Evening star., 1918-02-03
THE TWO KINGS

silence brcoded over the sylvan scene
set in the heart of the busiest city in
the world.
Suddenly the red sun showed half its
disc over the horizon. flooding the fairy
scene with n fun tide of golden light
The friends paused with one accord,
drinking in the rare beauty of the wide
picture with a delight that was akin
to pain. For a moment. in their intense
enjoyment of natures loveliness, sordid
worldly cares were forgotten. Only for
a moment.
"Artie" said IIarcourt, finding words
at last. while he laid his hands with
brotherly kindness on Darley's shoul-
der I'm worried about YOU
Unable to meet Harcourt's anxious
eyes barley turned his face away.
I'm miserable enough, he said
without making my friends miserable.
/ have brought this trouble on myself
and must bear it as best ! can. If II
We're not for the sake of others / could
bear it easily enough.
Drop il. Artie. my boy, said Har-
court very earnestly I'm poor
preacher. heaven knows. I went the
pace myself in my day-halfway to the
devil But never knew what it was
to have a really good time till l pulled
up sharp. Take my word for it. Artie
the game Is not worth the candle Drop
it
II cannot afford to drop it-yet."
Nonsense, Don't throw good money
after bad. and health and honest en-
joyment of life after both"
II tell YOU. sgd" cried the other fret
fully, IF stop now I'm ruined
That's mere folly. my boy. and You
know it You have only just come into
an estate of $4,000 year-worth
s5o.N00. if it's worth a farthlng-and
quite clear of membranes. loan
of a few thousands is easily enough
managed"
But Darley turned to him with a
white scared face, self-control COM
pletely lost at last
-.Oh. sgd" he whispered with sob.
catching his voice. 81 have lost every
thing in one fortnight. Lord Clayerly
holds my l. O. Us for f4o,000- The
estate must be sold. Worst of all, my
sister and mother must be turned o.
of our old house. and all through my
selfish folly. I'm half mad when
think of it
II had no notion things were as bad
as that" Harcourt said at last; forty
FIVE thousand in fortnight is the
dickens of deep plunge"
Every night I was hoping that luck
would turn. / swore to myself ] would
never touch card again if l once get
clear
That's always the OATH" said Har-
court grimly: I've been there my
But you see, sgd barley went on
eagerly. its no use pulling up now
The five thousand or SO that is left is
hardly worth keeping. One night of
CIaverly's luck if the stakes were high
enough. would set me straight again.
Why shouldn't I have one night when
he has had dozen" If a coin spins
heads six times running it's long odds
it will spin tails next time, The
game tomorrow night is my last
chance. but | won't say die while there
is even one chance left
You can't play with Lord Claverly
tomorrow night. anyhow: there's an
other little game on. There's trouble
brewing at the club
Trouble What troublen
Well. it's a committee secret. but
you're as safe as myself. You know
/ have sworn off cards since / was
married. What do YOU think brought
me there tonight. and made me see the
thing OUT"
Il hattered myself it was for my
sake
Partly: but more for your opponents
sake
Lord Claverly. Why. 1 didn't think
YOU knew him.
VERY slightly; and the little l do
know I don't like. I was there on po-
lice duty. a member of the commit
tee"
What have the committee to say to
this?"
We'll. YOU see. there have been nasty