San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1897-09-08
AND THE RIGOR OF THE GAME.

Please don't ask me again. Anyhow, l
know it is father who wants me to stay,
not you. | presume he's ON the duty
tack. think what he has to say will
keep till tomorrow night. If he must
work off some of his sentiments on
gambling, let him place his efforts
where they are needed-let him tackle
julie Hammond, but not during business
hours
You surely don mean to say that
q respected business mana banker like
Mr.. Hammond-gambles?''
Don't /? Why Hammond's plum
ger from Plungerville, if you know what
that means. From to he is the strict.
est and best business man in the city.
If you spoke to him then of the True
Blue Athletic club, he wouldn't know
what you were talking about, but after
O'Clock he'll take any odds you like to
offer, from matching pennies to backing
an unknown horse.
Mrs. Saunders sighed. twas wicked
world into which her boy had to go to
earn his living, evidently.
''And now, mother, must really be
off. I'll stay at home tomorrow night
and take my scolding like man. Good
night"
He kissed her and hurried away be-
FORE sne could say anything more, leav-
ing her sitting there with folded hands
to await, with her customary patience
and just a trifie of apprehension, the
coming of her husband There was no
installing the heavy football. Mrs
Saunders smiled sadly as she heard it,
remembering that Dick had said once
that, even if he were safe within the
gates of paradise, the sound of his ia
theirs footsteps would make the chills
run mp his backbone. She had reproved
the levity of the remark at the time,
but she often thought of it, especially
when she knew there was trouble ahead
AS there usually was.
where's Richard? Isn't he home
yeti" were the old mans first words.
"He has been home, but he had to go
out again. He had an appointment.
"Did you tell him 1 wanted to speak
with him?'
Eyes, and he said he would stay
home tomorrow night +"
"Did he know that said tonight"
"I'm sure that told him you
Don't shuttle, now He either knew
or did not Which is it?''
"Yes, he knew, but he thought it
might not he urgent and he"-
THAT will do. Where is his appoint
ment?'
'At the club, think. .
"Ah-h-hW The old man dwelt ON the
exclamation as if he had at last drawn
out the reluctant worst
did he say when be would be homer"
"No."
Every we'll I will wait half an hour
for him, and if he is not in by that time
I will go to his club and have my talk
with him there. "
Old Mr.. Saunders sat grimly down
with his hat still ON and crossed his
hands over the knob of his stout walk
ing stick. watching the clock that licked
slowly against the wall. Under these
distressing circumstances the old wom-
an lost her presence of mind and did
the very thing she should not have
done. She should have agreed with
him, but instead of that she opposed the
plan and SO made 1t inevitable. It
would be a cruel thing, she said, to
shame their son before his friends, to
make him laughing stock among his
acquaintances Whatever was to be said
could be said as well tomorrow night
as tonight, and that in their own home,
where, at least, no stranger would over
hear. As the old man made no answer,
but silently watched the clock, she be-
came almost indignant with him. She
felt she was culpable in entertaining
even the suspicion Of such a feeling
against her lawful husband, but it did
seem to her that he was not acting ju-
diciously toward Dick. She hoped she
might turn his resentment from their
son to herself and would have welcomed
any outburst that would be directed
against her alone. In this excited state,
being brought, as it were, to bay, she
had the temerity to say:
You were wrong about one thing,
and you may also be wrong in thinking
Dick-in-in what you think asout
Dick -
The old man darted one lowering
look at her, and though she trembled
she welcomed the glance as indicating
the success of her red herring.
What was / wrong about?"
You were wrong-Mr. Hammond
knows Dick is a member of the club.
He is a member himself, and be insist
ed that Dick join. That's why he raised
his salary"