Santa Fe daily New Mexican., 1897-10-07
A GAMBLERS END.


come villain when men were such fools,
and to him it was more than easy. 1t was
o temptation we'll nigh irresistible, and
his upbringing, his early training and his
hard fight through life were not calculated
to help him to resist it, or to soften his
heart toward his victims.
He glanced at the flushed face of the
man before him-a man who was, after
all, little more than youth-and shrug
ged his shoulders.
1t was small thing he wanted-merely
an invitation to Grey's Court for month
-and he knew that Aubrey Garston could
not refuse him: he knew that the thought
of the money he owed him hung like a
millstone round his neck and tied his
hands.
"'You don't seem particularly anxious
to invite me-, he said presently, "Per
haps you're afraid
"Oh, nonsense!' Aubrey broke in abb
ruptly. "You know that's rubbish!
shall be very glad for you to come, and
I'll 60 off and write to the mater at once.
Farley is coming, and we can all 60 down
together. I'LL go and write now."
room, with it's handfuls of scattered men,
toward the door, He hummed tune as
he went, but he was thinking of the So, 900
he owed Boyd, and the thought of it made
him writhe. He saw no way of paying it
off, and so long as he owed it he was, to o
certain extent, in Boyd's power. He felt
Obliged to invite him to Grey's Court, his
mothers house in the country.
Boyd was a comparative stranger. He
had, through circumstances unknown to
his present comrades, lately changed regi-
ments, and the consequence was that no.
body knew much about him, but Garston,
perhaps because he had lost money to him
at cards, felt vaguely suspicious.
Outside the door he cannoned intoa man
in undress uniform.
ooh, Farley" he cried, II was just
coming to look for you I'm in mess
at least it's not exactly a mess" he cor
rected, "but DOM t know exactly what to
do"
He took Farley's arm, and they saun.
tered out together toward the barrack
square. There Aubrey tumbled into one
of the benches and stared abjectly at the
toes of his boots.
"Well, what is it?" Farley asked lightly.
"Money troubles again2"
"It-it's about Boyd. He wants an in
yitation to Greys Court for Il month";
"Did he ask for one?'' Farley inquired.
Aubrey nodded.
"Then it was like his confounded
cheek!'
eyes, 1 know" said Aubrey, "but
what am to do?'
Refuse him."
"Daren't!'
"Why mott"
"Well, you know, between ourselves,
owe him lot of money, and-and he's
got bills and things Of mine"
"And why don't you want him to go to
Grey's CourtS"
swell, don't like him, and-and, Far
ley, we are old friends, and can tell you
things that / shouldn't mention to any
one else. / can't help thinking that he
swindled me out Of that money. In my
own mind am certain of it, but he Is SC
confoundedly clever and he played SO care
fully nobody could tell. =
Farley's face darkened
"The fact is, }" said he, "you don't know
that he cheated. You only suspect, and
you can't convict man on suspicion, and
it's unfair to try. If you could prove IT.
he would be kicked out Of the regiment o.
course, but meanwhile, since he's had the
cheek to invite himself to Grey's Court
and you don't care to refuse him, sup
pose he'll have to come. You must make
the best of 1t, old man, and, after ALL
dare say he's not so objectionable Hi
may turn out jolly good sort in spite Of
his cheek, and we can but see.
Philip Boyd was handsome fellow. HI
was straight lilnbed and broad chested
and his face, though dark and at timel
sinister in expression, bore look Of re
flnement and the signs Of a struggle which
somehow went straight to the heart Of 9
woman.
No woman had ever stood In his way
No woman had ever held his ears for sin
gle hour, and noY at Grey 9 Court he fount
q girl whose gray eyes, looking into hi
own, aroused within him feeling which
he had never before experienced.
II was curious thing that when they
nll sat down to cards at night the look O
the girls eyes disconnected him and causet
his memory to play strange tricks. HI
forgot the cards, and he forgot TO cheat.
He said 1t WINS nonsense and called him
self fool. He knew that he was losing
money each night that they played, ant
yet he could not help himself. When bill
evil genius prompted him, her gray eyeI
checked him, and his hand lost its Gun
ming. He had played with all sorts O
people, with detectives and "sharpers'
even, and he had beaten them all. Nov
before the eyes Of an honest girl be felt al
stupid as an owl.
They had sat for a longer time than us
nal over their cigars, but at last PHILIP
Boyd rose and stretched himself and mad'
his way toward the drawing room. Th,
others followed. Garston had disappeared
some time since, and as Boyd opened the
door his was the first figure be saw.
He was seated In window corner, hal
concealed BY curtain, and opposite him
with downcast eyes, was Pauline Farley
Garston's g face, however, was not hidden
and when Boyd saw the expression h
caught his breath as II he had been sud
denly Immersed IN cold water, and whei