“Not if you adhere to the resolution expressed yesterday afternoon, to let the horse go in the race.” “It isn’t any use to try to pump you, I see,” said the broker, with a smile. “You will have your own way.” “I usually do.” “You’re lucky.” “Now to business,” said Nick, taking a slip of paper from his pocket. “If you still desire the case to go on as originally mapped out you must go to this address at ten o’clock with nine hundred dollars in currency, and stake it on Denver Bay.” “But, my dear sir, I have too much money on Denver Bay now.” “Count this as part of the expenses of the case, then. I put up a hundred as a forfeit last night against a thousand.” “In other words, ten thousand dollars will be staked against a thousand.” “That’s it.” “You have a great deal of confidence in the horse, and also in your ability to make the race a square one.” “I never copper my own bets.” The broker took the required amount of money from the safe and put it into his pocket. “What sort of a place is it?” “It’s a gambling house, but you will be used respectfully, and any money staked there in the regular way is safe.” “Shall I find you here when I return?” “No; I’m going a part of the way with you.” “Why not all the way?” “I have reasons of my own for not doing so.” The two men passed out of the office together, and were soon in the vicinity of the gambling house. The broker passed up the stairs, and Nick stood in a neighboring doorway carelessly smoking a cigar. In a few moments the broker reappeared, and was about to approach the spot where Nick stood when a quick motion informed him that he was to pass on without recognition. “Did he make the bet?” Nick asked, seeming to address no one in particular. The broker nodded and went on. Before long the man with whom Nick had conversed the previous evening passed down the stairs, and took his way to a neighboring pool-room. The detective followed until there was no doubt as to where the man was going, and then walked about the street for some moments in deep thought. When he finally entered the pool-room the man stood at the desk talking with the proprietor. “There is no doubt in my mind,” Nick heard the latter say, “regarding the horse’s ability to win. The only question is whether the boys will do their work well.” “You can’t gamble on anybody’s honesty when it comes to dollars and cents,” was the reply. “The other side has the age now, and can afford to put up a lot of money to have things go their way.” “Well, you’ll have to take your own chances.” “I suppose so.” “You’re too old a sport to get bluffed into a bet of that size.” “Yes, I ought not to have done it.” “There may be some way out of it yet.” “I’ll try and find some way,” said the other, with a scowl as he turned away.