“Oh, that’s all right. I’m from the South, and I never rode a horse with a record.”
“That’ll do first rate. Just skip around in there, and see what you can find out about Denver Bay; but before you go take a look at the men in the next stall. We may have further business with them.”
Chick opened the door and looked in.
“Purty drunk, I should say.”
“Yes, and I’ve got to wait around here until they get sober enough to make friends with. One of them works at a stable I want to know something about.[{15}]”
Chick now left the stall and hung about the place engaging in conversation with any one who would talk with him.
In a half hour he was back with his report.
“There’s some scheme afloat in regard to Denver Bay,” he said. “They’re having great sport over an old sucker who came in here this afternoon and put up a hundred on him at fifteen to one.”
“Yes, I’m the sucker. Well, find out all you can. Don’t go far away.”
After a time Nick heard faint sounds in the adjoining stalls as though the drunken men were regaining consciousness.