must still govern his actions. Instinctively he felt that he must win
the girl by diplomacy; and Crane's idea of diplomacy was to get a man
irrevocably in his power. If John Porter were indebted to him beyond
redemption, if he practically owned Ringwood, why should he not succeed
with Allis? All his life he had gone on in just that way, breaking men,
for broken men were beyond doubt but potter's clay.

Langdon bought The Dutchman. What methods he employed Crane took no
pains to discover; in fact, stopped Langdon abruptly when he sought to
enlarge on the difficulties he had overcome in the purchase. The price
was the only item that interested Crane--seven thousand dollars; that
included everything--even the secret service money.

The horse acquired, Crane had one more move to make; he sent for Jakey
Faust, the Bookmaker. Faust and Crane had a reciprocal understanding.
When the Bookmaker needed financial assistance he got it from the
Banker; when Crane needed a missionary among the other bookmakers, Faust
acted for him.

"I want to back Lucretia for the 'Eclipse,"' Crane said to the
bookmaker.

"Lucretia," ejaculated Faust. "She'll have a rosy time beatin' Dutchy
on their last race. They'll put a better boy up on the colt next time,
an' he ought to come home all by himself" "Yes, a fairish sort of a jock
will have the mount I think-Westley's a good enough boy."

"Westley?" came wonderingly from Faust.

"Yes; Langdon owns The Dutchman now."