The Republican journal., 1911-09-14
A LITTLE TOO CLEVER

MerVyn Ether1dge ana vincent Holcott,
sometime of Eton and Trinity, Cambridge, but
| now lelsured men about town of several years
standing, shared luxurious bachelor menage
IN Sackville street, w. Both men were we'll
connected and enjoyed certain reputation for
smartness, in the fast style, which it cost them
good deal of money to maintain. Between
them, probably, they spent the best part of
$4,000 year. Yet their joint allowances from
their people were inside 81, 200 and they fol
| lowed no ostensible occupation. How did they
supply the deficiency? That was the question
The answer may be summed up in one word
bridge. Both men were experts at the game
and the fact of their winning a good bit of
money at it need not, of itself, have excited
much remark. Nevertheless, so consistent
was their luck that as time went on it became
matter of comment among their acquant
ances. No allegations were made. If there
had been it would have been impossible to sub
stantiate them. But it's quite certain that
men who valued their regulations began to
fight shy of them, and men who valued their
bank balances began to discover an extraordi-
nary unanimity in the way of previous en-
gagements when they were asked to one of
the little bridge reunions. in Sackvile street.
Then there was that unfortunate business of
Dennis McDermont, the young Irishman, who
not only lost all of his worldly possessions in
single night at one of these reunions, but,
most indecently, called public attention to the
fact by going home and blowing his brains out.
There had been an inquest of course, and both
Etheridge and Holcott had been called upon to
answer some rather awkward questions. They
managed, indeed to escape without formal
censure. But it was not exactly good ad-
vertisement. After that they found it expe-
dent to lie low for a while until the affair
should have blown over.
In time it did blow over, as all such things
do. Then, in quiet, unobtrusive manner, the
two spiders began once more to spread their
webs for the ENHANCEMENT of unwary flies.
Among their first victims was Charlie Laceby.
He was quite promising fiy-young, inexre-
rlenced ambitious to achieve reputation for
fastness, and the possessor of several thousand
pounds at his own absolute disposal. What
more could any spiders want?
But with the warning of the McDermott
business fresh in their minds they proceeded
circumspecty. No attempt was made to rush
things. They did not ostensib1y encourage
young Laceby in high play. Rather the re-
verse They SO contrived matters that in
every case the first suggestion of the big
stakes should come from him; and then they
only consented after decent show of reluct-
ance. This was all part of the game; pre-
cautionary measure against future contingent
ces. In event of scandal they meant to
have complete answer to all possible imputa-
tions-to be in a position to produce various
independent witnesses to prove that Laceby
had brought disaster on mis- own head by his
insistent passion for high play, from which
they had done everything in reason to dissuade
him.
Meanwhile he was permitted to win consid
cradle sums-as much, occasionally, as $50
night-in order both to stimulate his gambling
procivities and also to impart to the proceed
ings an air of fairness and squareness. Il
was the old story of sacrificing few sprats
in order to lead up to the capture of an ult
mate whale.
When they had thus played with him for
couple of months or so the time was esteemed
! ripe for the grand coup. They took young
Laceby on one night at game of three-egget
bridge, no one else being present. This ais
] was part of the design. Witnesses had beef
] desirable during the preliminary fatting O.
I the pigeon, so to speak. At his plucking ant
eating it was far otherwise. This was thing
! that could not be done too privately.
5 The three men dined together at the Ritz OIL
} that particular evening, and afterwards wen
when they arrived in Sackville street. The,
played until a. M, Laceby, though not tipsy
had had quite as much champagne as was goo
for him. And whether from this or SOM
: other cause he was more than usually rockies
insisting on higher and higher stakes the NOR
: he lost, and adding to his liabilities by betting
i heavily on each successive rubber. The re
suit was smashingly disastrous for him. H
wound up the evening loser to the tune o
92, 300. Etheridge also had lost $500 by tn
? score. But this was only loss on paper. H
= went through the form of writing Holcott
check for that amount-so as to make thing
look genuine-though of course. it was per
fectly understood that the latter should dro
o it in the fire as soon as Laceby's back wa
n turned.
e Laceby didn't pay by check. He had brough
e el, 900 with him in bank notes, which he hand
ed over to Holcott, giving an l. 0. U. for tn
n balance, and promising to redeem it next da!
e There was an odd, excited sort Of look on hi
d face as he babe the confederates good night
n look which Etheridge's keen eyes were nc
s slow to observe.
a He remarked on it to Holcott after Laceb
was gone.
81 hope we haven't pushed the young jug
gins too far he said. ave don't want ar
re other McDermott affair, Lord knows
II 'Oh, no fear!'' answered his confederat
~ ''Lacebys not the sort to make of hin
% self in that way. Besides, even if he d
|. who's to say that we had any connection wit
IS it? No one saw him come home with US
lie WHAT"
s. As he spoke he winked at his companion
IS Etheridge nodded comprehendingly. Soc
:, afterward they went to bed and thought +
= more of the matter.
n Laceby didn't look in to settle the balant
of his losses as he had nromised nor in II