Five Thousand an Hour: How Johnny Gamble Won the Heiress

ttended by a young man who wore a hundred-dollar suit and smiled feebly whenever he caught an eye. In his right hand he carried Miss Polly Parsons' gloves and parasol; in his lef

u certainly are some Con! Every time I see you in a new gown I change my dressmaker. Hello, boys!" She shook hands cordially with all of them as

appy as ever, Polly,

. "I've added three thousand to-day to the subscription lis

things from his left to his right hand, dropped the lady's handkerchief and picked it up, smiled feebly

d. "Another day's work as good as thi

between her and Polly, looked d

on't you think?" he remark

t want to double names on this list. We'll spring another one when we're ready to equip and run the

oming from that direction, and he looked up immediately. "Come right up he

hot there," he cheerfully assured her,

s name this list is closed

ownley. "Johnny probably hasn't enough money

d to seeing him with money that I don't t

relessly against the rail. "Here comes Ashley Loring. He can tell y

as he came into the box. "Aside from a mere detail like that, I don't mind saying that Johnny Gam

heartily. "I think he's the o

t!" protested Val

; but I know so much about Johnny. He helps people, then hides so he can't be thanke

idious distaste every time she spoke. He was a rather silent young man with a thin hig

m," said Polly pleasantly. "I hadn't notice

to Polly's sweeping generalities, laug

Gamble

furtive glance in the direction of Miss Joy

ubscription list into the pocket of Sammy C

informed her, heartily glad to see he

ome friends of mine, Johnny." And, with vast pride in her acquaintanceship

e, born in a two-room cottage and with sordid experiences behind him of which he did not like to think in this company, dropped his eyes; whereupon Miss Constance Joy, who had been cradled under silken

ling us most pleasant thin

olly?" he inqu

y happily. "It's the first time I ever h

ly, figuring vaguely that someb

with a deliberate intention of humiliating this child of no one. "M

eyes in Gresham's direction. "Mr. Loring just close

a cheerful laugh. "I have check-write

out it. We've found a big, hundred-room summer hotel, with two hundred acres of ground, on a high bluff overlooking

or. "Put me down for-" He checked himself ruefully. "I forgot

& Company, Johnny. Take me over to him and watch me fool him when he says he has no check-book with hi

sed Sammy dutifully bringing up the rear

s out some queer pe

Constance quickly advised him. "I'm inclined to a

to Polly," remarked Aunt Pattie as s

Polly," corrected

e was more logically calculati

amble. "When you picked a cousin you made some c

he best engagement I ever had. I wasn't a star, but I was featured and was making an awful hit. I went right to the house, though, and stayed two months-till Billy died. Then I went back to work; but I hated it. Well, along toward the last they'd got so friendly that I was awful lonesome. It wasn't

his breat

ucky kid!"

tensity of his tone which mad

in love with her,

. "I never tried it; b

ed; "it's too easy. You can fall in

e assured her. "I pla

k here, Johnny; if none of her own set can ring h

. "I get you, Polly. You mean I'm not i

others," sh

," he earnestly informed her.

you're at it! What

ck's tha

never c

tie and I would. I ha

u could get Constance, too!" she added with suddenly accelerated belief i

Gresham

s popular with her as a flea with a dog; but he goes with

her aunt

he didn't like before she could die. The last time she decided to give Constance a chance, made a new will and took sick the same night. Constance has the interest on her

she?" commiserated Joh

ast enough for her to marry Gresham's father, who would have been a lord if every

llion. I'll get her another

e you start," she suggested. "T

retorted. "I own all the to-morrows in the

t to let me get even. All right, then; be stingy! Where's Sammy?" She had been feeling in both sleeves with a trace of annoyance, and now she turned to discover Sammy a few paces back, idly watching a police

ing the departing messenger. "Follow you home

ticks around. I can't get rid of it, so I

Rather incredulously, he saw her still in the lead at the half. He was eager about it when she rounded the three-quarters with nothing but daylight before her; and as she came down the stretch, with Nautchautauk reaching out for her flanks, he stuck the ash-end of his cigar in his mouth and did not see the finish. He knew, by the colossal groan from the grandstand, however, that Angora had beaten t