登陆注册
15760000000010

第10章

"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 mother--independent 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:

同类推荐
  • 六壬断案

    六壬断案

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 旴江集年谱外集

    旴江集年谱外集

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 佛说持世陀罗尼经

    佛说持世陀罗尼经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 放光般若波罗蜜经

    放光般若波罗蜜经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 辽海丹忠录

    辽海丹忠录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
热门推荐
  • 落叶舞清秋

    落叶舞清秋

    一场因家产继承引发的蓄意谋杀,面对仇人与亲人之间的抉择,该怎么办呢?原谅?报复?面对友情与爱情,又是怎么抉择的呢?
  • 总裁,不温柔

    总裁,不温柔

    因为一场意外苏慕(女主)失去了父母,父母临终前让苏慕去Z市找顾氏集团总统!顾修(男主)的奶奶希望两个有娃娃亲的人能够在一起,于是让两人同居。顾氏集团总裁和Z市最有名医院的医生苏慕之间的爆笑、虐恋、、爱情之路。
  • 伸出钢铁的臂膀

    伸出钢铁的臂膀

    榜样的力量是无穷的。我们生活的这个世界之所以越来越美好,越来越进步,就是因为有无数的精英人物前赴后继,用生命和鲜血换来的。他们有的为民请命,有的慷慨赴死,有的钻研学问,有的发明创造……
  • 四叶草花丛里的天使

    四叶草花丛里的天使

    短篇的悲伤小美文,一个女孩,暗恋一个男孩,九十九天的故事
  • 金胎两界师资相承

    金胎两界师资相承

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 福妻驾到

    福妻驾到

    现代饭店彪悍老板娘魂穿古代。不分是非的极品婆婆?三年未归生死不明的丈夫?心狠手辣的阴毒亲戚?贪婪而好色的地主老财?吃上顿没下顿的贫困宭境?不怕不怕,神仙相助,一技在手,天下我有!且看现代张悦娘,如何身带福气玩转古代,开面馆、收小弟、左纳财富,右傍美男,共绘幸福生活大好蓝图!!!!快本新书《天媒地聘》已经上架开始销售,只要3.99元即可将整本书抱回家,你还等什么哪,赶紧点击下面的直通车,享受乐乐精心为您准备的美食盛宴吧!)
  • 火澜

    火澜

    当一个现代杀手之王穿越到这个世界。是隐匿,还是崛起。一场血雨腥风的传奇被她改写。一条无上的强者之路被她踏破。修斗气,炼元丹,收兽宠,化神器,大闹皇宫,炸毁学院,打死院长,秒杀狗男女,震惊大陆。无止尽的契约能力,上古神兽,千年魔兽,纷纷前来抱大腿,惊傻世人。她说:在我眼里没有好坏之分,只有强弱之分,只要你能打败我,这世间所有都是你的,打不败我,就从这世间永远消失。她狂,她傲,她的目标只有一个,就是凌驾这世间一切之上。三国皇帝,魔界妖王,冥界之主,仙界至尊。到底谁才是陪着她走到最后的那个?他说:上天入地,我会陪着你,你活着,有我,你死,也一定有我。本文一对一,男强女强,强强联手,不喜勿入。
  • 五族魔霸巅峰

    五族魔霸巅峰

    在远古的时期,一场由萨罗带领亡灵军团发起的战争,使整个世界一片昏暗。独魔的崛起,五族之力的觉醒,世界将由谁来支配!五位英雄,为保护世界,舍生战斗。多少勇士,团结一致。舍生忘死。魔霸至尊的复苏,将给世界带来怎样的灾难?风云起变,王者之道,权于谁中?
  • 皇家鬼奴

    皇家鬼奴

    紫微星大盛,帝皇震怒,帝魔教南下寻找,穆家得知惊天秘闻,天下大势,扑朔迷离
  • 暗能时代

    暗能时代

    一百年前人类进入了暗能时代,林城作为一名华夏国著名大学的暗能阵法博士,因为自己的研究方向卷入了在大次元空间游荡了无数年的虚空领主对于地球的入侵计划,从而被国家安全局选中,同一起被选中的幻梦者落婵,暗能武者周豹,还有超级黑客莉娜一起经历的一次次的历险与斗争,最终为人类争取到了进入大虚空时代之前的缓冲时间。使人类在大虚空时代下的宇宙中立足成为可能。