The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-05-29
BY JoHNua.sroN.
TO THE EDGE OF
 THE PRECIPICE

Edward Turiey. better known in the cattle country as Lucky Ted" leaned back comfortably in the smoking com. partment of a Pullman and puNed vigorously at black cigar. Atogeth- CT he was very well satisfied with himself and with the world. and as ne looked out upon the great stretches or prairie, he reflected with some com placency upon his rise in life.
 MT. Edward Hurley had some cause for contentment. Cast upon the stormy sea of Western frontier life when Il mere child with naught but his reaoy wit. a well-nigh perfect physique ana an unfailing stock of good nature, he had made his way with men who were men. in a life whose foundation prin- ciple was that all weddings perished. He had gone through all the phases of a cattle mans hfe--chore boy, COW puncher, boss and cattle buyer, ana was now on his way to Chicago to take a position with the great firm Of SLOW & Co.,. perhaps the biggest buyers or cattle in the world. And all this at the age of 32, and due wholly to his own brain and brawn. For despite his nickname of Lucky Ted" he knew and all the men in the cattle country knew that Turkeys success came not from luck but from his quick eye, ms steady arm and his ready shrewdness his ability to see situation ana take advantage of it quicker than others.
 The scene at the depot when he left had visibly touched him. There had been a greater concourse of cowboys there to see him off than the town had seen for many moons Many prosper ous ranchmen had ridden in to give 1i -r<Ff ov,I hn hoA hnan fr6Qt- ed altogether as a parsonage.
 All this pleased him, but he was glad after all that he was leaving the old life and the people and going where existence promised more of pleasure and comfort. One memory alone drew him back. It was that of bonnie maiden whose brown eyes and bright smile had so cheered and frightened him during the years of his struggles. But he reflected that he would not long be without the inspiration of her presence. In the final interview when he had spoken and told her that he could not go without her promise to come as soon as he was settled in his new home she had replied with some gravity that when the time came he could write and she would answer.
 You are going to new life, Ted dy." she said, "and you will meet many kinds of people you now know nothing about. l will not let you bind yourself to me nor will I bind myself to you until you see the new condi- tions and understand them. Then I want you to be perfectly honest with me and if you think I am suited for that life and for you in 1t I will come.'
 Once in Chicago he found his new position congenial and easy. He was second to none as judge of cattle, and he soon became a sort of director general of the great force of buyers for the concern. It was all so easy for him that 1t seemed like a dream. He was made much of and having plenty of money to spend soon began to taste all the joys of the fevered me- tropolis.
 He had been in Chicago but little over a month when he met Bernice Gramont. She lived in luxurious apart ments with an eminently respectable appearing aunt and her home was a favorite rendezvous for the gay crowd of young men with whom Hurley found himself associated. This woman at once exercised the strongest sort of an infatuation over Hurley. There was something about her voluptuous figure, her great flashing black eyes and her easy. gracious manner that sent the
 
 first meeting. She seemed to admire the stalwart plainsman with his mag nificent physique and his utter lack of the -cenventionalities- The game rolled fast and furious at the Graymont house, and although Hurley had lost some considerable sums in games at the clubs and gambling houses since his arrival, he began to be appalled, at the results he suffered here. But her black eyes lured him there night after night, and his losses increased until he was compelled to face the fact that his pile" the savings of years, had all but melted away.
 One evening he was talking with Miss Graymont when she said, with great directness:
 Mir Hurley. why do you come here and play so regularly? You lose all most invariably"
 Leaning forward with eager eyes, he replied: T come here because you are here. Any losses are trivial for the privilege of being near you"
 She swept one intoxicating glance at him and dropped her eyes.
 T do not care for all this play of the cards" he continued passionately. Let me take you away from it, where we can live rationally."
 Have you the right to ask that?" she replied softly, giving him one brief glance from those expressive eyes from between the fringed lashes. Wait" she continued. Do not answer me to- night. Tomorrow and she swept away.
 That night he lost heavier than ever and was compelled to borrow. Ge- rould Mackay accommodated him and seemed only too glad to do so. Mack