The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-05-04
NE game more" said Arthur
DorIov

30 barley. - -
night should say. for this morn
ing" replied Lord Claverly, pleasantly
give luck a chance to turn, my boy.
Well. well. If you will insist l cannot
refuse" and he dealt hand at ecarte'
THE same stakes?' he asked peIore Nc
turned the trump.
Make it five hundred TOT a maj
nutter."
His lordship nodded and turned up
hearts. took up his hand, and declared
the king.
IT'S wonderful" said man at the
table to Sydney Harcourt, who stood
beside him. intently watching the
game.
II was wonderful Lord Claverly's
luck had held without break through
out the night into the small hours OF
the morning. At first there had been
a rubber of bridge, from which he rose
a substantial winner. Then came
brief spell of poker. But when Lord
Clayerly's luck eliminated in a royal
sequence. the other men laughingly
cried off. About midnight his lordship
settled down-not for the first time
to a duel at ecarte with young Arthur
barley, who claimed his revenge for a
long series of disastrous encounters at
the cardtable.
Still Lord Claverly's luck held out
wonderfully. The court cards flowed
| in an unbroken stream into his hand.
and l. o. US of young barley. writ
ten on backs of envelopes and other
! odd scraps of paper. grew to pile at
| his elbow.
| The boy was a plucky loser. who
| took his losses like a gentleman. The
last game went with the rest. His
cheek was slightly flushed and there
was the fever of strong excitement in
his blue eyes, but he smiled good
| humoredly as he tore scrap Of the
margin of a newspaper that lay on the
floor scrubbed an l. o. U. for 6 500,
ir.tialled it and tossed it over to Lord
Claverly.
/"You will give me my revenge to-
morrow night. my Lord?" he said
cheerily.
LAS you please" replied his Lord
ship. But I'm afraid, barley you
have hitherto found revenge an expen-
sive luxury"
barley took the words for chel-
lenge. T will play your Lordship one
more game for a thousand"
But Sydney Harcourt laid restrain
ing hand on his shoulder and whisp-
| cred: Not tonight, Artie; the milk
men are in the street. You fellows
| W. get the club a bad name. It's time
| we were all in bed
"All right. sgd" barley replied with
| light laugh, though a keen observer
| might have noticed his lips culver.
Tomorrow, then, my Lord, for final
bout"
Lord Claverly nodded. gathered up
the pile of I. o. us. to the amount of
E 5000. put them into his pocket.
lighted cigarette, and walked out.
Through the glare of electric light in
Chc room, the windows showed family
| luminous squares in the gray dawn.
| Harcourt turned the lights off and
| threw up the blinds and the windows.
| and the pure air and the faint. cold
CLEAN of the morning stole into the
| room
In spite of his feverish gaiety, Ar
thvr Darley's young face was pinched
| mil drawn. a red patch burned in his
cheek. and his eyes shone too brightly.
All this Sydney Harcourt was quick
70 notice. with the kindly solicitude OF
friend. for Arthur barley was like a
Younger brother to him. He kept by
his si9e down the marble staircase and
| In the cloak room, and when they stood
together at the club doors, lighting
their cigars, Harcourt ran his arm
into Darley's.
Our ways lie together across the
park" he said. We'll walk, Artie, II
you don't mind. want to have a
quiet word with you"
hundred yards from the club
brought them to St. James's Park
For little while they walked on in
silence. for Sydney Harcourt somehow
found that word of his very hard to
say. In the hush of the still morning
sof. silence brooked 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
ne with full 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 theil
intense enjoyment of natures lowell
ness, sordid worldly cares were for.
gotten. Only for moment.
"Artie." said Harcourt, finding word.
at last while he laid his hands will
brotherly kindness on Darley's Shout
der. I'm worried about you"
Unable to meet Harcourt's anxiou.
eyes. barley turned his face away.
I'm miserable enough" he said
without making my friends miserable
I have brought this trouble on mysel
, anI must bear it as best I can If /
were not for the sake of others I coul,
bear 1t easily enough"
Drop IT. Artie. my boy" said Har
court very earnestly. I'm a poo
preacher. heaven knows! I went tn
pSce myself in my day-halfway to tn