Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1916-05-16
Che
Socia1Htates
Story No. 4
A WAR OF WITS
Plot by George Bronson Howard.
NoVelization by Hugh C. Weir.
Copyright Kalem Company.
CONTINUED from Yesterday.)

even II we have become such good
Hyoscine growled at that, but he
couldn't really say much. However,
the result was that he stopped worry
ing about how much money Mary had.
ne was crazy enough about her not to
"Marty-you've missed your voca-
tion" Mary told McMurtha, one night,
when they were alone, you'd have
made made more money on the stage than
as confidence man and card expert"
"oh, well" said Marty McHfurtha,
@oepreeatingly, @ II always thought
for their mon money! VI Best geSides syorS you're juet rnR
flattering me. This doctor person is
so stuck on you he isn't paying any
attention at all to me. Pretty good
you didn't fall for HIM"
Never" said Mary, with conviction.
IF 1 ever do fall In love it will be
with an honest mani!
Marty. You are yourself. Now L
Well, ever since was knee high to a
grasshopper i've just figured that II
the same as belonged to me And it
usually did, too," he added, pensively.
Mary laughed. She knew Marty. He
had absolutely no sense of wrong do
Ing, seemingly; he couldn't distinguish
between right and wrong. But he had
code of his own, too; his word, once
given, could be depended upon abso-
lutely. He had never been known to
break an agreement.
"Say-if you're planning to put one
over on this doctor I'd better show you
a few things" Marty said. ''Give me
new deck OF cards"
He took the cards and steamed off
the revenue stamp. Then he selected
certain cards and filed the edges.
Even Mary could scarcely distinguish
the doctored cards from the rest, but
MaTtV
rectly as he dealt OF hand after hand.
He performed miracles OF skill when
he dealt, too. Then he shuffled the
cards, let, Mary deal them, and called
the, five hands she dealt off without
looking at a single card.
"1'll fix up signal code you can
work s.3rk BY turning your rings, too" he
game! I'm ready, and so are you"
Before he left Mary the so-called
Winthrop replaced the marked deck
In its package and restored the stamp
were exactly as they had como from
the factory.
And that night Hyoscine calling to
see Mary, was disguised to find Win
throp with her. He wanted her to
accompany him to the Casino-and
Mary knew, from Mona, that he had
cashed big, check that day.
Mr.. Winthrop will join us in a game
ment here!'
He hesitated; then he yielded. He
didn't want to leave her with Win
throp. Mary sent for cards-cleverly
she substituted the doctored pack for
the new one. There was no element of
chance in the game that followed.
he saw how excited the doctor was.
And in less than an hour Hyoscine was
stripped of all he had. Winthrop was
the big, winner. Mary was a few dol
got up and excused himself
Hyoscine was angry, and. for a mo-
ment, suspicious. But Mary was so
quick. with her sympathy, and re-
sincerity for her part in his loss, that
he found himself unable to believe
that he had anything more than bad
luck to regret.
"Oh, what's the difference" he said,
where that came from! And then he
turned toward her with sudden fierce
jeaIousy sEou, You don't care e. for otna thst
Mary hesitated a moment.
mo" she said, softly.
"Ah!" cried the doctor. Then -
wait until I get the money! viii you
morning? We can be married on the
"oh" cried Mary. "I-youre so
quick-do you expect me to decide
and l will give you my answer"
And with that assurance he had to
be content. In the morning he came
to her. But not before Mona, early as
1t was when he came.
"He got another check from her!"
said Mona. "The biggest of all. Here
is the drug-some of his own supply.
Hurry, Mary-hell be here as soon as
he has had the check cashed"
Hide in my bedroom" said Mary.
"I'l be ready when he comes"
She had only just time enough for
the preparations she had to make be-
"Tve got the money! he cried,
eagerly. And now - I want my
answer
Mary made a gesture OF surrender.
and the next moment he clasped her
In his arms. But he started back at
once with sharp cry, looking at his
finger On It there appeared a tiny
"ohw cried Mary. I'm so sorry
see-this pin in my waist was unfast-
ened-it must have scratched your!
He laughed. smilinsly, he helped
her to fastsn the pin-and never saw
the curious ring she wore, nor knew
that It contained a hidden spring, and
a tiny needle that had forced into his
that was his chief reliance! Caught
in his own trap 1t was not long before
the drug took effect upon him. A
stupor overcame him. And in few
minutes ne was as muCn at MARY .
mercy as Mrs. Mclean had been at his
She smiled triumphantly as she saw
this.
"Give me the money! said Mary.
and he obeyed. And now-write what
1 tell you"
So it was that, when the effect of
the drug wore off, he found himself
alone in Mary's apart hent. The girl
was gone-and with her all her be-
longings. and every trace Of her - oc-
his money. only a note was left-a
note, written, as ne saw In his Own S,l
love and his repentance--and told her
that he was giving her the ill-gotten
money he mad gathered by way OF
proof of his sincerity.
fYou were the victim of your, own
drug! Mary had written Ironically
belpw his declaration.
Raging, but hopeless, he sought ,ght for for
had left yellow Springs There was
nothing he could 10. He had been de:
prived of the fruits of his own villtanT
and by his own methods.