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 hit me just as hard as anybody, for I had an idea we'd bag it, dead sure."

"And your confidence, which you expressed unreserved last night, cost me good money," murmured Fancy.

"You've won enough in the past to stand one or two losings."

"I wish you could give us an idea what you propose to do," urged Jorkins.

"I don't mind sayin', confidential, that I mean to do some chinnin' with Bob Hutchinson."

"How is that going to help us?" questioned Butler, in doubt.

Riley winked shrewdly. "Hutch ain't handlin' a team in this bush league from choice, or for his health, and I know enough about him to hang him. He's in a position to muddle things for the Kinks, and, if I have to, I can make him do it. I'll get busy with Hutch to-night. Leave it to me, gents."

"I'd rather beat them on the square," said Kilgore.

"I never knew a lawyer to worry much about the way he won; they'll gener'lly grab at anything that'll land 'em on top. Of course, we'd all ruther trim the Kinks on the level; but we can't let them trim us, no matter what we have to do."

"If we did let 'em," said Dyke, "some of the