The times., 1900-12-23

Beryl Falkiner. looking white and
anxious. A 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 brother and sister.
The boy was gazing with a 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 frm," 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.
deari" she said bravely. Il shall be able
to be goyerness 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 twined her
arms about him.
I'VE must think she said, softly, that
it means more to the dear old father than
anyone elsei We shall have to try and
do our best to put things straight for
him. l know 1t will be hard leaving the
regiment, but"
Its not that" he burst out
'What then, Ted, dear?" she said anx-
iously.
He raised his head and turned a white
face TO her.
I've been fool-worse than a fool I'm
heavily in debt. Beryl, and it is debt Of
houori"
She glanced trembiingly at him.
I've gambled and losti" he continued,
gloomily. There's a man here who likes
high stakes-and he holds a batch of my
!. o. us. OF course. l never dreamed of
this horrible thing happening. 1 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?' she
asked
He rested his head on his hands again.
His young face was twisted and drawn.
Five hundred pounds. It's debt OF
honor and it can't be paid, My God. 1t
cant 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 that"
He 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.
have to 60" he said hoarsely. 'T'll
come and see you again after lunch.
little later the same morning Capt.
Crcssbie Drysdale was strelling in the
Alameda Gardens He was a good look
ing man of about thirty. He climbed the
paths leisurely. apparently deep in
thought. Presently his eyes fell on the
figure OF a girl who was sitting a few
Yards higher up. He recognized her i'm
and a sudden CLEAN came into
his eyes.
Too hot for our old friend Mrs Cres-
feld?" he asked with a 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 Europe He noticed that she was
very pale. and that her eyelashes were
vet with tears.
81 am very sorry" he said. in low.
voice, ''If''-he paused hesi-
l can be of any Ese?"
She turned her head, and their eyes |
net. She had only known him a week. !
yet a kind OF mutual understanding had I,
sprung up between them. Somehow he |
seemed different from the most OF men !
she had met.
Il should like to help, if I could" he
;aid slowly.
She shook her head.
mo one can helpr' she said, with lit |
lie catch In her voice. There Is nothing |
o be done; we are ruined"
He said nothing. A sudden desire to !
ell him her trouble crept over her. He |
seemed to guess what was in her |
thoughts.
perhaps If you told me" he began, |
n tone of persuasion.
The story came to him gradually. Her |
atber was engaged in commeree-the !
lead of firm of good position. He was |
,etting old, and had allowed his junior |
,artner' to attend TO most CT the busi- |
less. Then one day the crash came. II |
ranspred that, unknown to Mr.. Falki- |
Ter, his junior partner had been specu-
ating wildly-had lost, and in despera-
ion had appropriated money belonging |
0 the FIRMS clients. Finally. he had ab-
.onded, leaving Mr.. Falkiner to weather |
he storm as best he could.
Drysdale listened TO the tale. his eyes |
taring out to sea. He bit his lips as he |
ealized what it all meant to the girl |
L his side.
81 am sorry-Inore than sorry" he said |
n a jerky tone at the finish II seemed /
erribly lame. but they were the only |
words he could find.
Il