The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1897-12-21

"HCS DCct going FROM Ddd 10 UoFSe.'
these little details. I told the porter to
look after you and let me know the
moment you came. OF course you are
anxious about your boy"
81 am" said the old man firmly.
CHATS why I'm here."
Certainly, certainly. So are we all,
and 1 presume Pm the most anxious
man of the lot. Now what you want to
know is how he is getting along?"
eyes, l want to know tho truth"
"Well, unfortunately, the truth is
about as gloomy rs it Il be-. He's been
going from bad to worse, II no man is
moro sorry thar | am"
"Do you mean to tell me SOP"
"Yes There Ia no use deluding our.
selves. Frankly | have no hope for
him. There is not one chance in 10, 900
of his recovering his lost ground"
The old man caught his breath and
leaned on his cane for support. He real
lied now the h~Ollowness of his previous
anger. He had never for a moment be-
hcved the boy was going to tho bad.
Down underneath his crustiness were a
deep love for his son and II strong faith
IN him. He had allowed his old habit
of domincering to get tho better of him,
and now III searching after n phantom
he had suddenly come upon a CHASTITY
reality.
Look here" said the banker, MOTTO
ing his agitation, 'havo a drink Of our
special Scotch with me. It is the best
there is to be had for money. We al
ways take off our hats when we speak
of thu special in this club. Then we'll
go and SEQ how things are moving"
AS he turned to order the LIQUOR he
noticed for the first time the placard OH
the cup.
NOW, who the dickens put that
there?" he cried angrily. "There is no
use in giving up before you're thrashed."
Saying which he took off the placard,
tore it up and threw it into the waste
basket.
Does Richard drink" asked tho old
man huskily, remembering the eulogy
OH tho special.
BLESS you, no, nor smoke either; no,
nor gamble, which is more extraordi-
nary. No, it's all right for old fellows
like you and Ire to indulge in the spe-
cial-bless it!-hut a young man who
needs to keep his nerves in order has
to live like Il monk. 1 imagine it's a
love affair. OF course there's no use
asking you. You would be tho last one
to know. When he came in tonight, |
saw hc was worried over something. l
asked him what it was, but he declared
there was nothing wrong. Here's the
liquor. You'll find that it reaches the
spoJ.
Tho old man gulped down some of
the celebrated special; hen he said:
1T Is true that you induced my son
to join this club?"
Certainly. L heard what no could do
from Il man | had confidence in, and |
said to myself, we must have young
Saunders for Il member"
'Thcn don't you think you are large
ly to blame?"
"Oh, if you like to put it that way,
yes. Still, I'm the chief loser. I lose
$40, 600 by him."
Good God!' cried the stricken
father.
The banFnr looked at the old man n
little n%crvously, as if he feared his head
was not exactly right. Then he said:
"Of course you will be anxious to sec
how the thing ends. Come in with me,
but be careful the boy doesn't catch a
sight of you. 1t might rattle him. I'll
get you n place at the back, where you
can see without being seem"
They rose, m the banker led the
way on tiptoo through between tho cur
tains into a large room filed with silent
men earnestly watching a player at O
billiard table in the center OF the apart-
mehG. Temporary seats mao peen Quilt
around the walls, tier above tier. and
every place was taken. Saunders no.
tlced his son standing neal the table I'm
MS SHIRT sleeves, with his cue butt
wnw on the ground. His face was
pale and his lips compressed as no
Watched his opponents play like a man
FASCINATED Evidently his back was
against the wall, and he was fighting n
hopeless fighs, but was grit to the last.
Old Saunders only faintly understood
tho situation, but his whole sympatbv
went out to his boy, and he felt an in
stinotiye hatred of the confident oppo.
nent who was knocking tho balls about
WIN a reckless accuracy which was
evidently bringing dismay to the hearts
OF at least half Of the onlookcrs.
All mt once there was q burst OF an
plause, and the player stood up straight
with q laugh.
by Jove!" cried the banker. "He's
missed. Didn't put enough stick behind
1t. That comes of being too blamed
sure. Shouldn't wonder but there ia 90
ing to be a turn of luck. Perhaps you'll
prove q mascot, Mr.. Saundors."
He placed the old man on an elevated
seat at the back. There wax a buzz of
talk as young Saunders stood there
chaiking his cue, apparently loath to be.
gin.
Hammond mixed among the crowd
and spoke eagerly now to one, now to
another. Old Saunders said to the man
next him:
What Is it all about2 Is this an i'm
portant match?'
Important You bet it is. I supnose
there's more money ON this game than
was ever up on q billiard match before.
Why, julie Hammond alone has $40 600
on Saunders"
me Old man gave a qnivering sigh of
relief. He was beginning to understand.
The $40, 600, then, was not the azure
Of a defalcation.
Yes, continued the other, otis the
great match for the cup. There's been a
series OF games, and this Is the oulmi.
hating one. Prognor has won n and
Saunders one. Now this game settles IL.
Prognor Is the man 1T the High Fliers,
Hes good dno. Saunders won