Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1905-04-21

to this country entrusted with money
by. some eastern friends who reposed
faith in my integrity and was to exam
ane mine and close deal for it's pur-
chase She knows that was false to
my trust and lost the money at the
gambling table and that you won 1t
back for me. That Is why she wants
to see you and thank you. We are all
leaving tomorrow for Anaconda and
the east. Won't you go with me now
to the hotel7"
Darrell shook his head.
Don't urge me, Lenyard. You have
repaid me hundredfold for everything
I did for you"
Lenyard leaned forward and laid
friendly hand on barrels 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, Oar
rel, and why not try for them?"
I'm other words you think should
reform?"
$50 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 reputation would have If
tried to reform. would rather be
what am"
But a man can live down 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
1.-THE notoriety pleases me, for 1t 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 1t matter? It takes all kinds Of
men to make world and l am not so
sure that gambler has not his uses
in the great universal scheme. I have
some verses here, Lenyard. They are
very poor, but sometimes my thoughts
come in rhymes and I 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-
fleets 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:
A sage I knew once blew and blew
Upon pipe Of clay,
And from that pipe q bubble ripe
And perfect, dropped away.
Then, as gazed, rainbow blazed
| Across the bubbles face.
And meads were seen. and hills Of green,
| And life in ev'ry place;
And 10! play, in brave array,
/ We saw as we stood by;
And OH the stage there stood the sage,
And near the sage, stood 1.
| What work we made, or how we played,
It boots not here to tell,
Yet hopes and fears, and smiles and tears
That bubble-world befell.
Then, as we wrought. with sudden
/ thought,
The sage blew out his breath,
And in a mist, ere one could list,
That bubble died the death.
l Then spake the sage: MANS heritage
OF happiness and woe,
Is like the things our fancy brings,
For fancies come and go.
Time wears apace, and into space
A throbbing ball Is hurl'd,
l And on the bail live notes who call
That throbbing ball world.
But countless globes in starry robes
Are thrown across the sky.
SO what 10 earth, whose feeble gtrth
The earthly magnify?
/ And what the cares Of mans affairs,
For better or for worse?
AS man to sphere, our spheres career
Is to the universe.
| For like q dream where things but seem,
Or like q house Of glass,
Or like a mist the winds have kiss'd,
This bubble-world shall pass!'
Lenyard never forgot that talk Will
Darrell. When the young man started
back to the hotel the gambler shool
his hand, bade him remember hi
promise and said "Good-by."
"Oh," returned Lenyard, quickly, I"
shall see you again"
| Perhaps" said Darrell, with quee
smile. He intended leaving early 70
Anaconda, much earlier than Lenyar
could leave with Mrs. GUton an,
Elise. He would post letter to Law
renee Ormsby. in Anaconda, telling hir
of his friend McCloud, then he woul
return to the old life in San Francisco
i Lenyard went away, strangely de
pressed.