The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1895-04-20
A USEFUL OPPONENT,

My husband was 4 gambler, mem
ber Of a prominent club. Night after
night I was left alone, while he pur-
sued his calling at the club, presum-
edly a gentleman, yet only intent upon
winning the money Of his acquaint-
ances.
Time after time I had urged him to
give I'D his despicable business but he
turned my entreates aside by offering
excuse, which were not at all satisfac-
tory.
we live WELL" he said, "and I need
money to pay our expenses. You are
well aware that when I married you l
had no visible means of support, al
though your parents were laboring 1ln-
der the most delightful delusion that
I was a1l illionaire and acatch in the
matrimonial market worth more than
passing attention. Therefore, when it
came to setting up a 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
mis- face and settled there.
when you know how [ suppose
you were going to say" l remarked,
wondering why 4 sentence should have
been begun only to be left unfinished.
Yes" he answered, in ali games
which combine chance with skill, the
skill is bound to tell in the long run.
With a cool hand and i 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.
My luck as you have good reason
to know has been phenomenal. It ac-
counts for the horses you drive; it
accounts for this luxurious furniture;
it accounts for my balance at the
bank. 1t has enabled me to keep yo1l
in the best society, in the fashionable
rircles which surrounded you when
you were born-tlestined to marry u
Standard Oil millionaire, OF the son
of 4 Sugar Trust Senator, at least,
if it had not been for the DennilcSs
adventurer who made such capital out
of his good looks and charming m;lH-
NerS-'
Good looks and charming manners.
indeed" l said, humping him on the
shoulder "Well, go on"
''That's ah,' he said
We'll, and what is there to prevent
YOU from leaving off now without
tempting Providence any farther:'
Coca gracious clild,' he said.
quite angrily, "dont you see? The
men in the club expect at least Il
chance Of getting some Of their money
back. They
Il don't see the good of winning at
all if you feel bound to go on playing
till you lose
Il don't intand to lose he. said,
quietly. winning back lost money
is the most expensive game a gambler
plays. It makes him demoralized and
reckless. Besides, people grow sus-
picious Of q 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.
''HCracc--'
A neat maid opened the door and
brought in 4 note on a tray It is
unusual Tor notes to arrive at three
o'clock IL the morning, but Horace
Lilslcy did not seem in the least SUI
prissnd.
He took it, read it through quickly.
then tore it into fragments. and put
them carefully, very carefully, in the
fire.
llc watched the flames lean uNOn
them, he watched the blackened scraps
of paper c,lr< and break into !: thou
sand pieces
. Ihank IIcavcn.' he said. Then he
drew a t|"tp breath Of relief.
Il shall have to so out for half an
hour. he remarked. getting UP ana
holding out his coat for me to put on.
He turned as ne reached the door and
kissed his hand. an unusually serious
expression i'll his face "Pnrhaps |
shall manage to take Your advice after
all he said. with 4 forced ATTEMPT to
smile. 'only YOU must give me time'
l Spran:; to my feet but he Was gone.
Then my pcnt-up feelings found IN
outlet. and [ cried Il little to myself,
Wondering ut the secret trouble which
was %l;eWing at 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 Il week must have
passed since that nocturnal conyersa-
tiun with my husband, and Cushnore
was landing at the window Of the
Nonpariel Club talking with my broth
rr Lacy.
Well, if you don't know who the
fellow is I'm sure nobody else docs,'
he said. Lacy had a reputation for
knowing everybody in the city: Il
can't imagine how he ever came to be
elected, OF, rather, why we never
blackballed him. There was q time
when We were select at the Nonparie]
Club, at all .events.'
He played a confoundedly good
game Of cards. said my brother. He
had an intense admiration for any one
who could make money.
80 much the worse" said Cush.
q more, turning his pockets inside oul
with a comic gesture of despair. He
cleaned me out last night One does
+ ,s,,J ,,oSe fn fol