Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-08-10

station; his whole body was probably as
damp from his emotions as were his eyes and
his big friendly hand. The train got under
way; drew long breath. l was free.
But somehow freedom did not taste as
had anticipated Though l reminded myself
that had acted as any man with pride and
self-respect would have acted in such deli
cate circumstances and though knew that
Carlotta was more in love with me than
l was with her, this end to our engagement
seemed even more humiliating to me than
its beginning had seemed. 1t was one more
instance of that wretched fatality which
has pursued me through life. which has
made every one Of my triumphs come to me
in mourning robes and with gruesome
face. In the gittering array of prizes
that tempts man to make beast and fool
of himself in the gladiatorial show called
life, the sorriest, the most ironic is the
grand prize, victory.
The parlor car was crowded; its only un-
taken seat was in the smoking compart-
ment, which had four other occupants, deep
in game of poker. Three of them were
types Of commonplace, prosperous Ameri-
cans; the fourth could not be SO easily class
ed, and, therefore, interested unexpectedly
as l was in the mood to welcome anything
that would crowd to the background my far
from agreeable thoughts.
The others called him Doc" or Woodruff
AS they played they drank from TASKS pro-
duced by each In turn. Doc drank with the
others and deeper than any of them. They
talked more and more. he less and less, I'M
III Hhdily ne tnelr noisy VOlu-
billy only when the game compelled. saw
that he was one Of those rare men upon
whom amiable conversation or liquor or
any other relaxing force has the reverse of
the usual effect. Instead of relaxing he drew
himself together and concentrated more OBJ
stinately upon his game Luck, far as
the cards controlled 1t, was rather against
him. and the other three players took turns
at audactOus and by no means unskillful
play. was soon admIring the way he
sized up and met each in turn. Prudence
did not make him timid. He advanced and
retreated, 'bluffed" and held aloof with
acutenss and daring
At a station perhaps fifty miles from Chi
cago the other three left-and Doc had
four hundred dollars of their money.
l dropped into the seat opposite hint
was by the window-and amused myself
watching him. while waiting for chance
to talk with him; for saw that he was
superior person. and. In those days. when
l was inconspicuous and so was not COM
PEELED constantly to be guard, I never
missed a chance to benefit by such ex-
changes of ideas.
He was apparently about forty years old.
to strike balance between the youth Of
eyes, mouth and contour, and the age Of
deep lines and grayish. thinning hair. He
had large, frank, blue eyes, a large nose,
strong forehead and chin, a grossly self
indulgent mouth-there was the weakness,
there, usual Evidently. the strength
his mind and character gave him went in
pandering to physical appetites. In con-
firmation of this, there were two curious
marks on him-a nick in the rim of his left
ear, souvenir of a bullet or knife, and
scar just under the edge OF his chin to
the right. When he compressed his lips,
this scar. not especially noticeable at other
times, lifted up into his face, became of a
sickly. blush white. and Transformed a
careless, goOd-humored cynic into man
of danger, of terror.
His reverie began. as gathered from his
unguarded face. In cynical amusement
probably at his triumph over his friends
1t passed on to still more agreeable things
something in the expression of the mouth
suggested thoughts of how he was going
to enjoy himself as he blew In" his win
nings. Then his features Swallowed, dark
ened, and l had my first view of the scar
terrible He shook his big head and big
shoulders, reused himself, made ready to
take a drink. noticed me and said, Wont
YOU Join meT' His look was most engaging.
/ accepted and we were soon sociabIe
each taking an instructive liking to the
other. We talked OF the business situation.
Of the news ia the papers. and then Of POI