Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-02-15
BY ARTHUR STRINGER,

the Monte Cristo of modern circuit-follow-
ers, and all that sort of thing. Then we
want to know If 1t was true that you cop
ped one hundred and sixty thousand dollars
on Africander at Saratoga, and IL you
would let our photographer get some nice
pictures of your rooms here, and a good one
of yourself-oh yes, you would take splen-
did picture. And then l wanted to know II
1t is true that your system is to get two
horses that figure up as if they each had a
good square chance and then play the
longer of the two and put enough on the
other for place to cover your losses If the
first one should lose. And our sporting ed
itor has said that you make that habit.
and that often enough you are able to cash
on both, and that you-
Say, look here. little girl, what in the
devil are you driving at. anyway
I'm "a reporter on the Morning Journal"
she reiterated, vacuously, foolishly, passing
her hand across her forehead with a weak
little gesture of bewlderment. She could
feel her courage whitening away from her.
Alcohol. she was learning, was an ally of
untimely retreats.
We'll it's a shame for a girl like you to
get afraid of me this way! Hold on, now.
don't butt in! It's not square to use a
mouth like that for talkng-Td rather see
it laughing, any day. So just cool down
and tell me. honest and out-and-out, what it
is you're after
She flung herself forward and hung on
him, in mad and quite unlooked-for par
oXysm of weeping and hysteria, apparently
reckless of the moment and the menace
IT'S this" she sobbed in a sudden mental
obsession. the tears of actual anguish run
ming down her face ITS this" she went on
shrilly. hurriedly. I've put my money on
the Duke of Kendall today-and if he
doesn't come in. I'm going to kill myself
Sunset Bryan let his arm drop from her
shoulder in establishment. Then he stepped
back a, few PAGES. studying her face as she
mopped it with her moistened handkerchief.
She would never drink brandy again, was
the idle and inconsequential thought that
sped through her unstable mind. For 1t
was not she herself that was speaking and
acting; it was. she felt. some irresponsible
and newly unleashed spirit within her.
Why'd you do t?' he demanded.
Observation-Disclosures Clara-that's Clara
Shirley, his riders sister-told me the Duke
of Kendall was fixed to win on a long shot
this afternoon!
Now. look here-are you, or are you not,
a newspaper woman?"
NO I'm not" she shriiled out. Il lied.
Just to get in to see your
And you've put your money on this Duke
of Kendall?
Every cent I own-every cent! If I lose
it-oh- 1t will kill me to lose it,!
But what the devil did you come here
for"'
Because I am desperate! Tve-Tve-''
Now don't spoil those lovely eyes by cry
ing this way. honeygirl! What would l
get if ! told you something about that race
this afternoOn?"l
"Oh. I'd give you anythingr she cried, al
most drunkenly. snatching some belated
hope from the change in his tone.
DO you mean that?" 1le demanded sud-
denly stepping back and looking at her
from under his shaggy brows.
Mono. not that" she gasped quickly, In
terror. for then. and then only, did she
catch an inklng of his meaning. She felt
that she had fioundered into quagmire of
pollution. and that the more fiercely she
struggled and fought. the more stained with
its tainted waters she was destined to re-
main
She was afraid to look up at the crafty,
sunburnt. animal-like face before her. with
its wrinkles about the heavy line of the
mouth. and its infinitely intersecting crows
feet in the corners of the Shrewd and squint-
ing eyes.
She felt that the very air of life was be-
ing walled and held away from her. Still an
other fierce longing for escape took hold OF