The San Francisco call., 1913-07-20

fully done with decately shaded brocades set in
panels Of French gray. Paintings and bronzes be-
spoke taste as well money
But the chief objects of interest in the drawing
room were little round mahogany tables. About one
OF them, three persons, two women and man, were
already seated slipping tea, champagne, cocktails,
whatever to them seemed to add piquancy to the ad
venture.
"Sha we play brdge?" asked Mr.. Harrington,
after "NIrs. Merrill" "NIrs. Roberts, and ''Mr.
Mitchell" had been introduced.
ooh, mol" yawned ''NTrs Willis" Bridge is such
bore. Let IS play little poker
The party took their places about the table. Mr..
Harrington produced pack of gilt-edged cards and
an ivory box filled with red white and blue chips.
While he played, Mrs. Livingston was busy caring
for her guests.
FROM adjoining room came very different
sound - the treacherous lure Of the spinning
roulette Wheel Through door Clare could catch
gmpses of blase and fashily dressed women, riskng
everything - perhaps honor chance turn of
the wheel. 1t was none of the old-time beautiful
wheels OF ebony and inlaid silver, but smaller and of
kind that could be packed in suite Layouts
for faro, keno, chuck-a-luck and other games were
there, but not in operation
maid with white-napkined bottle and little hol-
low stemmed glasses on silver salver moved noise
lessly in and out. Clare noted that neither Mrs.
Livingston Mr. Harrington indulged, passing it
off with casual remarks that it was "too early" or
that they were "too busy looking after you, my
dears." Clare and Billy exchanged knowing look
"Let S make it two-dolar limit" exclaimed one
Of the ladies at length shuling the cards with prac-
ticed hand.
"The only limit as far as | am concerned is the
roof" smiled Harrington, waiting deferentally for
the others to agree.
"That s what you call the high cost Of living"
laughed one little lady nervously she puffed
tiny god-tipped cigarette. "John wonders why the
modiste, the miliner and the coutouriere charge
much!'
Mrs. Carlyle's losses did not seem to worry her
much "Such wretched luck" she exclaimed at length
throwing down her cards petulantly. "Let me con-
gratulae you, my DEAR" to Clare as she noted that
she a tri1e ahead of the game.
But beginners luck' did not last long. The tide
slowly and gradually turned as Clare had expected
And Lawson, though he had some skill at poker
found that it was of avail.
The pile of chips in the 'kity" for the "house"
increased. Also the pile of blue chips before Mr.
Harrington
Seeing how things were going, Clare suddenly
membered that she had an appointment to meet
"Mr. Kendall" She and Lawson quit, amid general
regrets, after losing about fifty dollars
$50 that is up-to date gambling in luxurious New
York joint" rumnated Lawson, thinking of the old
places OF Steel bronze and oak doors, of look OUTS
free wine and expensive cigars
EYES," returned Clare as they sped away in taxi
cab from the granite and marble house Of cards
"just private game to fleece the unwary Rather
interesting MT it, this taste Of the new phase Of
sporting life since the gambling Investigations
"The worst of this gambling" remarked
Lawson, "s that it gets the women as well as the men,
Let me see," he added looking at his watch "They
left me that, anyhow. 1t took just half hour to
get introduced and, by careful playing, drop that
fifty
Expense money Billy" laughed Clare. catching
his ruefu look their experience with the hieh lights
in the city of lights and shadows. Then she added