanded
Coulthan. "I did not. It's a lie." i
'Keep your mouth shut," ordered'
Orleck roughly, "tell your talc to the
There's nothing clfc for it
Gingc. I must get Lhcm here. Watch
him."
"Look out. he's ofT." cried Gorrop, as
Coulthan wrenched himself away from
the hands wliich gripped him weakly,
and jumped into the lift. In an instant
it was descending.
"Switch her off," shouted Orleck but
no one sprang to obey Hie order, and
the caretaker went on with the job of
'phoning the police.
With heart thumping madly, and brain
a whirl, Stan rushed from the lift at
the ground floor and hurried along Pitt
Street. One thing only was clear to him,
Hc must make good his escape. Hc
would not facc the charge of murder
which would l>e brought against him
without on effort to escape to some haven
of safety, where at least hc would have
his freedom. For manv months he had
resided down the Harbor at Manly,
where he had become a well known
personality as an owner and backer of
horses. It was there he must go before
the pursuit became too warm. The
chimc-s of the Post Office chimed the
quarter hour. Quarter to twelve. Five
minutes to catch the last boat; could
he do itV
UNEQUAL TO STRAIN
Ho did not feel equal to the strain
on foot so Iniling a taxi, he flung liimself
inside as lie instructed the driver.
Arrived with time to spare, lie did his
best to pull himself together, so that
he might appear perfectly normal
those he might meet upon the wharf
and steamer. Officials bade him "goodnight."
addressing him by name, and the
water policeman on duty had a cheery
word tor him as he passed <
'ailing ferry. His brain was clearer
ow. and he cursed himself for a fool.
Knowing where he lived the first thing
the police would do would be to follow
to the wharf. Failing to overtake
before the departure of the uyui, boat
message to Manly would caus the local'
police lo be waiting for hiin
'
at Manly. He passed upstairs to find
the top deck almost deserted. It. was
unpleasant night, cold and wet. though
January, and the few travelling preferred
tlie lower deck. Tlie "go boll"
would sound at any moment now. A
glaii was forming in his agitated brain,
nere was no time to lose.
The Boolooroo. her engines responding
generously to the captain's telegraphed
order of "Full ahead" had cleared the
end of the wharf, when the police ar-
' 'ed hot on the trail of Stanley Coulthan.
wanted on a serious chargc. Inquiries
established the fact beyond doubt
that the suspected murderer had boarded
the steamer, and had not come ashore
again before its departure.
"Just too late." growled Plainclothes
Sergeant Tom Tremson. "Perhaps I
should make an attempt to stop the boat,
but I don't think it advisable to make
. big sensation. They'll get him at the
other end. I'll ring Little now.
"He can't get away." agreed his assistit.
"I didn't think he'd be fool enough
• go down tonight."
Al twenty minutes past twelve tlie
big Ferry made the Manly wharf. Four
policemen were in waiting, and Ihe passengers
wondered why. One gangway
only was used and it was guarded by
the police, while the small complement
of passengers passed ashore. Each man's
faec was closely scanned, but none were
stopped or spoken to. and thsy lingered
I the wharf watching and guessing.
"You know young Coulthan?" queried
Screoant Little of the deckhands.
"Yes." was the answer. "Ho came
aboard in Sydney. Went upstairs,
"Pull out the planks." ordered
officer. We'll search tlie ship. He's
still aboard I suppose."
Prying and probing into every
ner of the boat the representatives of
Ihe law searched for the missing man
All lo no purpose. Reluctantly Ihoy were
forced lo the conclusion that hc had
given them the slip. It was left lo
member of the crew, to discover conclusive
proof that Coulthan had been
aboard. He called tlie Sergeant to the
after end of the top deck. There lay
coat, vest and hat. An inside pocket
of the coat held some letters, and the
elopes bore the name of Stanley Coulthan.
"Huh." grunted Sergeant Liltle. "I
onder if this is a stall, or has he really
made a getaway by jumping overboard? '
S
i
The Story So Far
| sinn. Coullhan, a voting m»n who
1 nindr mono' on • hc land ' 'omied «hc
j hrllrf Hurt he could bccomt: wealthy
! wancHii* on the turf. Hts early
I ventures In that dlrccllon were suc-
I "rouiiluin bought gallopers and
j imnicdlntely entered the list of wln-
! nine owners. but a rascally trainer
I .wlndlcd him. Financially ruined.
: sia,,. disposed of Rimoya to one of
I |,|s crcdhors and was mortlHed to see
j (he thoroughbred—for onec allowed
! ID do lis best—win a race In splendid
I sivlr. Boiling with anger, he rushed
| 'nrro<;s and assaulted the trainer.
I were parted by a racecourse
j drlcrlivc and taken before the stcw-
- ai-ds. u'ho had Initiated an inquiry
I inlo Rinioya's running.
none Help
Two men grasped the awesome tiling, ami lifted il out on to the floor, and (lie scared "mosh" players gazed down upon a white facc across which was a thick red smear of Mood. Help
Two men grasped the awesome tiling, ami lifted il out on to the floor, and
(lie scared "mosh" players gazed down upon a white facc across which was a
thick red smear of Mood.
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