Banneker, gazing longingly at the bright turf of the field, accepted. Polo is to The Retreat what golf is to green bay packers jerseys
the average country club. The news that Archie Densmore had a new
player down for a try-out brought to the side-lines a number of the
old-time followers of the game, including Poultney Masters, the autocrat
of Wall Street and even more of The Retreat, whose stables he, in large
measure, supported. In the third period, the stranger went in at Number
Three on the pink team. He played rather poorly, but there was that in
his style which encouraged the enthusiasts. "He's material," grunted old
Masters, blinking his pendulous eyelids, as Banneker, accepting the
challenge of Jim Maitland, captain of the opposing team and roughest of
players, for a ride-off, carried his own horse through by sheer
adroitness and daring, and left the other rolling on the turf. "Anybody
know who he is?" "Heard Archie call him Banker, I think," answered one
of the great man's hangers-on. Later, Banneker having changed, sat in an
angled window of the clubhouse, waiting for his host, who had returned
from the stables. A group of members entering the room, and concealed
from him by an L, approached the fireplace talking briskly. "Dick says
the feller's a buffalo bills jerseys
reporter," declared one of them, a middle-aged man named Kirke. "Says
he saw him tryin' to interview somebody on the Street, one day." "Well, I
don't believe it," announced an elderly member. "This chap of
Densmore's looks like a gentleman and dresses like one. I don't believe
he's a reporter. And he rides like a devil." "_I_ say there's ridin' and
ridin'," proclaimed Kirke. "Some fellers ride like jockeys; some
fellers ride like cowboys; some fellers ride like gentlemen. I say this
reporter feller don't ride like a gentleman." "Oh, slush!" said another
discourteously. "What is riding like a gentleman?" Kirke reverted to the
set argument of his type. "I'll betcha a hundred he don't!" "Who's to
settle such a bet?" "Leave it to Maitland," said somebody. "I'll leave
it to Archienew orleans saints jerseys
Densmore if you like," offered the bettor belligerently. "Leave it to
Mr. Masters," suggested Kirke. "Why not leave it to the horse?" The
suggestion, coming in a level and unconcerned tone from the depths of
the chair in which Banneker was seated, produced an electrical effect.
Banneker spoke only because the elderly member had walked over to the
window, and he saw that he must be discovered in another moment. Out of
the astonished silence came the elderly member's voice, gentle and firm.
"Are you the visitor we have been so frankly discussing?" "I assume
so." "Isn't it rather unfortunate thatwww.greenbaypackersjerseys-shop.com
you did not make your presence known sooner?" "I hoped that I might
have a chance to slip out unseen and save you embarrassment." The other
came forward at once with hand outstretched. "My name is Forster," he
said. "You're Mr. Banker, aren't you?" "Yes," said Banneker, shaking
hands. For various reasons it did not seem worth while to correct the
slight error. "Look out! Here's the old man," said some one. Poultney
Masters plodded in, his broad paunch shaking with chuckles. "'Leave it
to the horse,'" he mumbled appreciatively. "'Leave it to the horse.'
It's good. It's damned good. The right answer. Whoclay matthews jersey
but the horse should know whether a man rides like a gentleman! Where's
young Banneker?" Forster introduced the two. "You've got the makings of
a polo-man in you," decreed the great man. "Where are you playing?"
"I've never really played. Just practiced." "Then you ought to be with
us. Where's Densmore? We'll put you up and have you in by the next
meeting." "A reporter in The Retreat!" protested Kirke who had proffered
the bet. "Why not?" snapped old Poultney Masters. "Got any objections?"
Since the making or marring of his fortunes, like those of hundreds of
other men, lay in the pudgy hollow of the financier's hand, poor Kirke
had no objections which he could not and did not at once swallow. The
subject of the flattering offer had, however. "I'm much obliged," said aaron rodgers jersey
he. "But I couldn't join this club. Can't afford it." "You can't afford
not to. It's a chance not many young fellows from nowhere get."
"Perhaps you don't know what a reporter's earnings are, Mr. Masters."
The rest of the group had drifted away, in obedience, Banneker
suspected, to some indication given by Masters which he had not
perceived. "You won't be a reporter long. Opportunities will open out
for a young fellow of your kind." "What sort of opportunities?" inquired
Banneker curiously. "Wall Street, for example." "I don't think I'd like
charles woodson jersey
the game. Writing is my line. I'm going to stick to it." "You're a
fool," barked Masters. "That is a word I don't take from anybody,"
stated Banneker. "_You_ don't take? Who the--" The raucous snarl broke
into laughter, as the other leaned abruptly forward. "Banneker," he
said, "have you got _me_ covered?
