Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1902-12-31


THE GIRL By THE WAIST.
that young fellow right from the start.
Anyway l rather wanted him to win.
And he did win. No matter how reck-
less he played he didn't seem able to
lose
After that he dropped I'm pretty regu-
lar, always playing in the same listless
way. not even looking up when the bali
stopped and, the strangest part OF Il,
hardly ever losing a bet
II ran along in this way about six
months, and although he didn't show IL
much each day / could see some fresh
indication OF the fast life he was lead
ing. And II worried me n good deal.
Not that it's an uncommon thing in
this business TO see young fellow go
ing down the line, but somehow this
young man seemed different: Just slip
ping along so quiet like. down. down.
all the time The worst Of IL was he
seemed 10 realize il himself. but didn't
care, and then any one could see that
he wasn't made for that kind OF life.
He had always come in alone. and one
night was surprised to see that he
was accompanied by a young man
about his own age. They both came
over TO my table and bought a stack OF
chips. For some time they played in ST.
fence; then the stranger said abruptly,
BY the way, Allen, / heard something
the other day about that pretty Bernice
Arthur you used to be so intimate
with"
Aliens face turned a shade whittier.
but he answered quietly enough.
"What is ftp
You haven't heard? She's TO marry
fellow by the name OF Franklin-im-
mensely rich. they say. The wedding
takes place this fall"
Aliens face had grown as white as
chalk, and his hand trembled as he
suddenly pushed his whole stack OF
chips over on the red. spun the
wheel, and he lost. And when he lost
that bet, sir, although I'm not very su-
perstitous, felt sure his luck would
change for the worse. and il did. More
over, from that on there was a marked
change in the man. He was dissipating
more than ever.
II was the last night of the carnival
they hold a street carnival here every
fan. The play had been pretty heavy
all day, but about o'clock, when the
crowd had thinned out, Allen walked
In He laid 500 bill ON the black and
in low voice said: My last dollar.
Black +. live. Red-wen, why not?
Chance has decided the fate of far
greater things"
rolled the wheel. The little ball
rolled around the groove We both
watched it in breathless silence. Know
ing the man as did, felt sure his life
hung on the chance He had come to
the end of his rope and staked all. Sud
denly and with sharp click the little
ball struck the diamond, bounded and
rolled on, struck again. then glided into
the black, only to be thrown out again,
roll partly around the wheel, then set
tie down, "Twenty-one, red" He had
lost!
For moment he stood there. look
Ing straight ahead, then, with q laugh,
turned and walked down the stairs.
In my life l have played for some
pretty high stakes, but never before
have rolled the wheel when thought
human life was ar stake / followed
linn. resolved if possible to prevent his
doing himself any harm. The streets
were brilliantly lighted-a procession of
gayiy decorated floats was passing. Ev
cry one was merry. But Allen walked
on, to all appearances unconscious OF
his surroundings.
Suddenly squad of mounted officers
dashed up. stand back they cried.
forcing the people on TO the sidewalk.
BY this time | found myself standing
next to Allen. Our way was blocked
by the crowd. so we stepped forward
TO the curb. Down the street the city
fire department-hose cart and all-was
coming at full speed, making an exhi.
bition run.
Suddenly a slim. girlish figure darted
forward directly in the path OF the on
coming team. The next instant Allen
had dashed forward, seized the girl by
the waist. lifted her bodily and tossed
her full into the arms OF the startled
crowd
One second Allen stood there. smile
on his lips, looking square at the on.
coming horses.
Jump" cried, but he did not move.
The crowd held its breath Then the
plunging horses were upon him. When
they picked him up moment later, n
mangled. bloody form. he was uncon,
sclous. but siill alive