Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-05-24
THE LOVE GAMBLER
By Virginia Terhune Van de Water

, seas, any article of uniform at
tracted attention and interest. Yet,
David reflected miserably. he had
not the money to buy himself a new
when his references were received.
He longed for the disguise of a
chauffeur's livery.
The couple on the rear seat of the
car were discussing the matter that
was in the chauffeur's mind.
MIR. Jefferson looked at Smith
very queerly," Desiree commented.
Il wish, Dad, that he had his regu-
lar livery. l know people must
think it's strange that we should
let our man wear a shabby old
army overcoat."
Maybe that is true" Samuel
Leighton admitted. Il noticed my
self how Jefferson stood stock still
and stared. Rather rude, too, l call
it. Nevertheless, 1 may as well let
Smith go down town tomorrow and
be measured for his livery"
Desiree drew sigh of satisfac-
ton. That's good" she approved.
II am glad you've decided on that.
Perhaps, l am getting absurdly con-
scious of that army coat"
Il thing you are, my dear" the
parent agreed.
Thus it came about that Samuel
Leighton told David De Laine to
wait for a moment before taking
his car back to the garage that
night.
Come into the library with me-"
! he said after he had opened the
front door for his daughter, and had
seen her on her way upstairs.
David had followed him wonder
| ingly and uneasily. He had felt
uncomfortable since his meeting
with Jefferson a while ago.
| Switching on the light above the
great table in the library, Samuel
Leighton sat down and drew a sheet
of note paper towards him.
II am going,' he explained, ito
give you a few lines to Strafford &
Company from whom 1 get my
liveries. 1 would like you to report
there tomorrow morning and be
measured for what 1 am ordering
here"
Yes, sir" David responded.
n Wave of HomesiclSness
While Mr.. Leighton was writing
his employe took advantage of the
waiting period to look carefully
about him.
! The room was luxuriously and
|
easy chairs and books everywhere.
1t was a place in which people could
live, love and be happy.
A wave of homesickness swept
over the young man. He was think
| ing back to the time when he, too,
had a home. How well he remem-
| bered-
Here you are!"
Samuel Leighton swung around in
his desk-chair and held the letter
out to him. Take this downtown
! early tomorrow. We shall not
want the car before afternoon. And
| tell them to hurry the job. have
also written them to do so in that
note"
There was a pause. AS David met
/ his employers gaze, he spoke i'm
pulsively.
IT appreciate the confidence in me
that your ordering this livery i'm
plies" he began.
! He stopped. This was not the
/ language a hireling would use to
his employed-a hireling of the type
he was supposed to be.
| Il mean," he stammered, "are you
sure, sir, you would not rather wait
till you get my references"
mo. l can trust you" Then, be-
fore David could guess his inten-
ton. Leighton caught hold of the
sleeve of the army coat and turned
1t quickly to the light. There was
tiny unbleached triangle where a
wound stripe had been.
why did you take that OFF," the
older man asked abruptly.
II did not care to excite COM
ment by wearing it," was the low