The Washington times., 1894-05-13
$50. The ruling passion got hold Of him again

fi0 The ruling passion got hold Of him again
at once-he forgot ali his past experiences.
and with this small capital tempted fortune
again. Kemp.on Park races were on at the
end of the week. He went, and on the first
day gave the forty "a chance" and came
home with iifty-pound note TO the good;
the next day he was less fortunate. but he
cleared fi0 and now he was once more the
possessor Of f100.
Now, that the excitement OF the turf was on
him again he forgot all about the letter lying
locked up in the drawer at home for a time
When he remembered it he thought he
wouldn't bother any more about the matter
but post it and trouble no further about the
secret which had come into his possession such
a peculiar way.
One night, after returning from q race
meeting, where he had managed to run his
winnings into $500, he went to the drawer,
unlocked it, took the letter, reread it, and
put it into the envelope, and was about to
fasten it down with some gum. when his wife,
wno had been visiting some friends. came in,
and he slipped the letter into the envelope
and put 1t open into his pocsetbook, which he
had just had out to look at his winnings. His
wife had come in hoping to find him at home.
as her father was spending the evening at her
friends house and she WAS anxious that Tom
should go back with her and finish the even
ing there, and as he hadn't been out with his
wife for some time and he was in u very good
humor over his run Of luck he at<once con-
sented to go.
l. was a very merry evening, and after sup
per, when the spirits came upon the scene.
Tom began to brag of his luck and his In
ial,ible system. etc., and pulled out his pocket
book and showed q 4500 to the company.
Then he said: II changed that for book
maker this afternoon, and only fortnight
ago l started racing again with e.. That's
not bad, is it?
Mrs. Enters father shook his head. Light
come. light go. my boy" he said. I'D very
by hard work" Tom shrugged his shoulders
and put the note back again in his book in n
little bit OF a huff. and soon afterward he said
to his wife, "Come, Maggie, it's time TO be
going" and they said ''Good night and went
home.
The next morning Tom remembered the
| letter. and determined TO post it. He couldn't
| find any gum, SO he got stick Of sealing wax
| and sealed the envelope down, and went on
to the postoflce, which was close at hand,
| and slipped the letter into the box.
"There." he said, '.that's of my mind.
After all the thing mightn't have been much
use to me. There's nothing in it but a
woman's threat of what she will do II her
husband doesn't write to her, and there may
| No; 1t wouldn't have been good game, and
should never have thought OF it ii hadn't
been So desperately hard up.''
After posting the letter he took a little
walk and went home to lunch. There was no
| big meeting on, and the little one was further
than Tom cared to journey, So he was having
a quiet day with his wife.
After lunch the conversation turned on do
nestle matters, and Maggie Enifer suggested
that as Tom had made such lot OF money
he might go out shopping with her, as she
wanted to buy new mantle.
Tom was nothing 10th, but remembered
| that he had only couple OF sovereigns and
$500 note. and that he would have to get II
changed somewhere where he was known, as
| it was rather big to offer over the counter.
He took out his pocketbook, searched It in
every compartment, and then turned as white
| as sheet.
s'what's the matter. Tcm?''
"The notes gone,' he exclaimed.
.'What the i've hundred?'
"Yes.''
"Nonsense. dear, feel In your pockets"
Tom felt in every pocket, he turned the
pocketbook inside out, he looked on the floor
in the stting-room, in the bedroom, every.
where, but there was no sign Of note
! He jumped into hanson and drove to the