Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1921-01-02

i counted out the promised hundred ana
! fifty dollars. ut would be dangerous.
| you understand" he added.
,"Su-u-re" agreed the youth with
the hard features. You know me,
Benny"
| Capt. Bill Titus. that evening. hav-
| ing canveled his berth reservations
and resigned himself to spending sew
| eral more days in the city, felt lonely
| and bored.
| Immediately after dinner. which he
! ate in the Van Wouter grill. he went
| to his room and read the papers. I'm
| easily, then, he wandered around;
] looked out of the window. He felt
| fidgety. A sudden thought came to
him; this would be good night to
On the heels of the thought he was
at his telephone, calling an acquaint-
! ance named Marsh. a theatrical man
ager, at his office.
Got anything on tonight, after
your shop closes up?" he asked.
Nothing at all, captain" Marsh
replied, cheerfully.
You mentioned. one evening. that
| if 1 ever got a bunch I'd like to play
a little draw poker, you knew a place
where 1 could find it,
We'll. 1 know several places that
are run On the level" Marsh said.
Can you come around here about
half-past 10? I'll be through between
then and IL. This club is only step
from here"
"rn be there" Bill agreed. land
thanky' kindly. That is. will unless
a decent-sized check cashed; and if I
KANT I'll telephone"
Figuring that he needed about a
thousand dollars, in case of emer-
gency, Bill knew the cashier had no
power to let him have so much money
wit hrvY Ia Z foIn
phone call to the Office brought the
reply that the manager was expected
in before 10. Titus dragged his most
comfortable chair under a reading
light and opened a magazine.
y X X X
IT was a half hour later when Bill
went to the phone and ascertained
that the manager had just come in
lars, payable to the hotel, he went
down in the elevator.
The lobby was we'll filled and
group of three men stood. apparently
gossiping idly. not far from the bat
terry of elevators. They were all fac
ing the opening doors as the cages
descended, but as Titus came out one
of them spoke a sharp word to his
companion and turned his back. Capt.
Bill saw the movement, without being
interested in it. and then his eyes
half consciously noted a rather
striking popularity in the appearance
of the man who was now standing
facing directly away from the ele-
vators His ears were unusual. being
at noticeably different heights. and
standing out at dissimilar angles.
Neither of the others, who had
7 ole in, Co.
now again engaged in conversation
was known to the captain. Both were
we1lgroomed, citified persons. One. OF
middle age, had a bald head and
somewhat protruding eyes. The other
was much younger. hardly more than
thirty.
He was of medium height, but of a
slim elegance that made him seem
taller; an oval-faced, olive-skinned
man with a natural poise of manner
and good taste in dress.
Capt. Bill did not observe any of
these things at the moment: in fact.
he hardly noticed the group at all.
With his mind on his errand, he pass
ed them and went to the managers
office.
The trio had moved when he re-.
turned to the elevators, and he did
Eot see them. In his room he dis
tributed the bank notes into several
pockets, on general principles. then
he put out his light, left the hotel
and strolled up 7th avenue to Marsh's
office. At IL o'clock he and the theat-
rical manager walked less than
block down a street in the forties and
turned in at a dignified entrance.
where they assembled one flight of
stairs and found themselves confront
ing door marked by modest brass
plate, reading: The Brotherhood
Whist Club"
Having gone through the forrhality
of Joining the club. Bill and Marsh
took up a place where they could
watch the largest game in progress in
the house. where each deal saw a dol
lar go into the pot. and jackpots
called for IS apiece at their beginning
and $3.50 from each player each time
they passed unopened. The table was
full. with six players.
All the players were entirely SOBER
except one, a good-natured looking
man of forty, whose name. 1t appear
ed. was Broome, and he was not too
intoxicated to look out for himself
moderately well, although spots OF
carelessness from time to time marred
his technique. Bill gathered. from the
nav Broone stood his losses. that a
few hundred dollars more or less
meant nothing at all in his life
Others came into the room whRe
Bill and Marsh were watching the
1ame. Titus, happening to raise his
ewes. saw a face across the table that
Impressed him as vaguely familiar.
ITS owner was leaning forward. his
large dark eyes devouring the game
With the light in them of the born
GAMBLER. He was a handsome man
of about thirty. well dressed. with an
oval face and olive skin.
II guess TIL play q few hands" ne
remarked. Henry, bring me couple
of hundred"
occurred. and Capt Bill slipped into
the seat.
The hands for the next quarter of
an hour were not remarkable, and
there was no especially heavy betting.
Bill. playing conservatively. won and
lost about equally. The dark-skinned
young man was slowly losing.
A gray-clad man Of few words on
Bills. left opened jackpot for $50.
which was the total of the chips al
ready in the pot, and Broome. whose
intoxication did not seem to wear on.
raised 1t a similar amount. up to
you. Tostelli," he said. sixty to play"
The olive-skinned man put in sixty
dollars without hesitation.
You might play my hand on the
pianola," Titus remarked cheerfully.
throwing it into the discards.
All the others. except the opener.
dropped out: he hesitated. studied his
hand. then pushed in the added thirty.
He drew three cards. Broome and
Tostelli called for two each.
'One dollar" declared the opener.
Broome was paving at his cards
and chips. which had fallen together
and got seemingly inextricably mixed.
He grinned with an appreciation Of
his clumsiness. It'll raise that-Tll