Mexico weekly ledger., 1909-12-23
CHAPTER IL

o1ughis nClSe OF q l2ousanl
chances rezring is four sto
ries Of broEnst0ne spreading
ftself out literally on the north sid
Of one Of the side streets which Is fas
being given over TO fashionable club
and r~estEurants-is q thoroughly up q
date establishment In appointment
the house Is Injurious and gorgeous
and is 50 closely shattered that not {
ray Of Light from outside Is permitted
TO penetrate it In addition to thu
main ball Of play there afs aeeommo
dations for parties wishing to Indulge
IN e-set games among themselves
Meals are served at all hours. sappel
being the speciality OF the house, and
Notwithstanding that no charge what
ever is made for them. the cuisine and
service are beyond reproach
Il was % this establishment then.
that ChaIener directed a cabby to take
him after hours Of unsuccessful at.
tempts to borrow money from bis
niends And finally in desperation be
had onesed TO sell the Mastodon. But
the dealers knew his wife owned the
handsome car, and on Challoner dis
gustedly ordering his chauffeur bone
q dealer more daring than the others
had said TO him with familiarity, Get
your wife's bill OF sale. ChaIloner; we'll
buy It then, all right"
A spark OF anger Immediately lit up
Challoner's eyes. Resentment was deep
down in his inmose soul, but his brain
had been absinthiated for days his
sensibilides blunted. and iudignities fell
from him like the proverbiai water
from a ducks back. Nevertheless
overindulgence had not grossened him
He YVES still good looking and had an
air about him few men had. When
ever he wanted money be had not for
gotten that fact It I'd always count
ed with Miriam IN cow. 1t counted
still with Miss Lkl,. love Of the Fri
volity.
There had been moments, 1t Is true,
when rushing madIy about town for
funds, that be had felt it would surely
have been better for him II DE had
never gone to Cradlebaugh's, but then
Ike a fash would come the thought
that II be had not gone to Cradle
baugh's he would never have known
Lefty Love. And by no means had be
arrived at the state where be could
have wished that.
With the thought Of Lefty Love
there came another ~indissQlublv con-
nected with #: Was Colonel Hargrayes
slowly undermining. ousting him out
or her afections7 Not without reason
be argued that Colonel Hargraves had
plenty Of money, and the man with
money was going to win out In the
graees Of the Frivolity actress!
Before the main street door the driv-
err pulled up his horse. and ChaIloner
hurriedly walked-as one whose nose
was straight and who followed his
aose-into the whited sepulcher called
Cradlebaugh's.
For fully half an hour Challoner
stood at the buffet, every now and
then unsteadily fitting the decanter.
Presently be said to himself: "Fn try
hm-yes. Why not?"
He called g servant and asked.
Where 6 pemmican7"
Faro, sir"
Challoner assembled swiftly to the |
second floor. Halfway down the cor
ridor be met Pemmicnn, bead card
dealer Of cradlebaugh's, a man with q
pasty face. a low brow and shifty eyes, |
a man who knew hts business. who
ever controlled the gambling house
had chosen him wisely.
"Pemmican, l want some money
about and Chalioner broke OF alb.
rupty.
fhstinctiyely Pemmiean knew that
the game was up with ChaIloner.
Moreover be saw that the man was
very drunk. He walked away quickly.
saying;
I'm sorry, str. It'5 against the
rules"
what rotF' replied ChalloneF.
Pemmican had reached the END Of
the bali, leaving the other to gather
what be could of his excuses.
Angered, ChaIloner resumed bis DO.
sition at the bufet. Suddenly he felt
a touch on the arm. Turning. he found
himself face to face with PemmicaD.
Why don't you try Colonel Har.
gravesYs whispered the latter.
"WhatT came from the clogged
brain OF Challoner.
TRY Hargraves," the other went on.
Hes been down to Gravesend for two
days, and he's back"
Pemmican Of the low brow spread
out his palms and said pointedly:
HE pulled out tea thousand on Flora
Mcqueen at Gravesend, that's ALL
@WhatT' chailoner began to under
Pemmican nodded.
"sure thing-s10.O00."
Slowly Challoner rehIled his glass.
For a moment there was silence, then
Pemmican repeated tantalizlngly:
"Ten thousand d~oIlars-not a cent
Challoner thought for a moment.
WAS Colonel Hargraves down there
His voice was thick. hoarse.
Pemmican looked long and quizzicaL
into Challoner's eyes.
HE was not" The gambler moved
AWAY.
Challoner followed him and said
Look here, Pemmican. If Hargraves
zones In tell him TO wait for me-"
An enigmatieal smile played about
he corner of Pemmican's mouth.
YES" be said simply, and. noddlng.
vent his way.
Left alone, Challoner found himself
prey to all the black tends of rage.
ealousy and desire for revenge. For
time everything was blotted out from
lis vision except the face Of Lefty
Love and the face Of Colonel Har.
raves. 4This small world" he NUT.
cred to himself. is much too small
me and Colonel Hargraves." With
there doomed up u Of the mists
y his mind the brilliantly lighted and
'rnate entrance Of a certain apartment /.
a short distance away. and a
minutes later, obedient to his SUBJ
onseious VIII, his feet carried him
lown the stairs to a door evidently (
eading to the outside. Challoner was
lot the first man of social prominence !
hat could directly trace the beginning
I his life as an outcast to passing q
trough that door.
"Hfram EdOur Tn,ns