Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-07-27
Continued from page 10

"This is wrong" and he nearly foamed
with rage: 1That for two years | have been
working night and day to establish myself
earned reputation for sobriety and de-
cency; and that l am universally respected.
Then what happens? My brother, whom
have been trying to make a credit to the
family, takes vacation, meets you, and is
inveigled into weeks debauchery.
"He comes home much the worse for
wear. The night of his return there is a
church meeting which, if only for the sake
of appearances, he has to attend; at that
meeting he is attacked with fit of coughing
and draws handkerchief out of his pocket
What" and he glared at me, "do you sup
pose came out with his handkerchief"
ooh, l don't know" said l, "a prayer
book, at rough guess"
"A prayer book!" he stormed. @No, Sir!
Poker chips-four blue poker chips! And
they flew through the air and fell right at
the ministers feet! What have you to say
to that?"
Nothing" l responded, reaching for my
with your brothers feelings when he found
that he'd neglected to cash them in"
A NYWAY, I'm beginning to think less
and less of poker as an asset in business
diplomacy. Sometimes it helps whole lot,
and then again it doesn't. Take an expert
ence once had with the manager of another
real estate development company that was
dickering with over paving contract.
couldn't seem to get next to him, until one
evening he dropped a hint that he was
mighty partial to poker, and would even go
it two-handed.
That meant set-to right away, and be-
fore bedtime | had contrived to drop three
hundred to him. 1t was hard work too; for
he surely was dub player. Bright and
early the following day tackled him about
the job l had in view, feeling sure that at
last | had smooth sailing.
"How about it," demanded. @Shall We
draw up the papers this morning."
IL don't know as to that, he said coolly.
aft you know no more about making paving
than you do about playing poker, don't
think you can get very far"
"Why, blast you'll / exclaimed, for once
letting anger get the better of discretion.
you're fine specimen to give me stab like
that! Take my advice, keep your mouth
shut, and sign up on our deal quick. What
do you imagine your employer would say if he
knew that you gambled for such high"
A hard, dry cough interrupted me- Look
ing round, saw that the head of the firm
had quietly joined us.
go right on, Mr.. Mariner" said he in a
cutting tone. @Don't let my presence en-
barrass you. Only l might as well say right
now that know all about last nights game;
for it was at my direction that Mr.. Jones
induced you to suggest it to him. | wanted
to satisfy myself that you were what some
of my friends had warned me,-a low,
mean, despicable cur of CRATER. Any
change coming?'
That's the sort of thing that stings;
that's the kind of incident that every once
in awhile jars even the wisest of business
diplomats, and makes him wish that he
didn't have to turn the handout trick per-
petually in order to make his living. Some
day, perhaps, there1l be enough men of the
type of that fellow who gave me the call to
make the diplomacy stunt look foolish.
And I'm sure that for one won't be sorry.
Meantime, let's go out and have turn on
the links.