The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-04-30
the door open and the three Miss Browns


tinkled through the fat 1t was to an
f,ounce the arrival. not OF beautiful Mag
gle and her sisters, but Of a CHEEKY.
Food.huinored middle.aged gentleman,
with g. few black hairs strained neatly
across very bald head and moustache
Of a. susplclously rich black, who was
introduced TO him as Major Carey Brown.
shook hands with a welcoming grip,
and introduced two young men whom
he had brought with him as Lord William
Couldson and Mr.. Ashe.
Lord William, who was short, ugly
young man With merry eyes and lively
manners, appeared to BIO something OF
an habitue; but tho other man, who
BIO lieutenant In the army, was at
the flat for the first time.
well, Leila, is your housekeeping equal
to the strain OF giving us all something
to eat7'' asked the Major, restraining
Deverill when. rather reluctantly. he gctt
up TO 60. ut would BIO fun II we could
have dinner and a little music. dare
1ill do my best" said little Mrs.
Brown rising oil smiles and going to
the door, while the guests protested.
but II you're starved" and she turned
with laughing brown eyes which res
minded DevTlll OF Maggle's, to the three
young men, you must lay the blame
"However, the lady or her cook must
have been culinary genius, for the little
dinner which they enjoyed In little
dining room, seated on littlo chairs round
little table adorned with little lamps,
was a great success. And they wero
all in high good humor when they res
turned to the drawngroom. and en-
Mia ~ a
licious waltzes and tho MAJORS singing
OF one or two good old baritone songs. Il
So that by the time Lord William
suggested roulette, they were all in the
merriest and friendliest OF moods.
Mrs. Brown made a little deinur at
first, and said she would rather they
amused themselves with something less
exciting. She had lost her money, she
said, on the last two occasions, when
they had played roulette, and she did
not want to lose any moro. 3y<
But the young. men overruled her OBJ
jectons. and the Major brought out a
handsome roulette; while Lord William,
who had played there before, drew out
from the drawing room wall q side-table,
which. on being opened out, became q
properly marked roulette table. And
round this they all took their places,
II do wish you wouldn't let them,
Hugh" lisped little Mrs. Brown. It's
such a horried gambling game! Don't
you think so. Mr.. 4 Deverill r.
'Im afraid rather like It, !" said he.
1--WE won't play moro than an hour,
Leila, said the Major. And dom
look SO miserable over It. Perhaps
you'll win tonight.
But she aid not. Poor Mrs. Brown
lost her money. and so, indeed, did ev--;..
erybody except the Major. who was tubi-
liant at his luck as he scooped In not
only his wife's money, which as she
plaintively remarked, was too bad, as
but that OF all three Of the young men
who were his guests.
It was Mrs Brown who, when Mr., 4.
Ashe rose from the table, remarklng
that he was CLEANED OUT suggested
that they should leave off and play
something less exciting. But Mr. shel
was disagreeable, and said rather coldly
that he was afraid he must be going
but that he hoped they would not break
UP the evening on his account. For
the other two guests prepared to follow
his example.
There was certain air Of restraint
over the whole group as they wished
each other goodnight. and when the
three young men found themselves out.
side the door OF the flat,I and on their
way downstairs, Lord William. approac hed
5Ashe with his ill-humor. - .Sy.
~ hate fellow who can't bear his
losses like mani" said, he. ~
Ashe, who was a fair. quiet7;lo cooking
young man st<ae six feet high. turned
! to him and said in a low Ice: 49,
Il can bear fair losses as well as you,
couldson. got up because found
the Major was cheating
An exclamation broke from Deverill's
lips.
fare you sure7'' said he hoarsely.
"Qute sure vi
horror. For was not the Major Magge's
father7
(To be continued.)