kind of settlement, you should have placed two separate bets. As it is, this is all one bet and will have to be paid all at once. Good day, gentlemen.”
Back go our friends to Mr. Lamster in the hotel. He is not particularly perturbed and quiets Mr. Ryan’s misgivings about the $50,000 check he has just signed.
“Just be patient and don’t get excited,” says Lamster, “and everything will be all right. Don’t worry about it.”
“Can’t you give us some more tips, and maybe we could build up what cash we have into enough to redeem the check,” suggests Mr. Fink.
“I wish I could,” says Mr. Lamster. “But I haven’t any more coming through today. That check will have to be taken care of immediately. Why don’t you go back and talk to the manager privately and see what kind of settlement he will give you? Ask him to give you a little time on the check and we’ll think of some way to cover it.”
Ryan and Fink find the club still open and going strong. They ask for a private conference with the manager. He keeps them waiting for some time. Then he ushers them into his private office.
“We are the men who won that $256,000 this afternoon,” begins Mr. Ryan.
“What $256,000?” asks the manager, looking at them blankly. “What are your names? The play here is so heavy that I can’t possibly keep track of all of it.”
“This is James Ryan and I am William Fink,” says Mr. Fink, producing one of his business cards. “The bet was made in Mr. Ryan’s name.”
The manager picks up one of his numerous telephones and buzzes. “Bring in the file on Ryan, James,” he says.
The other ’phones on his desk ring busily. Another clerk answers them, taking down large bets. He turns to the manager. “Excuse me,” he says, “but Mr. Whitney wants to put $250,000 on Sorteado to win at 3–1.”
“That’s fine,” says the manager. “Take it and ask for more of it. They all have to go round and round before they win. And don’t bother me with those details.”
The assistant cashier comes in with a file. It contains the betting slip, the check, and a note to the effect that the slip is not to be cashed until the check is cleared.
“Oh, yes,” says the manager, “I remember you men now. I was lucky to catch the cashier just paying you off. That was very lax. This club protects its members carefully against impostors and fourflushers. I believe you came in here on rather questionable credentials.”
“We have a guest card, but we won’t argue about that,” says Mr. Ryan. “But please don’t send that check back immediately. I can deposit the cash in a local bank very soon, and you can clear it through. But right now I am somewhat embarrassed for funds in my home bank.”
“Then you shouldn’t have written the check,” says the manager. “But I’ll give you a chance to redeem this check if it is done quickly. I still have it here. It should go through the bank immediately, but I’ll hold it for a short time. You deposit the $50,000 cash in our bank. That will show that you could have paid the bet in case you had lost. That is very important.”
“You’ll hold my check for, say, a week?” asks Mr. Ryan.
“Yes, although it is not quite regular,” answers the manager.
Ryan and Fink go back to the hotel to report their success to Mr. Lamster. Ryan feels quite proud of the concession he has gained, and shows it. Mr. Fink likes him less and less. He would like to see him cut out of the dealentirely. They hold a council to see how the money can be raised quickly. This stage of the game, designed to show the con men exactly how much money their victim can raise, is known as the “breakdown.”
“I might have known that you men would get into a jam,” says Mr. Lamster, “but now that you are in it, I’ll do all I can to get you out. I don’t want to see you lose that money. But, on the other hand, I can’t afford to interfere with my own business. Mr. Ryan, how much cash can you
Back go our friends to Mr. Lamster in the hotel. He is not particularly perturbed and quiets Mr. Ryan’s misgivings about the $50,000 check he has just signed.
“Just be patient and don’t get excited,” says Lamster, “and everything will be all right. Don’t worry about it.”
“Can’t you give us some more tips, and maybe we could build up what cash we have into enough to redeem the check,” suggests Mr. Fink.
“I wish I could,” says Mr. Lamster. “But I haven’t any more coming through today. That check will have to be taken care of immediately. Why don’t you go back and talk to the manager privately and see what kind of settlement he will give you? Ask him to give you a little time on the check and we’ll think of some way to cover it.”
Ryan and Fink find the club still open and going strong. They ask for a private conference with the manager. He keeps them waiting for some time. Then he ushers them into his private office.
“We are the men who won that $256,000 this afternoon,” begins Mr. Ryan.
“What $256,000?” asks the manager, looking at them blankly. “What are your names? The play here is so heavy that I can’t possibly keep track of all of it.”
“This is James Ryan and I am William Fink,” says Mr. Fink, producing one of his business cards. “The bet was made in Mr. Ryan’s name.”
The manager picks up one of his numerous telephones and buzzes. “Bring in the file on Ryan, James,” he says.
The other ’phones on his desk ring busily. Another clerk answers them, taking down large bets. He turns to the manager. “Excuse me,” he says, “but Mr. Whitney wants to put $250,000 on Sorteado to win at 3–1.”
“That’s fine,” says the manager. “Take it and ask for more of it. They all have to go round and round before they win. And don’t bother me with those details.”
The assistant cashier comes in with a file. It contains the betting slip, the check, and a note to the effect that the slip is not to be cashed until the check is cleared.
“Oh, yes,” says the manager, “I remember you men now. I was lucky to catch the cashier just paying you off. That was very lax. This club protects its members carefully against impostors and fourflushers. I believe you came in here on rather questionable credentials.”
“We have a guest card, but we won’t argue about that,” says Mr. Ryan. “But please don’t send that check back immediately. I can deposit the cash in a local bank very soon, and you can clear it through. But right now I am somewhat embarrassed for funds in my home bank.”
“Then you shouldn’t have written the check,” says the manager. “But I’ll give you a chance to redeem this check if it is done quickly. I still have it here. It should go through the bank immediately, but I’ll hold it for a short time. You deposit the $50,000 cash in our bank. That will show that you could have paid the bet in case you had lost. That is very important.”
“You’ll hold my check for, say, a week?” asks Mr. Ryan.
“Yes, although it is not quite regular,” answers the manager.
Ryan and Fink go back to the hotel to report their success to Mr. Lamster. Ryan feels quite proud of the concession he has gained, and shows it. Mr. Fink likes him less and less. He would like to see him cut out of the dealentirely. They hold a council to see how the money can be raised quickly. This stage of the game, designed to show the con men exactly how much money their victim can raise, is known as the “breakdown.”
“I might have known that you men would get into a jam,” says Mr. Lamster, “but now that you are in it, I’ll do all I can to get you out. I don’t want to see you lose that money. But, on the other hand, I can’t afford to interfere with my own business. Mr. Ryan, how much cash can you
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