I got this fair-condition little softcover from Better World Books. I love the Penguin 60s series, both for their bite-sized-literature format and because they fit neatly into most geocaches! This one contains several stories of Runyon's colorful gamblers and crooks, all narrated in his imitable style, and I thoroughly enjoyed each one. From the title story, in which a plan to gain some cash by kidnapping a well-off bookie takes several delightful swerves to the darker "Sense of Humour", in which an annoying neighborhood wiseguy loses his girlfriend to a mobster and attempts vengeance, they're colorful and captivating - and sometimes unnerving.

"A Very Honourable Guy" is another rivals-in-love story, with a very different tone than "Sense of Humour" - here, a fellow known for his strict code of personal honour arranges to sell his own body to a doctor - delivery in four weeks' time - in order to get enough cash to entice his lady-love to spend his remaining days with him. Again, some very nifty twists occur, and in this case the conclusion's a bit more upbeat.

Then there's the tale about the bloodhounds, and the one about the racehorse that only excels in mud... Quite a nice selection for such a slim book, and very entertaining!

[There's a TV Tropes page on Runyon and some of his work.]

I left this little book in the Just Kidding geocache on the grounds of the John Jay Homestead in Katonah NY. Hope the finder enjoys it!

*** Released as part of the 2016 What's In A Name release challenge. ***

*** Released as part of the 2016 D for December release challenge. ***