The Dickinson press., 1894-11-10
A USEFUL OPPONENT

eddy a gentleman, yet only intent upon
winning the money Of his ~acquaint.
ances.
Time after time I had urged him to
give up his dcspicable business but he
turned my entreaties aside by Offering
excuses which were not at all satlsfac-
tory.
we live WE'LL" he said, land I need
money to pay u expenses. You are
well aware that when I married you I
had no visible means Of support, al
though your parents We're labOring un-
der the most delightful delEsiOn That
I was a.l i%llionaire and acatch in the
matrimonial market worth more than
passing attention. Therefore, when 1t
came to setting up q house l had to
make some money. And money l
made by playing cards, which is easy
enough when you know"
A peculiar expression fitted across
his face and settled there.
When you know how I suppose
you were going to say" I remarked,
wondering why a sentence should have
been begun only to be left unfinished.
YES" he answered, Tin all games
which combine chance with skin, the
skill is bound to tell in the long run.
With q cool hand and a level head the
odds are in your favor, especially when
you are playing against men with
more money than brains and fonder Of
whisky than soda. p
"My luck US you have good reason
to know has been phenomenal. 1t &c
counts for the horses you drive; 1t
accounts for this luxurious furniture;
1 a. 0nnNpvrt0 <0S sNnNv hn0onnN 0f thna
bank. 1t has enabled me to keep you
in the best society, in the fashionable
circles which surrounded you when
you were born-destined to marry q
Standard Oil millionaire, or the son
Of a Sugar Trust Senator, ut least,
II 1t had not been for the ~penniless
%adventurer who made such capital out
of his good looks and charming man
Good looks and charming manners,
indeed" I said. humping nlm on the
shoulder. "Wcll, 60 on"
That's ALL" he said.
well, and what is there to prevent
you from leaving of now without
tempting Providence any farther"
"Gocd gracious child" he said,
quite angrily, don't you see? The
men in the club expect at least q
chance Of getting some of their money
II don't see the good Of winning at
all If you feel bound to 60 on playing
till you lose"
I don't intend to lose," he said,
quietly. winning BACK lost money
ia the most expensive game a gambler
plays. 1t makes him demoralized and
reckless. Besides, people grow sus
picious of a man who gives up play
before play gives him up. Society
would have nothing to do with US
were the ghost of a suspicion cast on
my honesty by some evil minded fellow
at the club. The loss of society's smile
would be nothing to me, but to you"
Nothing to him, indeed!
"Horace--"
A neat maid opened the door and
brought in q note on a tray. 1t is
unusual for notes to arrive at three
o'clock IN the morning, but Horace
Linley did not seem in the least sur.
prised.
He took 1t, read 1t through quickly,
then tore it into fragments, and put
them carefully, very carefully, In the
fire.
He watched the flames leap upon
u1cLl, ue WilCucu luS SCRAPS
of paper curl and break into q thou
sand pieces.
Thank Heavenw he said. Then he
drew a deep breath of relief.
II shall have to 20 out for half an
hour" he remarked, getting up and
holding out his coat for me to put on.
He turned as he reached tho door and
kissed his hand, an unusually serious
expression in his face. perhaps I
shall manage to take your advice after
ALL" he said, with a forced attempt to
smile, 'only you must give me time"
sprang to my feet but he was gone.
Then my pent-up feelings found an
outlet. and I cried a little to myself,
wondering ut the secret trouble which
was gnawing ut my husbands heart.
That look on his face haunted me all
night and for many a long day after.
Laurence Cushmore, my husbands
friend. told me afterward, the end of
the story, although he never guessed
the truth. About q week must have
passed since that nocturnal converse
ton with my husband, and CushmOre
was landing at the window Of the
Nonpariel Club talking with my broth
er Lacy.
We'll, If you don't know who the
fellow is I'm sure nobody else Does
he said. Lacy had a reputation fol
knowing everybody in tho city. II
can't imagine how he ever came to be
elected, or, rather, why we never
blackballed him. There was q time
when we were select at the Nonpariel
Club, at all events"
HE played q confoundedly good
game Of cards." said my brother. tle
had an intense admiration for any one
who could make money.
$50 much the worse" said Cush
more, turning his pockets inside out
with a comic gesture of despair. He
cleaned me out last night. One Goet
not mind losing ones moaey to a fel
low like Horace Linley, that lucl:y
brother-in-law Of yours, but when &
comes TO an interloper like this mar
Ralsam. or whatever the fellows name
ia, it-well, you know what I mean
He's SO eoufou4dedly confident ahpu1
his luck, too. Brags about it ali TIL
time. BY Jove,I would give anything
to see him feeced-not that I have
much left that is worth having even a
a gift"
Horace is the only man who could
prove amatch for him"
"And Lialey won't play with thu
brute. small blame to him either
"Linley is going to play with him to
night"
Both the men turned, and found
Jared Henderson ut their elbow,
.pon't YOU helieYe it" said Lacy
helping himself to o Cigar from til,
newcomers case.
TITS o fact. They are to play poke,
ten dollars ante, and betting uRlimit
ed"
Cushmore whistled.
Horace refused to have anything t,
do with him last night; whereupol
Balsam remarked::And just as well
too, If he wants to keep his reputation
as the best player in the club whicl
hNrApuh< fnlAvv ~ - AlN4 --AoAn1~ Hf1~