The Dickinson press., 1917-01-20
Playing For
a Wife
By ELlNOR MARSH

gambler. She inherited $4,000 from
her mother, which was invested at
5 per cent interest, giving her a thou
sand a year. This was not enough.
She could not possibly get on without
two thousand. She gambled and lost
all her money except u 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 a 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 a careful n 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.
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 a bridge
party and were opponents in a four
handed game. Miss Winterton took
5000 away with her. MI. 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
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 q 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
till there was much money passing.
But instead of Miss Winterton win.
ming Molineaux's money he won hers.
She was reduced to a 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 Wintertor
that you had brought back only
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 a 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
AA. NAolAACuuA lOSC I1C SoOlCl AC dp
peared When Miss Winterton had
won $4,000 she was so absorbed in
the game that she forgot about he1
opponent having only a few thou.
sand. She played high, but MolineauS
played higher. Occasionally he won.
They had been playing many hours
when Miss Winterton paused to count
her winnings. She had won $4,000.
GLOW would you like to throw a hand
at poker double or quits?" asked Moli
neaux.
Miss Winte1ton caught her breath
She had regained the amount of he1
legacy. Should she stop and live on
$1,000 or risk all by trying to secure q
sum that would satisfy her-$2,000i
She was under the influence of the
gambling demon.
Suppose you lose," she said doubt;
fully, shave you the money to pay?
Molineaux drew a certified check
from his pocket for $4,000 and laid il
on the table. His adversary looked
surprised.
II thought you were poor?" she said
"Since I saw you last I have made
this money. I have come back to-
He paused, uncertain how to finish.
"Buck against me. Your purpose il
or was to clean me out, then offer tt
take care Of me as your wife,"
proceed with the game and you will
know my object. Is it double OF quitsT
She peered into his face, endeavorine
to read what was at the bottom of al
this. It vas inscrutable. Then sht
said:
Double or quits it is. Deal thu
cards."
He dealt her a pair Of tens and scat
tering. His own cards were all scat
tering. She called for three cards, an6
he dealt himself a new hand. Throw
ing his cards on the table face up, he
showed king high. Miss Winterto1
turned her cards over and showed twt
tens. Imperturbably as ever, Molineau1
pushed the check over to her.
It was only at the latter part Of tn.
play that Miss Winterton's attention
had been directed to what was goinf