Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1917-01-25
Playing For
a Wife
By ELINoR MARSH


B per cent interest, giving her thou
sand a year. This was not enough.
She could not possibly get on without
two thousand. She gambled and lost
an her money except few thousand
dollars.
Steady girls make good wives, and
there is not much to be expected from
unsteady ones. A gambler Is not like
" to make satisfactory companion
for man. Nevertheless men are not
ts steady. They marry the woman
who fascinates them, and a reckless
woman Is sometimes more fascinating
than careful one. At any rate, Fred
Molineaux fell in love with Missy Win
terton and asked her to marry him.
But lie was poor. and she declined him.
Had he been wealthy she would have
married him, because she liked him.
But MOlfneaux did not know this.
Molineaux went away. Everybody
said that he could not remain in the
same place with the girl who had re-
fused him. This was before she In
herited her $4,000 or had taken to
gambling. One day several years later
he returned.
One evening the two met at bridge
party and were opponents in four
handed game. Miss Wtnterton took
5000 away with her Mr. Molineaux
told her he had brought back with
him several thousand dollars and
would be pleased to have her win it
from him. She said she would rather
win some one else's money, but he in
sisted, and she consented.
When they sat down to cards Moli-
nealx asked his opponent what game
che preferred. She chose bridge, and
they began two handed game. Moli-
neaux told her he couldn't lose his mon
ey to her fast enough without playing
high. She was not averse 70 this, and
they kept doubling" and going back
till there was much money passing.
But instead of Miss Winterton win
ming Molineauxs money he won hers.
She was reduced to few hundred dol
lars, the remains Of her Inheritance,
when the luck turned and she began
to win, and it was not long before she
had recovered all she had lost to him.
From this time on Molineaux play
ed with apparent recklessness, which
:, would have indicated to an uninter-
ested observer that he was playing
purposely to lose. A thousand dollars
Of his money went to Miss Winterton,
then another thousand and another
TIL $4,000 had changed hands Then
he drew five 500 bills from his pocket.
Il thought said Miss Wintertor,
that you had brought back only a
few thousand dollars
II am not yet at the end of my pile. =
he replied. dealing the cards.
Molineaux continued to lose steadily.
His adversary expected every time she
made big haul he would announce
that he had been frozen out. But his
funds seemed to hold out amazingly.
The more Miss Winterton won the
more excited she became. The more
Mr.. Molineaux lost the cooler he ap.
peared. When Miss Winterton had
won $4,000 she was so absorbed in
the game that she forgot about her
opponent having only few thou
sand. She played high, but Molineaux
played higher. Occasionally he won.
They had been playing many hours
when Miss Winterton paused to count
her winnings. She had won $4,000.
How would you like to throw 4 hand
at poker double or Quits?' asked Moli-
neaux.
Miss Winterton caught her breath
She had regained the amount of her
legacy. Should she stop and live on
$1,000 or risk all by trying to secure a
sum that would satisfy her-$2,OOO!
She was under the influence of the
gambling demon.
Suppose you, lose" she said doubt.
FUZZY. have you the money to payy'
Molineaux drew certified check
from his pocket for $4,000 and laid ii
on the table. His adversary looked
surprised.
II thought you were poor?" she said
"Since I saw you last, have made
this money. have come back to-
He paused. uncertain how to finish.
"Buck against me. Your purpose IL
or was to clean me out, then offer t.
take care Of me as your WIFE,"
Proceed with the game and you will
know my object. Is 1t double or duitsy'
She peered into his face. endeavoring
to read what was at the bottom OF al
this. 1t was inscrutable. Then she
said: !,
Double OF quits it is. Deal thu
cards"
He dealt her q pair of tens and scat
tering. His own cards were all scat
tering. She called for three cards, and
he dealt himself new hand Throw
ing his cards on the table face up, he
showed king high Miss Wintertor
turned her cards over and showed two
tens. Imperturbably as ever, Molineaus
pushed the check over to her.
1t was only at the latter part Of thu
play that Miss Winterton's attention