The San Francisco call., 1910-12-18

Arnold threaded the dull crowd and
placed $50 on Blanca: he was coming
out, ascending the stairs, glad to be rid
of the foulness, when some one cried
out by his side. Eddie Ledyard of the
shoe house was pointing at the green
ticket in his hand. The boy had at first
started, ashamed to be seen in the
place, but here was Arnold. a man ac-
customed about town to better COM
pany than himself
What's your play, Ham?" cried Ed
die. ''They're-they'r off in the first,'
Nothing" said the other carelessly.
Just a piker's bit with me-Bianca.'
Eddie looked shrewdly at him. What
was up. Ham playing the pools? And
was it Blanca? The racing dope makes
the best Of friends suspicious; maybe
there was another big coup on like
that of Corsair? The youthful clerk
greedily peered at Arnold's ticket "Bi
anca." repeated his friend; Blanca,
Eddie-seven 10 one"
Are you sure2" whispered the shoe
clerk. Ham, I'm done for this week
] flew wide on Presidente. and il hurt"
His voice broke. Its something fierce.
amt it?"
Arnold eyed Ledyard narrowly. The
boyish fellow jerked uneasily, as
though his collar was too tight He
bit his fingers, staring at the entries
and the odds posted back of the song
singing clerks. But Ledyard's queer
ness was nothing unusual; Arnold had
seen the racing madness every day on
the street and at the tracl<-only Eddie
was his old high school pal
Blanca" muttered Ledyard you
got it straight, Ham? Can't she lose?"
Couldn't lose if she was tied in the
stable, retorted the other. But, Ed
die. YOU cut this out"
L know know, But Blanca" his
gaze was dreamy and afar, and now
one could see the tired lines about the
eyes. Il got to get back somehow.
Ham. I was going to plunge on that
Chatom entry-Edith NJ Watt Cbatcm's
filly-but now I remember . month ago
YOU figured on Blanca for the Narcis-
sus"
Yes" Hams voice grew gentler now.
But, Eddie, it's no place for 9 straight
lad like you in this thieves game.
You're going high. they te]l me.
The lad was still dreaming. Tn all
right. You're a good friend of mine.
Ham-you wouldn't put me wrong.
We've always thought a lot of you ever
since the old Taylor street days. Steilas
home now, and we've got a chafing
dish and some new opera stuff Say.
Ham," Eddies eyes frightened with his
old blithesomeness an idea growing
bigger in him, come up tonight Let's
a
the chafing dish and the whole bunch
around you at the piano. Stella'd ask
some nice girls
The two young men looked curiouslY
at each other. Arnold spoke first, and
with a grave regret. Eddie, I've drift
ed pretty fast-I haven't seen the in
side of any mans home for seven years
I'd better not mix with your sisters
sort of girls. There's an arc light siz-
zling in my brain. and that wouldn't be
right up q your mothers"
The clerk laughed again less lightly
He hadn't been about the fat with
Stella great many evenings him
self this winter. But it was Ahome'-
where the soft lights burn that keep
clean the souls of men.
Il know" he murmured. "The game
gets you hard, doesn't it.? san Fran
CISCO Sometimes I wonder where all
the men and women end-the good
hearted lads we've met and the girls
after ALL so kind and merry. There's
Nel-why can't a man do something
for her? If there were some way of
untangling it all and beginning again.
werer
Some day you help her." said Eddie
You know how to be friends to every
one Hammy. When the trouble days
come for Mel, you help her-slie wont
let me ne her friend"
Arnold smiled. The girl had kept her
promise them
The boyish fellow did not know. He
was musing; sometimes he had debated
whether he should ask Hammy Arnold
of downtown" Of his other life and
circle of friends to meet Stella and his
mother
Eddie was troubled by IT now: it
seemed as they stood in the sunlight.
hat ho afr i
was as fair and open to his friend as
to himself. Stella, home, his mother.
the laughing faces and the homekeep-
ing hearts-an amplitude OF all he
knew was clean and fine, honoring good
and keeping faith in men as they
struggled. was about them Yes, one
could go back the way to the soft home
glows that keep clean the souls OF men.
IF you'd Gomez Eddie muttered.
You see, mother never qiiite believes
all that's said about you, Hammy-she
can't. She always remembers how you
sang abide With Me-" at Jimmy Kings
funeral. 1t was eight years ago and she
never can forget we were all boys to-
gether."
her. won't you Eddie? But cant"
He waved a CHEEKY farewell. When he
had gone the clerk turned on the pool
room steps, staring at the sanded floor
below. the sunit street above. Chat
om's flly-or Blanca? My God, if !
could get it straight" he added DULY.
IF only ! knew, But Ham said Blanca
in the fourth"
Arnold idled in Billy Rices hangout
for small theatrical people-eheap vau-
devilhsts, stage hands, press agents and
advance men out of a job-listening &c
the chaff. frresolute as to how he should
spend the afternoon. Then. in front OF
the Orpheum he met 2 man who was
reputed to have depleted the racing
books of $4,000 during the neet-the
organizer of the Corsair clique and
close up at the track and in the paddock
gossip.
Hello. Slive," said Arnold. why
aren't you across the bay?"
I'm taking care of the end here
we're crowding on all we can before ths
price drops"
THE Narcissus? Behind Blanca. eh p
The immaculate gambler started
"Bianca?" He bent TO the other
Aren't you wise to this? Chatom's
youngster-they can't beat her" He
drew cunninglv closer at Arnold's un-
moved face Look at the betting
from Is to ! it's come to skies. and
before tile flag drops it'll be three
Bianca-nothing The race is in Chat
om's pocket j thought you were wise
Arnold fingered the rest of the
f,Ec x9111-of TN hof