Graham guardian., 1917-10-05
Playing For
a Wife
By ELlNOR MARSH


She could NOT possibly get on without
two thousand. She gambled and aost
all her money except a few thousand
dollars.
Steady girls make good wives, and
there is not much to be expected from
unsteady ones. A gambler Is not like,
ly to make satisfactory companion
for a man. Nevertheless men are not
prone to marry a woman because she
is 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 Miss Win
terton and asked her to marry him,
But he was poor, and she declined him.
Had he been wealthy she would have
married him, because she liked him.
But Molineaux did not know this.
Aiolineaux 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 Winterton 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 1t
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.
neaux asked his opponent what game
she 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 to this. and
they kept doubling" and "going back
But instead of Miss WintertOn win
ming Molineaux's 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
till $4,000 had changed hands. Then
he drew five 500 bills from his pocket
II thought" said Miss Winterton
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 heA 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 MolineauS
played higher Occasionally he won.
They had been playing many hours
when Miss Winterton paused to coun,
her winnings. She had won $4,000.
"How would you like to throw hand
at poker double or quits3" 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,O0
She was under the influence Of the
gambling demon.
Suppose you lose," she said doubt.
fully, have you the money to payT'
! Molineaux drew certified check
from his pocket for $25, 700 and laid II
on the table. His adversary looked
surprised.
II thought you were poori' she said
"Since l saw you last have made
this money. l have come back to-
He paused, uncertain how to finish.
Buck against me. Your purpose Is
or was to clean me out, then offer tC
take care Of me as your wife"
Proceed with the game and you will
know my object. Is 1t double or quitsy
She peered into his face. endeavoring
to read what was at the bottom Of all
this 1t was inscrutable. Then she
said:
Double or quits It is Deal tn.
cards."
He dealt her pair Of tens and scat
terlng. 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. MolineauA
pushed the check over to her.
1t was only at the latter part Of the
play that Miss Winterton's attention
had been directed to what was going
on between her and a man who had
proposed to her. Somehow now she
forgot what she had won In his posi-
BILE object.
"Are you cleaned QUIT" she asked.
"Yes; I made this money Oh spec
ulation and came back to lose 1t tt
you. am going away again to make
some more, and when ] have made II
I am coming back to lose that to yor
too"
"No, you're not" she said.
And he didn't. He married her.
at 49, .,n,, l..,o ,,o,,, I, ,,, -,