The Washington times., 1919-11-17
The LOUe Gambler
By VIRGINIA TERHUNE VAN DE WATER.

himself SmitkT-for that is his mid
die name"
TT is, it is? And did he tell you
the rest of his name?"
Yes. know just who he is,
dad. Please do not get too much
excited when | explain to you about
him. He is David De. I.aine-Miss
Jeanne De LANES nephew"
So l have heard" was the dry
rejoinder:
You have heard that" she ex-
claimed, sitting up very straight,
all the color leaving her cheeks.
And what else have you heard?"
She had been truthful to him; he
must tell her the ugly rumor even
if it hurt her.
"Daughter-it is not a pleasant
story. and ] hope it is not true
but at the club this evening / was
Informed that Miss De Lame left
her fortune to her nephew, David,
on condition Che paused and swal-
lowed hard), on condition that he
marry young girl of whom she
was very fond. The intimation was
that it might be you. l wish l had
knocked down the man who sug-
gested this-and yet I feared it
might be true"
1T was true, dad"
The father started to his feet as
the words fell upon his ear. The
girl too. rose and faced him. She
was pale, but her gaze did not
waver
Dad. did not know all the facts
until tonight. but ! did know about
Miss DeLainc'S will And the
knowledge made me sick-so that
d1d not tell you of it-until now"
until now" her father stormed.
Until now. l should think that
now you would be overcome by
what you must see-that this
scoundrel, DeLaine, came as a sneak
into my employ to try to win your
directions, so that he could claim
his aunt's money! Desireem'
grasping her by the shoulders
are you crazy that you cannot re-
aiize what all this means?"
She had seldom spoken sharply to
him, but now her voice rang out
with an authority that brought the
man TO an appreciation of his own
lack of sclf-control and her
strength OF character and will
power.
Father, have you not enough
faith in me to hear me out? II not.
VIII say no more. But I would
like you to understand everything
If you Will listen to what ! have
to say and not go all to pieces in
this way"
He set his jaws grimIy. go
ahead: he ordered. 81 will try to
keep my tongu" between my teeth
until you have finished"
a''Thpp 81
clasping her hands tightly as was
her habit when kcenIv cxcited
what you say Of Miss DcLaine's
will is true. This condition. I mean.
That was why her nephew vowed
never to touch a cent or her money
lie avoided me as / avoided him
"When he came back from France
he was not strong. He had TO got
outdoor wOrk-for he had no money.
He came here. He learned who
was after coming here. He deter
mined to give up this place, but we
urged him to stay.
Then he had this big fortune
left him by his uncle. He signed a
paper renouncinE all claim IN his
aunts property. He viii never
touch her estate, not il he has 70
prove that her mind was unbaI-
anCed.
THAT is all, Dad-cxccpt-
Dad-he and l love each othorr,
With Groan the parent dropped
into a chair and buried his head In
his hands.
Fer a minute his child watched
her face working painfully Then
with n murmur Of tenderness she
sank upon her knees and took the
gray head into her embrace.
Daddy, dear-please try to nm
derstand" she begged. David is 50
gOod--so fine! Why should you feel
like this" You arc not losing me-"