The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1914-12-14
Continued

With a slight shrug Cecil strulled
away, and few moments later Harry
sat staring daEedy at his friends.
grown suddenly contemptuously indit
tereut
Broke, huh?" MIR Marks comment.
ed. Say. you pack roll most rs bis
as kid takes TO Sunday school
Course was foolish. but thought
you had enough TO sit in man sized
game"
With a yawn he turned away MIR
Badger followed without deeming their
late opponent worthy of asy remark
whatsoever
For, some minutes Harry sat sill
his fever steadily mounting. as his
brain no longer concentrated on the
game. felt the full effect of his drinks
furious resentment began to boil In
his breast. Took all his money and
then laughed at it, did they? Couldn't
sit in man sized game. couldn't he,
He'd show them thing or two. He'd
dash roll that would scare 'em to
death. then he'd win back his own
money and every cent they had Why.
If IL hadn't been for streak of fool
luck that was Just due to break they
wouldn't have won pot. He'd make
EN- sing small.
Hurrying TO his Stateroom. Harry
tore open his shirt and from conceal
ed money belt took Il thick wad of bills
bis movements furtive. The clay was
crumbling. There would be east out
from the furnace n distorted. ugly
'hing-a criminal suddenly the door
opened aud the boy shranE back with
cry as Ethel entered In one swift
glance the hidsouS truth WAS revealed
o her. srd with cry of horror shc
aught III his arm
For Gods S;,Se Harry. don't" sh,
riea. and then followed wild iumhlt
I f prayers accusations aud entreaties
Think what You ARE doing, You viii
Ie an embezzler-a Il thief"
Sobbingly she raused for moment
the boy was swayed nv reason and
conscience. and all might vet have
been well had the distracted girl not
gone on.
You will be disgraced. will be
the wife of convict No. will not;
| will leave you, IL you go out OF
that door | will leave you-despise you
leave you" she gasped
His anger flared blindly.
"Leave me. wish to God you
would-good riddance,,.' he snarled and
brutally throwing her aside, dashed
from the room.
For a few moments the girl remain.
ed as though frozen. the sobs choked
back. Then with white face and tragic
eyes she hurried out
Ii was already late. and Cecil was
the only passenger remaining on the
mooulit deck Suddenly he started up.
leaped forward and grasped the form
of a girl as she poised on the ratl.
With gentle tirmneSs he drew her to a
chair aud sat down beside her
"Oh. why did you stop me? Il would
have been over now" Ethel cried and
buried her face In her hands
Cecil placed soothing hand upon
her arm
1T probably isn't So bad as all that"
be said gently. Just yon tell me th,
whole story"
And presently she had done so.
Cecil's face was very grave and trou-
bled. but her head was bowed and she
did not see. He. spoke with tirm and
convincing encouragement
"IlI straighten this up some way. /
give you my word will" he said.
Yes" she answered. with the faith
CT child and. being utterly worn out
slept.
Meanwhile Harry had found Messrs
Badger and Marks. and those gentle
men had exchanged glances of delight
as they observed the denomina tons of
! the bills the hoy oSrentatiously dis
played. And even as Lord Cecil was
gently drawing a rug over the girl
asleep on deck Harry, with starting
eyes and reeling brain. stumbled into
his stateroom and fell In a stupor upon
the door. Messrs Badger and Marks
had made cleanup
at u0 SCSH StHt TUE glTI OelOW.
and her coming reused Harry to a full
reatizat ton of all that he bad done
The boy was utterly crushed and COW
ed. and the girl forgave him. but she
realized. as he knelt 1T her feet sob
ping out bis shame and repentance
that unless by some miracle he could
again appear before her as n man her
love and the joy OF life were done and
dead.
Cecil at the earliest opportunity OBJ
tanned FROM the smoking room steward
q deck of cards and with them retired
TO his staterobm. He had previously
noticed that ali the cards carried in
stock had backs OF similar design and
color. he now proceeded to carefully
mark the deck he had purchased. His
intent was to meet the enemy with
the enemy's own weapons. and he felt
! no stain upon the honor beside which
life was to him a trivial thing.
| Ii was a matter of slight difficulty to
engage the comp!scent swindlers in
game. very early in which Cecil sub
stituted his marked cards for the deck