The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-08-07
PLAYING THE CAME.
BL ALFRED sTODDART.

the last qne of the match Lesters team was being beaten, though It was no fault of Lester's. He had seldom play led better polo. But then he always played we'll when Jean Carstairs was on the grounds.
 People were ,ill-natured enough to say that Billy Lester ought to play polo well--since he,never could do any thing else. No doubt they had refer eifce to his ha1f-hearted attempt to study sthe law or to that .ll-starred line out West These were all things of the past now--ten-year old failures.
 Lester had given them up for polo and fox hunting. He had inherited somo money and he didn't like law and ha couldn't raise sheep. Besides, he was really very fond of polo and fox hunting.
 Bue every one didn't know what Iully Lester hade told Jean Cars:airs at the Country Club last night Every one does not know the contents of the let ter which Lester is showing to Jean on the box seat of the Halliday's drag or the side lines of the polo field.
 To be brief, the situation, as Lester explained it to Jean, was this: His polo days were over. His fox hunting days were over. He was down and out" His money was gone. He had nothing left but three polo ponies, a couple of jumpers and an Irish terricr. He was 32 had never learned to work at.d didn't intend to try. Jean and he had always been rather good friends. But she was not quite as sympathetic as Lester expected her to be- She asked him rather colily. what he intended to do about 1t, and wpv he had cop6ded in her This was bit of a staggerer to Les- ter-who, to be perfectly honest, was in love with Jean Carstairs and had been for two polo seasons. He stam- mtred something about being under the impression that she might feel a friendly interest, and just about that time Jean ended the conversation by speaking to some one else. Lester did not see her again until the next afternoon at polo. Then he hast cned to the Halliday drag, where she was sitting, to show her the letter.
 Jean welcomed him kindly, but Les ter thought he detected a little reserve in her manner.
 'Tll have to get used to that sort of thing now, I suppose" he said to him. self, bitterly.
 Jean Carstairs was a very pretty girl. She had splendid blue eyes and a great lot of soft brown hair. Besides she had very good teeth and the sweetest smile in the world. Her father was Dr. Carstairs, the local physician, and if Jean was popular the credit was all hers-for she would never be an heir ess.
 She read. the letter carefully and puckered her pretty brow over it in quite a judicial manner. When she had finished she handed 1t back to Lester without a word of comment.
 Just fancy" said Lester with a sar- donic chuckle. Still no word from Jean.
 Do you know, Jean," continued Les ter-they were alone on the drag now If things had been different with me. if I'd have been different sort of chap-@well-its big if so whats the use?"
 That Is very true," answered Miss Carstairs, absently gazing toward the other side of the polo field. what is the ss, gssFj
 There Is none. There's not much. use in anything so far as I can see No use in my sitting here and bother Ing you with my troubles, when I ought to be-well. anywhere but here"
 So you are not inclined to consider MT Wilson's offer?"
 For answer Lester took the letter from his pocket and tore it into little bits which he scornfully threw to the ground
 He means kindly. no doubt" he said bttterlys but he does not know what he asks of me To go and stew myself in a wretched Wall Street office and wrestle with books and accounts and such things-after this sort of life? Some men could do that. I imagine. But not Billy Lester. I'm down and out.
 Somehow the conversation did not seem to interest Miss Carstairs. She was gazing very intently at Ralph Cor ing's flea-bitten polo pony being led 10 and fro by groom on the opposite side of the field.
 You can talk as you please about wrestling with fate" continued Lester, and quote copybook maxims all day."
 Not guilty" interrupted Jean quick ly. T have forgotten them all, I'm sure."
 But you think, I'm weak and lazy, no doubt?"
 And aren't you?" with a smile.
 "Of course I am. Who wouldn't be? Tfirtyvtwe and I never earned a doi- lar in my life"
 And you never will?"
 T don't expect to-"
 And yet"-mused Jean, "you can play the game-when it's polo."
 "Oh. yes, I can play polo-'rlay ,he game" repeated Lester. play tb, same' That's an odd way to put it. I don't quite see. the point" ] well" said Miss Carstairs. turning her head toward Lester. "Supposiug -