The bee., 1908-07-23
CARDS AND
BROWN EYES

thought your luck was extraordinary,
he said.
The girl let the cards in her hand
fall In a heap to the table and Gov
cred her face. II had to-for Ted"
was her broken explanation.
Hartley slowly knocked his cards
together aud began to shunie them.
For Ted?"
yes, you see he has to have doc
tors and medicines and a good room,
quiet and light"
Hartley stopped shufing the cards
who is Ted? Tell me about IT.
She raised her eyes, wet with tears.
MY husband"
"Well?"
"He was hurt soon after we we're
married-run down by a truck and
his back injured Now he's a paralytic.
He's the son OIL won't tell you his
name--a well-knOwn broker. He was
disinherited because he made me his
wife But he wasn't like other rich
mems sons. He was competent
architect, and we we're happy as could
be for two months, then he was In
jured. Now he can't move hand or
foot, not even speak. He has to have
doctors continually, and there's no one
to pay. l can't make enough by work
ing, and then besides l must be with
him as much as possible, 80 l took
to this. II played fair | might lose."
Hartley smiled.
"You don't believe me?"
Il didn't say So" he protested.
But you don't. II does sound
fictitious enough. know, but" she
paused and leaned across the table,
come and see for yourself"
They turned into a narrow, sleepy
street and stopped before a brick
building that had attained to the age
OF doting staidness. They silenHy
mounted the wide. comfortable steps
and came to stand at the top. Wait
here until I've told him he's to have
a visitor" the girl directed, otherwise
you might excite him."
Hartley leaned against the banister
railing and followed her with admir-
ing gaze. Her figure was trim and
neat and her face unusually pretty
and refined. He was particularly inn
pressed by her eyes. They were a
deep rich brown.
After lapse of several minutes the
girl beckoned him into the room
neat and trim like the girl. A man
lay on white iron bed. His face was
immobiIe and perfectly white.
"An old friend Of mine, Ted, come
to see you," the girl said. leaning over
the bed
The mans features remained mo-
tionless, but asfaint sparkle came into
his sunken eyes. Hartley cautiously
shook the emaciated hand on the
sheet and uttered a few rambling sen
fences.
In the hall Hartley turned to the
girl, his face slightly flushed. Il beg
your pardon for having doubted you"
he said Il did doubt I don't now.
You are very brave woman. You
must let me help you"
The girl shook her head. IT couldn't
DO that"
But It's for him. You must"
Half way down the steps he looked
back al her. You are a very brave
woman he repeated.
Hartley slowly laid down his coffee
cup and looked at the middle-aged
man across the table from him. 81
had a most unusual experience yes
terday," he said. Il wandered into a
cosy, quiet saloon on some drowsy
street. l forget the name, about four
o'clock. Adjoining 1t was room
with several tables. A girl was at
one OF the tables, stunning pack of
cards. She had"
81 know" the elder man interrupted.
she had the most wonderful brown
eyes IN the world. and after awhile
you couldn't tell why you discovered
yourself playing cards with her. and
then you found card In her sleeve.
and she told you about . pRralytic
husband-the disinherited son Of
welI.known broker-yOu doubted. and
she took yoH TO see Ted, and you were
thoroughly convinced. M
( Hartley looked At the older man in
complete surprise. How did you
known"
MY boy. hae the same expert
ence four years ago. Hardly q week
passss that some one doesn't"
you don't mean"
""But / do And Ted is no more
paralytic than | am. But by the way.
how about the parting in the halif
I'forced $50 OF my good money on
her. And your"
Hartley stirred his coffee slowly.
80 did T."