The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-02-01

in locating the Gregory cafe. Its up
per story had partitioned off compart-
ments. Number "a contained an lndi-
vidual, coarse-faced. evileyed, who sat
leisurely smoking cigar.
Are you Davenal?" demanded
Leith, facing him.
That's me-" nodded the other inso,
lently.
Leith passed beyond the drapery of
the doorway and sat down at a little
table opposite the gamester.
Il came in behalf of your victim,
young Harry Merriam" he spoke
sternly. He is out of the city and
appear in his stead. You demand q
thousand dollars from him."
Honestly owed, yes"
You made q provision" went on
Leith steadily, that he can have his
revenge. Does that hold?"
The gamester studied his visitor
keenly. Then he replied:
"Righto!"
Il know but one game Of cards."
proceeded Leith.
And what is that?"
whist. I will stake one thousand
dollars cash against those l. o. us,
game ten points"
The gambler smiled. 10 his point
OF view this clear-eyed, respectable
appearing Leith seemed easy prey. He
was, too, nettled at the manifest con-
tempt evinced by Leith and longed to
give him trimming.
And il you lose?" questioned Dave
nal coolly.
Then give you check for another
thousand dollars and redeem the l.
o. us"
'Done!" and the fellow produced a
pack Of cards and began shutting
them.
A strange expression came into the
eyes of Gordon Leith. He drew his
coat closer to conceal dangling or
nament attached to his watch chain,
as If that might betray vital secret.
1t was prize given to the champion
of leading whist club in his college
days. He had not touched a card for
two years, but in the old days!-a
memory Of his conquests gave him
nerve and confidence
Only the click-swish of the bits of
pasteboard, the quick breathing of the
gamester as, two points scored for
himself and nine for his opponent he
threw down his hand, confessing de-
feat, and passed over the l. o. us.
Silently Leith walked from Number
81. From beyond the drapery of Mum.
Der % stepped-Mr. Merriam!
"Deceiver! Gamester! Hypocrite!"
he voiced, his eyes flaming, his scorn
whitening. Il have traced you to your
haunts! You are unmasked-and
Vera shall know!"
Gordon Leith paled Startled, he un.
consciously dropped the bundle of l.
o. US from his hand. With bowed
head he passed from the place. Mr.
Merriam picked up the papers. One
glance and he staggered back, over
| come. The facts were revealed-he
read the name of his son and knew
the truth.
What's the row, governor?" chirped
the gamester, appearing on the scene
Il have wronged true and noble
man." uttered Mr.. Merriam. Tell me
all Of this affair and l will reward
you"
The gamester glibly, coarsely stated
the facts as he understood them. Mr.
Merriam guessed the vast sacrifice
that Leith had made, even in the face
of being disgraced accepting mutely
the onus Of degradation not his por
ton.
Vera Merriam-within four days
Mrs. Gordon Leith-never knew of the
episode. Harry Merriam knew of it.
for his father charged him with his
misdemeanors when he returned to
the city.
But Harry Merriam was a changed
man, and a realization of the brave
loyalty Of true friend strengthened
his determination to forever evade the
pitfalls that had nearly engulfed him.