The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1908-12-24

>~oAS PoAPNSS W AAAAO
which isn't crooked?"
you're just like the rest, then"
Hugh retorted. Just because l did
that one thing you'll give me no more
chance. Yet the first thing did with
that money was to square myself. l
paid every debt of honor 1 had. That's
why I'm in the hole now. But l get
no credit for 1t. even from you. l wish
you could put yourself in my place."
Harry had been looking steadily at
the sallow face with its hoof print of
the satyr, not seeing it. but hearing
his own voice say to Jessica: Il was
my brothers keeper l see it now"
And out Of the distance, it seemed, his
voice answered.:
"Put myself in your place! wish
could! wish to God l could!'
The exclamation was involuntary,
automatic, the cumulative expression
of every throe of conscience Harry
had endured since then, the voice of
that remorse that had cried insistently
for reparation, DINING in his ears the
Hateful question that God asked of
Cain. Suddenly whirl of rage seized
him, unmeasured, savage, malicious.
he had despised Hugh, now he hated
INUNDATED him because he was Jessi-
cas- husband and. more than all, be-
cause he was the symbol of his own
SELF abasement. A daredevil side of
the old Satan Sanderson that he had
chained and barred rose up and took
him by the throat He struck the oak
wainscoting with his fist, feeling red
mist grow before his eyes,
$50 you paid every debt of honor
you had. Ell? You acknowledge a
gamester's honor, but not the obliga-
ton Of right action between man and
man! Very we'll. Give me that pack
Of cards. You want money-here it
isw
He swiftly turned the clicking CON-
bination of the safe. wrenched open
the door and took out two heavy can
vas bags. He snapped the cord from
the neck Of one Of these, and ring
ing stream Of double eagles swept
jingling on the table. He dipped his
hand in the yellow pile. A thought
mad as the hoofs Of runaway horses
was careening through his brain. He
felt an odd lightness Of mind, a tense
tfngling Of every nerve and muscle.
Here is two thousand dollars-yours
If you win it-for you shall play for it,
you gambler, who pays his debts of
honor and no other! You shall play
fair and straight, if you never play
again.
Hugh gazed at Harry in a startled
way. This was not the ministerial
Harry Sanderson he had known-this
figure with the white, 1nfuriate face,
the sparkling eyes and the strange,
yelled look. This reminded him of the
reckless spirit of his college days, that
he had patterned after and had stood
In awe of.
"How can l play" he said, when
you know very well I haven't a sou
Market" . -
Harry stuffed the gold back into the
bag. BE snatched the cards from
Hugh's hand and box of waxen en-
velope waters from his desk. There
was strange light in his eye, a tremor
in his fingers.
1T is I who play with money! he
said. my gold against your coun-
tiers! Each Of those hundred red disks
represents a day Of your life-a day,
do you understands red day Of your
sin! A day Of yours against double
eagle! What you win you keep. But
for every counter I win you shall pay
me one straight, white day, clean
day, lived for decency and for the
rightv'
Hugh's eyes were fastened on the
gold in Harry's fingers. Two thousand
dollars! If luck came his way he could
60 far on that-far enough to escape
the nameless terror that pursued him
in every shadow. Money against red
waters? Why, it was plenty If he won,
and If he lost he had staked nothing.
What fool Harry was!
Harry saw the shrewd, calculating
look that came to his eyes. He caught
his wrist.
mot here" he said hoarsely. He
flung open the chapel door and pushed
him aside. He seized one Of the altar
candles, lit it with a match and stuck
it upright in its own wax on the small
communion table that stood just in
side the altar rail, with the cards, the
red waters and the bags of coin. He
dragged two chairs forward
"Now," he said in a strained voice,
put up your hand-your right hand
and swear before this altar, on the
gamblers honor you boast Of, win or
lose, to abide by this gamer
Hugh shrank. he was superstitious.
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