The Caldwell watchman. (Columbia, La.) 1885-1946, 1913-04-04
"AhW Ryanna WAS vastIy ro,iovo

He seemed to be thinking.
do you persist in denying it?'
Il might deny it, but | shant. I'm
Horace Wadsworth, all right. Fortune
knows something about that chapter,
but not all. Strikes you odd, Ell ?" con-
tinued Ryanne, iron in his voice.
Every opportunity in the world; and
yet. here am. How much do you
know, wonder?"
You took some money from the
bank, | think they said"
"Right-O! Wine, Percival; cards,
wine and other things. Advice and
warning went into one ear and out OF
the other. Always so, Ell? You have
heard of my brother, dare say. Well,
he wouldn't lend me two stamps were
to write for the undertaken to come
and collect my remains. Beautiful his.
tory! I've been doing some tall think
ing these lonely nights. Only the
straight and narrow way pays. Be
good, even II you are lonesome. When
| get back, IL l ever do, it's a new leaf
for mine. Neither wine nor cards nor
women"
Silence. The fire no longer blazed;
it glowed.
WHO Is Mrs. Chedsoye" George
finally began anew.
First, how did you chance to make
her acquaintance"
Some years ago. at Monte Carlo"
And she borrowed a hundred and
fl .ty pounds of you"
Who told you that?" quickly.
"She did. She paid you back"
yes"
"And she hadn't intended to. You
poor Innocent"
why do you call me that"
ITO lend money at Monte Carlo to a
woman whose name you did not know
at the time! Green, green as a paddy
field! I'll tell you who she is, because
you're bound to learn sooner or later.
She is one Of the most adroit SNUG
glers Of the age; jewels and rare laces.
And never once has the secret-servlce
been able to touch her. Her brother,
the MajgE assists her when he isn't
freezing Under lambs at all known
games 81; Ehance. He's card-sharp.
one OF TIL best Of them. He tried to
teach me, but l never could cheat a
man at cards. Never makes any false
moves. but waits for the quarry to Of
fer itself. That poor child has always
been wondering and wondering, but
she never succeeded in finding out the
truth. Brother and sister have made
handsome living, and many a time |
have helped them out. There; you
have me in the ring, too. But who
cares? The father, so understand,
married Fortunes mother for love;
she married him for his money, and
he hadn't any. Drink and despair dis.
patched him quickly enough. She is
remarkable woman, and If she had a
heart, she would be the greatest Of
them all. She has as much heart as
this beetle" as he tipped the green iri-
descent shell into the fire. But, after
all, she's lucky. It's bad thing to
have a heart, Percival, bad thing.
Some one is sure to come along and
wiring it, to jab it and stab it."
"The poor little grill"
"Percival, I'm no fool. I've been
watching you. Go in and win her; and
God bless you both. She's not for me,
she's not for mel"
"But what place have in all this?"
evasively.
what do you mean by that?"
why did Mrs. Chedsoye pay me
back, when her original intention had
been not to pay me?"
You'll find all that written in the
book of fate, as Mahomed would say.
More, | cannot tell you"
"yVill not?"
well, that phrase expresses It,"
They both heard the sound. For
tune, her face white and drawn,
stood Immediately behind them.