The Washington herald., 1913-11-23


honored guests. He saw events through
a milky atmosphere, being semi-delirious
with the horror OF an approaching catas-
trophe- He was aware Of Lottie's pink
form being escorted to her place beside
the lottery wheel amid the hoarse cheers
OF the multitude. Behind the folds of
her veil he could catch the fash Of vio-
lently rouged cheeks.
What does she want to rub It In for?''
he muttered, in disgust
Dan Hollis, one Of Retchum's clerks,
chosen apparently for his entire ignor-
ance Of lotteries. came forward with q
typewriter sheet. and silence fell over
Utopia Addition. In the halting voice
OF high school vaIedictorian, the young
man read the terms under which Lottie
and the Honeymoon House should be
won After an eternity OF droning mono
logue, there came another silence, while
some one tied a handkerchief over the
eyes OF the pink-veiled lady. Brian for
gave her brazen past and pitied her.
Her form looked young and helpless be-
fore that mob. and somehow he found
himself blushing for his super-Booster-
ism which had put even Lottie de We're
in such false position.
An assistant came forward and began
turning the wheel He gave the hopper
a mighty flip, and round and round IL
spun, the papers inside swirling like
snow-hakes in the vortex Of a cyclone
Slowly IL stopped. The mob tiptoed,
while O'Malley guided the girls hand to
the hole in the hopper. She proved un-
accountably clumsy. She picked I'D two
or three tickets, dropped them again, and
after what seemed another years inter-
val, withdrew her hand and gave some
thing to O'Malley. The latter slowly
broke a seal and slowly read:
Number 1914 wins"
Brian sank against pillar and tried to
articulate, What's that?' But some
thing had withered his palate. He must
have swooned/ standing. for the next he
knew the clerk was reading: Mr.. Brian
Boru Blaney holds the lucky number"
There were a few scattered cries of
''Fake"'=but the crowd was mostly
either ignorant or friendly Somebody
dug Brian in the ribs. and there was
considerable tittering among the dis
tinguished citizens Of San Bruno gath
cred on the perch.
BE a sport" Brian's guardian angel
whispered in his ear. He braced his
shoulders, resolved to submit to the
turn OF the wheel, even though 10
wrecked his future Obrey O'Malley, a
granite smile on his face came forth and
~ AAAA " AhC ePON the LOIIerY
Bride stood. in the act Of drawing a hat
pin from her chiffon veil Icily he took
her hand and looked the other way.
A general cry Of 'Ah-h-h-hI" rose from
the throng. with single. accentuated in
terjections like "A peach.'' "A pippinr''
Were they all humorists indulSinz in
Internal sarcasmS? Brian summoned all
his courage and looked straight at his
raffied fancee. He gasped and looked
again, imbecile with amazement-for he
was gazing upon the highly painted but
unmistakable features Of Miss Betsy
Spencer,
What in-excuse me-" he managed to
say.
Get me away-quick"' she whispered.
holding the loose chiffon over her face
and drawing him after he- into the
Navajo splendors of the new parior.
Betsy dear, I'm so habbergastedly
happy" he began. hysterical with the
weakness OF one emerging from a fever
dream.
Something in her manner steeIed his
nerves like an icy shower. She took
little box Of cold cream from her pocket
and began removing the grease-paint in
methodical fashion
Il want to get out of here in a closed
hack with the blinds down." she said.
That's the way Turkish trophy is
supposed to travel, believe"
He came closer.
"Oh Betsy, I've wanted to win you"
he began.
Pass me that handkerchief" she said.
I've done a lot for you this morning.
boy. I'm not going to be any fooisher
for a while"
We'll, why"
Because. That de We're person backed
NraF at he agS anl haE
somebody had to be the prize Bride or
your old lottery would be a sticky ruin.
So I rubbed on so much grease-paint my
own grandpa wouldn't know me, and
took Lotties place"
Il knew you. the first pop out OF the
box
Thank you for that. at Ieast-Brian."
She gave him rewarding smile.
How did come to draw that winning
number out of 5000 others?''
You didn't" she said.
What t'ell-excuse mer'
The other day. when you were show
ing me your silly old lottery tickets, you
dropped some, and forgot to pick one
up. That was Number I21+ put it in
a little envelope, and today, when the
time came to draw, I accidentally had
the ticket in my hand instead Of the one
I should have taken from the wheel.
O'Malley and his old clerk and the rest
of them were such amateurs, they didn't
know the ticket from the duplicate. That
was simple"
Gee! What a little helpmeet you
could be to bunco man.
rs the hack ready-with lots of cur
tains?" she asked.
.Brinkhaus has lent me his limou-
sine. It's by the side porch"
I've left a package in Ketchum's
car. Get 1t and take me back to
Healthy View" she said He obeyed,
and after they had smuggled them
selves into the mysterious car they
wove, unobserved, through the fast
dispensing crowd. Betsy took her littls
white hat out OF the package. re-
moved her pink cloak. and became
again a charming private citizen in
white serge.
Il never thought I would win you
this way" said Brian, after a long.
pause.
You won't, my boy" she replied
softly. turning upon him her pure,
girlish eyes. You won't-ever."
Aren't you sport enough?"
mo woman Is a sport. Besides, you
wouldn't want a wife out of a grab
bag. Next thing you'd be calling me
1914 Besides. raffled goods don't
wear well"
AS they approached Healthy View
she raped on the window for the car
to stop.
I'll walk the rest Of the way" shs
said.
Brian opened the door.
Anyway" she continued. as she got
out, the house don't belong to me by
rights. It's in the name of Lottie de
Ehaf. 80 OF hn