The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-11-18

won S1OS5 But $175. therefore, was lack ing of the sum needed. One more sue cessful bet and the amount would be more than covered. lntently he listened for the guiding voice-it seemed to have deserted him. Once. twice thrice, the marble spun around the dazzling disk, but no whisper foretold the winning number. At last. on the fourth turn, when he was beginning to despssir of further help, it seemed as though distant whisper reached his ears-"sevenv So faint was the admonition that Harold hesitated to obey it. But at the last moment, with sudden determination, he dropped q So bill on the square A second later the marble settled into the seven open ing and grudgingly the banker counted out the money to him.
 If you want to bet you've got to do it in tme," announced that official, roughly. Were tired of this game of yours, see?''
 'Very we'll" replied Harold quietly. Of a sudden his exultation had vanished-he knew that his mysterious guide had de serted him. Bistless, he stood and watch ed the game, but the desire to continue had left him. Finally. with a ha1f-hearted motion, he placed small bet on ''red" only Ito see 1t swallowed up in the fall of the all-devouring zero"
 Silently he turned away from the table and advanced toward the exist door
 s'Come again to see us!" called the pro- prietor, with sarcastic cordality, and a smile went round the circle.
 Ten minutes later Harolds wife heard a cab rattle up before the apartment and come to halt Fastening to the window, she was astonished to see her husband descend from the vehicle. With eager haste he sprang across the pavement and up the steps to the house. A moment later the closing of the hall door rever- berated through the house. With rapidly beating heart the young wife stood in the center of the little parlor and awaited his coming. That a crisis had come she felt instinctively, and she braced herself to meet the blow. At that moment the door opened and Harold stood before her. His hat was pushed back from his fore head and his face was flushed with ex- eitement Quickly his breath came and went.
 "He has been drinking!" was her first thought, but q closer look showed h"r that she was mistaken.
 "Ellen!' he cried, excitedly.s ''eome herel' and sezing her hand he drew her to the reading table.
 See that, and that, and thatn' and with each pause a handful of banknotes was thrown on the table. Count it. $13O0r'
 Wonderingly, Mrs. Mallepeace looked from the money to her husband, and then back at the pile of notes.
 "Oh, Harold.'' she cried, as a quick suspicion drove the blood to her hear,-- 'how did you get it?'
 'sThere, there;" he replied soothingy, ''there's no call for worry. I came by it honestly. That 1t, Leone here, there is something l have to ask you. Now tell me-" he continued when they were seated on the sofa, do you believe that those who loved us and have died continue to watch over us2"
 Mutely the litlle head nodded, while the brown eyes remained fixed on him, ques- tioningly.
 Well, dear that is what happened to us tonight. My father guided me. Don't ask me in what. Suffice it that I have done nothing dishonesJ-at least, not what men call dishonest. And now let's go in and have a look at the children. Somehow tonight l want to see them especially"
 Silently Mrs Makepeace followed him into the room of the sleeping children, and as he stood in the half light regard ing their peaceful countenances he slipped his arm around his wife and his lips moved in silent prayer. How close they had been to the abyss none knew but himself.