Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-03-10
DAILY SHORT STORY
His Balance Wheel.
rOrisinal.l

practical. Before he was thirty he
had accumulated a snug little fortune,
and since, to use paradoXical expires.
sion, no one feels SO old as a young
person he concluded that his work
was finished and that he would re-
tire from business and devote himself
to travel He got no farther than
Florence, Italy, when he met an Amer
lean family and fell in love with one
of the daughters, who was studying
art. He spent a winter there winning
one thing and losing another. What he
won was Kate Spencer's heart; what
he lost was his fortune. \ part of
each day he was with Kate, either in
her studio or gadding. In the even
ings after II o'clock he was always at
club, where he developed passion
for gambling. 1t was there that he
dropped his accumulations.
One spring morning he borrowed suf
fcient means from his prospective ia
ther-in-law to take him back to Amer
lea. This was Il disappointment both
to himself and to Kate, who had PROM
Used to be his wife. But Herbert was
plucky and had plenty of confidence.
He told Kate that three years at most
would see him as we'll off as he had
been when he reached Florence. Spur
red on by love, he went to work in
earnest and was lucky enough to re-
gain all he had lost. Two years after
his departure from Florence he re-
turned there to claim his bride.
Herbert" said Kate, suppose your
old habit of gambling should come
back to you. We might have to wait
two years more, and papa says that
every time a man begins over again
it is much harder. You might never
make another fortune"
mo. thank you; no more gambling
for me. Let us be married at once and
go for Il trip to Egypt"
Remain in Florence just long
enough to test your resolution. Then
1t shall be as you desire"
a few evenings later Kate proposed
that she and Herbert should amuse
themselves with game of cards, with
out a stake. of course. Herbert rather
objected at first. Cards had the same
effect over him that drinking at soda
fountain might have over a drunkard.
They were liable to kindle Il desire for
the real game. Kate urged him, how
ever. and he consented. They had not
played long before Count Guliemo Ma
RIM, a friend of the Spencers, came in
and was invited to take a hand. He
did so. but soon began to yawn, then
proposed that they play for n small
stake to make the game interesting.
A paul was quite enough. flush
came to Herbert's cheek. Kate was
watching him to see what he would
do. He looked at her to see what she
wished him to do. To his surprise,
she said:
ITO play for n little stake like that
| is no harm"
In half an hour the game had grown
to such proportions that Kate with
drew AS soon as she had left the ia
BILE the other two not only raised the
stakes, but raised the limit. Kate took
seat at another table, took up a book
and began to read. now and again cast
ing a troubled glance at her lover. At
IL o'clock the count proposed to end
the game, but Herbert insisted on GO
ing on, inasmuch as he had lost nearly
half of his fortune. Then the count
proposed to adjourn the sitting to his
club. To this Kate objected and told
them either to cease to play or contin-
Tie where they were.
At O'Clock Herbert begged his fan
Gee to go to bed. She declined. At
she asked how the game stood, and
Herbert told her that he had lost near
" everything he possessed. At he
excitedly announced that he had re-
gained three-quarters of his losses.
Then he proposed to double both stake
and limit, to which the count consent
ed At Herbert had but n thousand
dollars in the world. Kate got up from
her seat, went over to the table where
the two were playing and looked at
the game. Herbert, who was betting
high, won $1,000 on one hand and lost
Sc, 900 on the next. Taking out pen
Gil, he figured his losses and found that
he had nothing left. He looked up at
Kate piteously. They must wait till
he had made another fortune. But it
was not this that caused the greater
suffering. 1t was that the passion for
gambling had him again in its tolls.
Kate put her arms about him.
Herbert she said, when you pro-
posed to be married at once and visit
Egypt 1 did not believe the plan was
advisable. 1t is plain that you must
be at work in order to refrain from
gambling for you know that when you
are busy you have no temptation to DO
so. If you like, we will be married to-
morrow, or, rather, today, and go at
once to America, you to take up youc
business as soon as you arrive"
IND I,o
although 1 am close friend of your
family, it is not meet that 1 should
be present at this interview. Permit
me to settle accounts with you, and
will withdraw. AS your agent l have
succeeded very well. l should not
boast, for, though 1 rarely play, 1 am
considered the most expert player at
my club. These memoranda. all sign
ed by Mr.. Hathaway, foot up $155,0O0,
which, with the amount you gave me