Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1906-12-08

at, ne answered. m loser. she
thinks I'm a sprig of Satan anyhow.
and ii doesn't matter"
, I'm her lawyer" Joe explained IN
whisper. land don't care TO have
her see me playing poker"
"All right Joe. duck and run:
+ you've got a reputation to sustain
and 80 have l."
Joe Balfour laughed and backed out
OF side door into the darkness ON
the guards.
Mrs. Ashton marched through the
cabin. 50 competent to take care OF
herself that few men would have
dared offer 20 assist. She glanced
4 toward the table. tilted her nose in
the air and passed on. Alice tucked
/ her head. and hurried by.
But everything connected with this
boat and the new life was OF supreme
| interest 70 Anita She caught a side
long glimpse Of the men at table. the
chips. the scattered cards-and for
one hesitating instant she paused to
look. Her valet eyes gazed straight
into Noel Dukes The smile was yet
on his face-the same tolerant smile
with which he always met Mrs. Ash
tons whitening contempt.
But this girls steady glance made
him feel very guilty and very fool
ish. The cards dropped from his
bands: he tried awkwardly 10 get up.
Then he was conscious that her face
flushed and she drew her eyes away:
he watched her as the gray travelling
dress and the heavy coil OF black hair
vanished through the door. Without
looking az the other men. he rose and
stepped through another door to the
guards.
Joe Balfour had met the ladies at
the head o. the stair. and was assist
ing them 10 the lower deck. When
Duke saw them they were waiting for
the stage-plank 20 be run out.
Mrs. Ashton introduced Joe TO the
dark-haired girl-her voice was very
low, but Duke heard g.
What a hypocrite Joe IS" he
thought
lie leaned over the rail and watched
his friend helping the ladies ashore:
tho dark-haired girl smiled into Joe's
face as ne lifted her down from the
end OF the stage.
Just as innocent as If he didn't
know one card from another" ne NUT
tered "Sanctimonious old devil"
It did not put him in a better hu-
NOR 20 see how calmly Joe appropri-
ated the stranger. and with what gal
lantry he helped them all into their
carriage Now the smiling rascal
stood with one foot on the carriage
step and talked
The bell rang. Joe rccrossad the
Ttage-plank whistling iauntily. while
Duke watched the Ashton carriage
drive away toward the clump OF trees
that surrounded the house at Ivanhoe
Joe mounted the steps two at
time-a medley OF grand opera and
self-satisfaction that Duke resented
So he drew back into the shadow and
let him pass IN % the cabin
The man on the guards sat silent
He only shifted his chair so that he
might look back upon the vanishing
lights at Ivanhoe. Then the boat
swept round Ions curve: the river
before him lay as dark and deserted
as II IL had never known the touch
Of wheel or keel.
Once he cot mp. walked 20 the cabin
door and looked through the glass
The men were playing: his seat was
vacant He shrugged his shoulders.
walked back 20 the guards and sat
down. After awhile the door opened
and Joe came out peering around in
the dark
Noel? Is that you? wondered
where you'd gone"
Yes; I saw YOU just now. reaplng
the reward OF virtue Who is the
young lady2"
Mrs Ashton's niece Miss Cam
eron. She's going 10 live al Ivan
hoe. Her father died about a year
ago. Perhaps you remember them
the Camerons lived in AIbemarle
county near the University OF Viz
ginia?"
Il used to know boy named Fer
gus Cameron"
THAT was her brother"
Duke made no further comment
Joe touched him on the shoulder
Come on and MI out the game. I'm
striking a streak of luck, trying to
pull even"
No" he shook his head. 81 don't
feel like playing. I'm kind o. get
ting tired Of poker"