Later the Bald-faced Kid came to Old Man Curry in the paddock.
"Elisha looks awful good," said he, "and they're commencing to set in the checks. He opened at 4 to 1, went up to 6, and they've hammered him down to 2 to 1 now. I hear they're playing the bulk of their money in the pool rooms all over the coast.... Elisha looks as if he could win, eh?"
Old Man Curry combed his beard.
"You can't always tell by the looks of a melon what's inside it, my son."
"Engle is telling everybody that the horse ain't quite ready," persisted the hustler. "Of course they don't want everybody betting on him and spoiling the price."
"He's doing 'em a kindly act without knowing it," said Old Man Curry. "That's 'bout the only way he'll ever do one, Frank, unbeknownst like."
"You're not betting on this one?" asked the Kid.
"Not a thin dime's worth. It's too far for him."
"I give it up." The Kid shook his head, hopelessly. "You're too many for me."