The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1915-06-10

steps. Indeed. the room was singular
~ silent for one that harbured some
twoscore players in addition to a fun
corps of dealers. croupierS. watchers
and walters. The warmth of the room
was noticeable
A brief survey Of the gathering con
WINGED p. Sybarite that. barring the
servants. he was lonely exception to
the rule of evening dress But this
discovery discounted him not at all
with an eye alert for the man with
the twisted mouth he strUtted from
table to table OSteEsibly as little i'll ut
ease as press agent in thea:er
lobby.
few minutes sufiiced to demon
strate that the owner of the abandoned
nat was not among those present.
which fact. coupled with the doorkeep-
efS averment that Mr.. Bailey Pentield
was not. persuaded z. Sybaritp that
the former was neither more nor less
than the proprietor of this gaming
house
But this conclusion perturbed him
lie couldn't imagine either Miss Les.
sing or Miss Marian BleSsington in any
way involved with common or even
proper gambler.
His tour brought him finally to a
pause by the roulette table in the rear
of the room. Curious to watch the
game in being. he fingered there
There were perhaps half Il dozen play.
ers round the board. four on one wing.
two on the other. OF the latter one
was that very young man who had
been responsible for T. Sybarite's
change of mind with regard to going
home. With II bored air this prodigal
was frittering away five dollar notes
on the cOlOrs. the columns and the doz
ems. his i'll success Stupendous. his ap.
parent indifference whether he won OF
lost positively magnificent. But in the
course of the few minutes that p
Sybarite watched him he either grew
weary or succeeded in emptying his
pockets and ceased to play.
?. Sybarite was shocked 10 hear his
own voice.
Five on the red" it said distinctly.
with an effect Of extravagant apathy
thought later he caught the crou.
piers eye and drove the wager home
with a nod. His heart stopped beating
Five dollars. All he had in the
world.
The whir of the deadly little ball in
its ebony runway was like nothing less
than the eXultant shrek of Il banshee
Three red the croupier began his
chant.
T. Sybarite failed TO hear the rest.
The croupier tossed him chocolate
token. He was conscious that he
touched it with numb and wit,ess fin
gers. mechanically pushing it upon the
red diamond
Ensued another awful. soul sicken.
ing minute of suspense.
Twenty red
A second brown chip appeared mag
ically on top of the first. p. Sybarite
regarded them stupidity. Afraid to
touch them. his brain communicated
/ to his hand the impulse to remove the
chips ere it was too late. but the hand
hang moveless in listless mutiny.
''Thirty-four red
Two more chips were added to his
| stack.
And this time his brain sulked. If
1v1't 1ni "A
sagacious admonitiOn-very well. 1t
! just wouldn't bother itself to signal
any further advice.
But quite instinctiyely his hand
| moved out, tendery embraced the four
| brown chips and transferred them to
the green area dominated by the black
diamond
Twelve, black
Forty dollars was represented by
that stunted pillar of brown waters!
! Z. Sybarite experienced an effect of
| coming to his senses after an abbre-
waited and. to tell the truth. somewhat
nighhnarish nap. Aping the manner
Of one or two other players whom he
| had observed before this madness pos
sessed him, he thrust the chips out of
the charmed circle of chance and nod
ded again with what a seasoned airh
to the croupier.
Cash or chips:' inquired that func-
tionary.
oh, cash. thank you"
! The chips gathered into the company
of their brethren. Two twenty dollar
bills replaced them.
J Stuffing these last into his pocket, P
Sybarite turned and strolled indiffer
emily toward the door.
Better get away before it's too late"
intelligence counseled.
Right you are he admitted fairly
I'll 90 home now before anybody
takes this away from me-"
Sensible Of you" intelligence APP
proved.
Still" suggested the small but clear
voice of greed before he could gain the
head of the stairs. you've got your
original So yet to lose. Be a sport
Don't go away without turning in a
cent to the house 1t wouldn't look
pretty"
There's something in that" admit
ted P, Sybarite.
Nevertheless he never quite under
stood how it was that his feet carried
him to the other roulette table at the