Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1918-11-14

and decided that she wanted q
chatty evening. She sent Phoebe
into the bedroom for her bag, settled
the couch and sat down in the mid
die of it with a complete air of in
tending to remain there.
From the moment of her first
move to end the poker game Jim
surprised me.
Virginia, don't be a spoil-sport,'
he protested irritably.
This to his beloved Virginia-and
| he followed 1t by stubbornly insisting
that Betty and Terry continue the
game. But Betty wooed Terry away
with a smile and said she also felt
"chatty."
"All right. then, let the girls gos-
sip-but shoot a few dice with me,
Terry" he urged.
Betty and Terry exchanged a
quick glance-and then the English
man said he'd rather talk and get
acquainted.
"How about you, Neal?" asked
Jim, moistening his lips nervously
as he produced a little black cylin-
der, from his cardbox
I'm with you," said Neal. Routed
from Phoebe's side, he gladly seized
the chance of getting into Jim's good
graces.
"I'n match you for the first
throw"
Jim tossed a penny on the table
covered it with his hand and watched
Neal intently. Neal brought a coin
from his pocket. shook it between
clasped palms and lifted his right
hand to show the Indian head
while Jim's coin lay with the date up.
Good boy, Neal. You win" Jims
voice was hard, yet feverish.
Neal shook the dice box. Out
came a pair of three.
Jim was breathing heavily as he
crouched over the table with his
eyes a-glitter,
Again Neal tossed the little cubes
out on the table-and now a six
rolled into sight, followed by a four.
felt Jim stiffen-and relax. The
last toss was a five and four. Jim
raked in the two quarters that lay
before him and suggested doubling
the stakes.
A moment later he was laughing
nervously as a one and then a six
rolled out at his first light flirt of
the dice box.
Better luck next time, kid" he
exclaimed, but his hands trembled
as he handed the box back to Neal.
Again Neal lost. Jim clutched the
coins eagerly and laughed dry,
reckless laugh. AS he sat there,
with his hair tossed into a tumbled
mass and his eyes fairly burning on
Neal and the dice and the jumbled
pile of bills and coin in front of him,
| became aware of the strange si-
lence in the room. The only thing
that broke it was Jim's staccato
laughter and the rattle of the dice.
Suddenly Virginia rose:
Jimmie, dear, will you take me
home? I've a lot of work to do at
the apartment to-morrow-and 1
want to ask you about some of it.
Wen walk and get bit of air. Mrs.
Brice and the Captain will drive
Phoebe over, I'm sure"
No one protested at her strange
arrangements.
Jim looked up-almost dazed.
Then he got to his feet and though
he staggered against the table for
Il moment, still the wonted sweet
smile struggled back to his face as
he assured Virginia that he'd really
like advising her.
He looked down at the pile of
money almost as if weighing it, then
he reached out a hand his fingers
closed to a fist, but instead of OPEN
ing It to seize the money he pushed
1t toward Neal
Take it, Neal-its yours" he
muttered.
And though there were gracious
good-bys after that, and reminders
of the Motor Cup races for which
Captain Terry has invited us next
day, my evening seemed to end with
the moment Jim pushed the money
he had won from him back to Neal
My good-nights were automatic.
Still automatically 1 crossed the
window and strained my eyes into
the darkness for a glimpse of Jim.
What was she saying to him-this
sister he loved? Did the dice game
that had terrified me mean anything
to her? Would a worry shared
bring us close or make her shut me
out behinds walls of reserve?
And while I stood pondering and
wondering, / felt strong young arm
fling itself across my shoulders. Neal
my brother Neal.
Virginia had shut him off from
Phoebe, yet he said nothing of his
own hurt. and merely stood with
his arm about me Offering his silent
sympathy How good 1t was to feel
that whatever came, had Neal.
But as l turned to smile at my
brother the pile of coins winked up
at me maliciously from the corner of
the table where Jim had played his
game.
I'M n