Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1900-08-11
1.-THE GAMBLER. :

ALL 0x4UX OAL1kH
In room of a Gibraltar hotel sat
Beryl Falkiner, looking white and anx-
mamie was hardly more than a boy, in
an officers uniform. They were the only
occupants of the room, and glance at
their faces revealed that they were
brother and sister.
The boy was gazing with set express
sion at an open letter he held in his hand.
He was deadly pale.
Every penny of my money will have
to go to save the honor of the firm, he
read out. "Oh. it's awful! Do you grasp
what it means to you, Beryl?
Not so much to me as to you, Ted,
dearw she said bravely. II shall be able
| to be a gOvernesS or something, but you
you will have to give up the regiment
! sell outI'
The boy sank into a chair and buried
his face in his hands.
His sister went to him and twincd her
! arm about him.
I'VE must think" she said softly.
that it means more to the dear old fa-
ther than any one else! We shall have
to try and do our best to put things
straight for him. l know it will be hard
leaving the regiment, but"
Its not that" he burst out.
What then, Ted, dear?" she said anx-
iousIy
He raised his head and turned a white
| face to her.
How can tell your he cried broken
| ". I've been fool-worse than a fool
I'm heavily in debt, Beryl, and it's debt
of honor"
"Pve gambled and lost!' he continued
| gloomily. There's man here who
oh Sf n -RC-an6 hn 10 fals
of my |. o. us. OF course / never
dreamed OF this horrible thing happen
| ing. | cabled to the governor last night,
| thinking the only result of my folly
would be that he'd blame me for my
| extravaganza"
"How much do you owe this man?''
Give hundred pounds. It's debt Of
honor, and it cant be paid! My God
| it can't be paid"'' he repeated between
his teeth.
Five hundred pounds" she said, with
a little gasp. HE let you--a mere boy
play until you owed him thatw
He did not know but what | could
afford it."
A bugle rang out from the far end Of
the town. Young Faulkner sprang to his
feet.
come and see you again after lunch"
A little later the same morning, Capt.
Crosbie Drysdale was strolling in the
| Alameda Gardens. He was a good-look-
ing man of about thirty. He climbed the
paths leisurely, apparently deeTy--ffn
/ thought. Presently his eyes fell on the
| figure of a girl who was sitting few
yards higher up. He recognized her inn
| mediateiy, and sudden CLEAN came
| into his eyes.
Too hot for our old friend, Mrs. Cres-
| field?" he asked with a laugh. droppjn..
into the seat beside her. when is YOUR
! visit up?'
Bcryl made no reply. He glanced at
| her and saw that her face was turned
toward Europa. He noticed that She
was very pale and that her eyelashes
| were wet with tears
Il am very sorry" he said. in low,
sympathetic voice. "If'-he paused
hesitatingly-''if I can he of any use y
she turned her head. and their eyes
met She had only known him a week.
yet kind of mutual understanding had
| sprung up between them. Somehow he
| seemed different from most of the men
she had met
II should like to help, if l could.'' he
| said slowly.
She shook her head.
tie catch in her voice. There is moth
ing to be done; we are ruinedw
He said nothing. A sudden desire To
tell him her trouble crept over her.
Perhaps If you told me" he began
in tone of persuasion.
The story came to him gradually Her
| father was engaged in commerce-th
head Of firm of good position. He was
getting old, and had allowed his innior
partner to attend to most of the bust
ness. Then one day the crash came. 1t
transplred that, unknown to Mr. Faki-
ner, his junior partner had been speculat-
ing. wildiy-had lost, and in desperation
f1f tod E..l., IL,
firms clients. Finally. he had abscond-
ed, leaving Mr.. Faulkner to weather the
storm as best he could.
Irysdale listened to the tale. his eyes
staring out to sea. He bit his lips as he
realized what it all meant to the girl at
his side.
Il am Sorry-more than sorryr he
said in jcrky tone at the finish. 1t
Semmed terribly lame. but they were the
only words he could find.
But that isn't the wOrstr' she said.
with little sob. Leaving the regiment
would not be so much in itself to Ted.
But he must leave it in debt! He tells
me he has been gambling, and owes Il
/ large sum of money 10 one of the Off
GERS. He can't pay-and the disgrace
/ will break his heart''
The man at her side clenchcd his teeth.
He did not speak, however.
This cruel gamblingW she cried.
Z w NAT 60 You think III Il man VINO lctS
/ a mere boy like Ted play with him until
/ he owes hundreds of pounds? What do
! you think of him. she repeated c,> cited
| ly.
Il think him blackguard." said Drys-
/ dale slowly
Il feel ms il | hate that man." she
said. more than anyone else IN this
world
Drysdale was still looking ont to sea
There was curious light in his ewes.
You would never forgive him. he
asked evenly.
Il loathc gambler. and he did his
best to make Ted one, He has ruined
/ our happiness. No, l would never for
/ give him."
/ There was n slight noise few yards
( way. They looked up ami saw Mrs
( Crcsheld approaching them. DrySdale
rose 10 his feet
You are quite right" he said in a
low tone. He should not be- forgiven"
n few moments later he took his de-
rarturc. lie strobe down the lower road
( and hating carriage was quickly rat-