The Athena press. [volume] (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942, 1910-02-04

Apparently, all is. fish that comes 20
my lamented ancestors net; we scoop
the dollars gaily in, even when we
play bridge for penny points or beggar
by neighbor with somebody's children,
Well, goodnight, you fellows"
He lounged out laughingly, putting
the silver cigar case carefully back in
to an inner pocket as he did so.
Il WISH" said Willie Stamford, as
they parted on the club steps, some
kind ancestor had left me mascot"
Get Hardwick to lend you his. sug
gested White, the man who had been
his partner and he and Mason hailed
belated taxicab, leaving Willie alone
in the murky night, for Hardwick was
already out of sight,
Five hundred and fifty pounds"
groaned the young man to himself as
he walked along the deserted street.
Heavens! Why, | can't raise fifty,
! let alone Ave hundred Briefiess bar
risters shouldn't play bridge Sud
denly something lying In the mud by
the curb caught his eye as the hazy
light from street lamp fell upon It,,
He picked 1t up. 1t was a silver cigar
case with crest engraved upon it
Hardwicks. He opened 1t, his hands
shaking with excitement as he did So
There was no mistake. lnside-sinis-
ter. crooked, loathsome the gold
mounted traitors thumb
"Hardwicks luck" he exclaimed.
"By Georgel He must have dropped
It out OF his pocket and not noticed,
I'll take 1t round to him In the morn
Ing. 1t Is too late now"
He slipped the silver case into his
pocket, and suddenly Whites words
as he climbed into the taxi after Ma.
son flashed into his brain. Get Hard
wick to lend you his" hammered and
churned seething In his head. He
pulled out the case again why not
borrow the thing for bit?" he told
himself. Not keep It, just borrow 1t
for week or two to pull things round
bit and set me on my feet. Hard
wick might refuse II asked him, so |
will say nothing about It, II 1t doesn't
hiring me luck I'll return 1t at once.
At any rate, It is too good chance to
be thrown away"
He closed the case and again put Il
In his pocket as he reached the front
door OF the old house where he lived
and pulled out latch key.
After he had drawn the bolts he felt
In his pocket the last edition of an
evening paper at which he had not yet
troubled to look. He unfolded II and
glanced absently through its columns.
by George he cried. Florida
has won the Grand National. A so to
outsider, and have Aver on the
beast Hardwick's luck has started
me of with $500"
Three months later Willie Stamford,
poor brlefless. obscure no longer, en-.
gagged to be married to girl whom ne
had loved for several years. but whom
he had not dared TO ask before to
share the fortunes OF a younger son,
stood waiting for the door of Hard.
wiek's hat TO be opened for him, In
his pocket he carried the silver cigar
case and its wlthered. crooked con-
tents which at last he was returning
to their owner. He was going to make
clean breast OF what he had done.
Hardwick. he knew, was never a tel,
low to bear malice, Even as boy At
school he had been q generous-hearted
lad. Willie felt certain that when ne
explained to him how very tight q cor.
ner he had been in when the traitors
thumb came into his possession he
would understand and overlook what
Willie acknowledged to himself had
been breach OF honor. though the