Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1904-07-14
GAMBLING
WITH FATE
By WILLIAM WALLACE COOK
Author Of "Thr Gold Cleaners: A Story OF
the Cyanide Tanks why's Dan,"
"His Friend the Enemy, Rogers
Of Butte Et1.. EtG.
Copyright, 1905. by William wallace Cook1
CHAPTER XX.-CoyrlNt-ED.

ChAI L Elk AA,-IONTINGED.
ELISE and her aunt want to come" :"
went on Lenyard. seating himself.
you have told them about-Stu
gis?"
"Yes. 1t was hard Darrell, to mar
her happiness, but Elise is bearing up
nobiy. She had expected the worst and
that prepared her, in a way"
Yet you did not tell her the worst ?"
That her father had changed his
name and had become a gambler? No.
/ spared her that"
1t was best that you did so"
q told Elise how you helped me,
Darrell; told her how had come out
10 this country entrusted with money
ny some eastern friends who reposed
faith in my integrity and was to exam
Hne mine and close a deal for its pur-
chase. She knows that | was false to
tmy trust and lost the money at the
gambling table and that you won it
back for me. That is why she wants
8, o see you and thank you. We are all
leaving tomorrow for Anaconda and
The east. Won't .ou go with me now
10 the hotel?"
OarreI shook his head.
Don't urge me, Lenyard. You have
repaid me a hundredfold for everything
4 did for you"
Lenyard leaned forward and laid a
friendly hand on Darrel's knee.
What of the future, Darrell" he
asked
Let us not talk of my future, but of
yours"
II must speak what is in my mind
and / trust you will take no offense
You are fitted for better things. Dars
Tcl, and why not try for them?"
I'm other words you think l should
reform?"
SO far as card-playing goes, yes"
mo, | will not My reputation
would cling to me. You remember
that Old Man of the Sea that fastened
himself to Sinbad's neck? That is the
sort of a reputation would have if l
tried to reform | would rather be
what | am"
But man can live down a reputa-
ton"
Some kinds not one like mine
Why, my lad, | am the author of a
brave play in poker. 1t is known as
barrels discard. Every blackleg in
the west knows of it" He laughed.
THE notoriety pleases me, for it takes
nerve to discard aces"
Lenyard tried to argue, but Darrell
reached for the written sheets that lay
beside him on the table
AFTER all, he said. settling back in
his chair, the sheets in his hand, what
does it matter? 1t takes all kinds of
men to make world and | am not so
sure that a gambler has not his uses
IN the great universal scheme. | have
some verses here, Lenyard They are
very poor but sometimes my thoughts
come in rhymes and | jot them down
TO get them out Of my head | am 60
ing to call this doggerel 'N'Importe
and you shall listen to it, for it re-
fectS my mood to-day"
Then, with the smoking cigar be-
tween his slender white fingers and the
feathery vapor creeping around his
handsome face, he read
n sage 1 knew once blew and blew
Upon a pipe of clay
And from that pipe a bubble ripe
And perfect, dropped away
Then, as | GaZ5d, a rainbow blazed
Across the bubbles face
Ana meadS were seen, and hills of green.
And life in evry place:
Ana 10! play, in brave array,
We saw as we stood by:
And on the stage there stood the sage.
and near the sage, stood /
What work e rr bny. MO ,,l.,.,1