The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-05-14

very well. Snc DcRSeu mn ~ 80,
dinner and told him they had friend
stavinp with them a mari OF about his
nwn nae whom she felt sure he would
mot Mt all like those two horrid young
men You met here the other day sne
said with pretty little shrug anu
shuddcr. II don't know where tne Ma-
Tor picked UP that Lord William lou .
don. but he and the friend he brought
Ashe. he6 called himself, you know,
though have grave doubts whether
that was his real name! --were the most
terrible pcrs ons Snorkers the Major
cfls them! do hope they didn't MAKE
themselves offensive to you that nlg ~,
as they went out! They were just 'ne
sort Of people who might!
"Oh, no." said Deverll, looking cow own
uneasly not caring to meet me .,.o ,n.,es
searching gaze of the little woman
pretty dark eyes.
lie did so wish those eyes or her
were not so like Maggie's! ..,.,,
| "T,n 40 glad!" cooed Mrs. Brown, win
n sigh. 'But really they were capable
Of anything. They came here lew
nights afterwards and wanted 10 pay
cards for an hour. But the MaJol Nv. NV
II refuse, YOU know how good-naturea
ha id, ant he felt lie really must draw
the line somewhere
ooh. certainly said Deverill vaguely,
feeling quite sure that the young men
themselves would have quite q dillereiit
version to give OF what had occurred -,
Al that moment he heard the Jois
voice OF the Major who came INTO .lo
room tho next minute, with q r. .ea
fooiish looking young man two or three
wears younger than Deverill, ana sree'eu
i the newcomer with effusion
Deyerill had by this time pretty
! good idea OF the programme TO DE lol !
| lowed, and he made no further INQUIRIES re =
| for tho three younger ladies', but auletly
waited for Developments. lie nhu ~.
| idea that Mrs. Brown was uneasy apous
him. while he could see that tne M 'i'
was not. ~
than on the previous occasion TO pre-
vent any sort Of gambling after dinner
! Rut the Major and the second guest
whose name was Granger overruleu me- ,
and they played poker until DcVerlll nay a,'
lost nearly two hundred pounds, OF Whls ~.
a little---a very little. had been won !, ~ -
Granger. and the rest by ono or other
OF the Browns !, !, -,
Again no thought he saw an ul'eass
! 1oolt IN the ady's eyes as she glanced
at her husband. and Deverili saia quie gus,
"Ill write yorloutf a check, Major.
"All right my boy" said Brown, as
he chose himself a cigar. You've come
off badly this time, I'm afraid put pc
ginners have to learn.
ives" said Deverill, who had learnt
more than the other knew, but not per-
hans more than Mrs. Brown guessed.
She led Dever1ll away to the end OF
the drawing room, and looking up into
his face. with a pathetic little glance.
said in her lisping voice.: :,
INV dear Mr.. Deyerill, you real!
mustn't mind an old woman IKE me M
speaking freely to you, but can you a. !
ford to loose so much? The stakes you
-, =, on will MAY for are quite alarm
ing to mel !,
THANK you. Mrs Brown" said ne
very deliberately, and with steady LOOK
which made her flush. II never play
for higher stakes than l can afford
He turned away with some coolness'
and he saw as Granger. VINO was op on,
yiously very young, and very meNperi-
enced, addressed some casual retnarN - -
hin that Mrs Brown made q sign 10
her husband, and whispered a few Words
to him which made his glance askance
at his latest victim.
me next moment genial, expansive,
Mn Tor Brown was coming up to potn
the Young men, and asking them u
either could give them a song.
"Couldn't you induce one OF your daugh-
tors to sing, Major Brown, said De .N
Grill, looking him full IN the race Win
an expression against which even that
~ az, sen soned warrior was scarcely proof.
eve have seen nothing of them TINS
evening. ~
A secret hope animated him that these
words. thus unexpectedly spoken, Woul''
draw forth some reassurng explanation
that the three girls were not Major
Browns daughters at all, but related TO
| him in some remoter degree.
i fro1 rnQ ~
merry twinkle went out of his eyes, ana
gave place to flashing look OF indig-
nation. which was, perhaps, more ao-
s,rd than touching in the circumstances.
| my daughters, Mr.. Deverill DON
Introduce to gamblers" he said CURLY,
and in a voice just loud enough Tor MS
wife to hear. \,
She tripped across the room to tho
two men, her face wreathed IN uneasy
| smiles.
"Hugh, my dear Hugh. you forget,
she said, selling him by the arm with
| what appeared to be no such very gent!o
| grip, "Mr, Deverill knows the dear girls.
| II was they who invited him here
| And she turned to Bob himself: 1T Is
1 most unlucky that you have happene &C
| to come each time when they were out
| but hope"
The lajors voice, resolute and ever
1 mcQlClnR, DrOKe ln.al
"And they always will be out Wher
card -playings going on. don't approve
of girls having anything TO 40 WIZ
/ games OF chance"
! Doverill was strangely touched by IN
| evident sincerity In tho mans voice
4. He turned no him and said simply:
a you're quite right" And. contrar!
to his first impulse, which had been t
leave the fiat with curt bow only, ~
4 shook the Major by the hand as h
babe him goodnight. ,,
Granger. who was staying at the flat
offered his cdmpanlotship to Deyern
for part of his way home, and Devcr
saw Mrs. Brown bite her LIP and frow
at her husband as the two young me-
went out together.
The flat was on the first floor, an
when Deveril and his companion &c
downstairs, the former fanc!ed he heart
+ through the open windows OF the Brown
drawing room. the sound OF Mrs, Brown
voice, naggng' at her husband Wit
great yigor,
II say, you know. do you think thes
people are all right" began Grange