The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1900-10-26
THE GAMBLER"
HE GAMBLED FOR MONEY,
THEN FOR LOVE.

In a room of Gibraltar hotel sat
Beryl Faulkner, looking white and anX-
ious. 4 few yards away stood a young
mamie was hardly more than boy-in
an officers uniform. They were the only
occupants of the room. and a glance at
their faces revealed that they were broth.
er and sister.
The boy was gazing with a set expires.
sion at an open letter he held in his
hand. He was deadly pale.
EVERY penny of my money will have
to 20 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.
dear" she said bravely. IL shall be able
to be governcss or something, but you
you will have to give up the regiment
sell out,'
The boy sank into chair and buried
his face in his hands.
His sister went to him and tWined her
arm about him.
Eve must think" she said softly, that
it means more to the dear old father 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
"What then, Ted, dearY' she said anx
iously.
He raised his head and turned white
face to her.
"How can tell your he cried broken
ly. I've been a fool-worse than Il fool.
I'm heavily in debt, Beryl. and it's a
debt of honor
1--WE gamblcd and lost" he continued
gloomily. There's man here who likes
high stakes. and he holds batch of my
| O US. OF course, | never dreamed of
this horrible thing happening. cablrd
to the governor last night. thinking the
only result of my folly would be that he'd
blame ME for my extravaganza"
GLOW much do you owe this man?"
give hundred pounds. It's Il debt of
honor, and it can't be paid! My God, 1t
can't be paid!" he repeated between his
teeth.
give hundred pounds" she said. with
little gasp. He let you. n mere boy,
play until you owed him that?"
''IIe did not know but what ! could af-
ford it,
A bugle rang out from the far end Of
the town. Young Falkiner sprang to his
feet.
81 have to CO." he said hoarsely. "I'll
come and see You again after lunch"
A little later the same morning Cap
tain Crosbie Drysdale was strolling in
the Alameda Gardens. He was a good
looking man of about 30. He climbed
the paths leisurely. apparently deep in
thought. Presently his eyes fell on tn"
figure Of a girl who was sitting few
yards higher up. He recognized her i'm
mediately, and a sudden CLEAN came into
his eyes.
"Too hot for our old friend. Mrs. Crcs-
field?" he asked. with n laugh. dropping
into the seat beside her. "When is your
visit up?"
Beryl made no reply. He glanced at
her and saw that her face was turned to-
ward Europa. He noticed that she was
very pale and that her eyelashes were
wet with tears.
81 am very sorry" he said in a low,
sympathetic voice. "If"-he paused hes
| itatingly-"if ! can be of any USE"
She turned her head. and their eyes
met. She had only known him week.
vet kind of mutual understanding had
sprung up between them. Somehow he
| seemed different from most of the men
| she had met.
81 should like to help if l could" he
said slowly.
She shook her head.
"No one can help" she said, with n
| little catch in her voice. ''Thcre is moth
| ing to be DONE We are ruincd"'
He said nothing. A sudden desire to
tell him her trouble crept over her.
| "Pcrhaps if you told me- he began in
| tone of persuasion
The story came to him gradually. Her
| father was engaged in commerce-the
head of a firm of good position. He was
| getting old and had allowed his junior
| partner to attend to most OF the business.
| Then one day the crash came. 1t trans
| pired that. unknown to Mr. Faulkner. his
| Junior partner had been specializing wild.
| ly. had lost and in desperation had ap-
/ propriated money belonging to the firm =
clients Finally he had abscouded. lcav-
| ing Mr. Faulkner to weather the storm as
best he could.
Drysdale listened to the tale. his eyes
staring out to sea. He bit his lips as he
realized what it all meant to the girl al
| his side.
Il am sorry-more than sorry!" he said
in a jerky tone at the finish. 1t seem d
terribly lame, but they were the only
words he could find.
But that isn't the worst" she said.
with little sob. Leaving the regiment
would not he 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 to one Of the oil
GERS. He can't pay. and the disgrace viii
break his heart
The man at her side clinched his teeth
He did not speak. however.
"This cruel gambling" she crie'
"What do you think or Il man WHO lets
a mere boy like Ted play with him until
he owes hundreds of pounds! what 40
Won think of him?" she repeated eXclt-
edly.
Il think him blackguard!" said Drys-
dale slowly.
Il feel rs if hate that man. she sad,
"more than any one els, IN the world.
DryS,lale was still locking out ut sea.
There was Il curious light in his eyes.
Won would never forgive him! he
| asked evenly.
81 loathc IL gambler, ana he did his best
to make Ted one. He has ruined our
happiness No, would never forgive
him.
There was slight noise a few yards
away. They looked up and saw NJ 5
CrrsticId approaching them. Dryadaie
rose to his feet.
You are quite right" hc said In a low
! .one, He should not b" forsivsp"'