Evening star., 1921-08-26
Continued from Yesterdays Star.)
The Letter,

The Letter.
GIVE found out quite a lot about
Mr.. Creveling. as it is" McCarty
spoke a trif1e grimly. You told me,
Hill, that ned never touched card
in years. for one thing, but I've
learned different
You mean those games at Mr. Cut
ter's, sir?" Hill paused. Mr.. Grew
cling was always great for gambling,
from the old wild days when l first
came to him before he was married.
He'd bet small fortune on anything,
but cards were always a passion with
him. He used to run terrific games
himself in that study where you found
him dead; that's why he had that
high wall built at the back of the
house. One of the neighbors on the
side street who was trying to get into
society and whom Mrs. Creveling had
snubbed could look into the study
from her rear windows and she got
the police there in her house and
tried to have the Crevelings raided
professional gambling establish
ment. at that, but Mr.. Creveling be-
ing so well known. he was tipped off
and 1t cost him mint of money to
hush the matter up without scandal
that would have reached Mrs. Crew
elings ears. She didn't know about the
games then. Sr.
''She plays now herself" commented
Mctarty.
''AIl their set do. at Mr.. Cutters.
When Mr.. Creveling got intimate
with him he stopped having games at
his own house and their crowd got to
meeting regular at Mr.. Cutters. him
being a bachelor and master of his
own house"
"And a professional gambler, at
that. Did you know that. Hill?'
Il suspected as much. sir, and more.
I've heard whispers that the games
weren't altogether straight and that
Mr.. Creveling and-and one of the
other gentlemen knew as much" Hill
hesitated. Buffers and Wallets and
ladies' maids see more than their en-
ployers ever stop to think about, and
watched people come and go in
their crowd, and they all ended the
same: they'd come with fortune and
known as well as she'd like to be In
society here, and they'd lose little
and be allowed to win it back. piece
meal, with some more besides, and
meantime the wife was being taken
up and made much of, and soon they'd
be living beyond their income, what
ever it was, trying to keep up with
the procession. Then he'd plunge and
lose more and win back more yet, and
so they'd play him until he risked
everything and lost. and that time
there'd be no comeback. OF course
he'd think they We're bully good TEL
lows until the showdown. and shed
think she was having the time OF her
life and getting in with the real
people. I've seen all sides of ii. sir.
and said nothing until now. but II
some of the married men only real
ized the dangers they We're exposing
their wives to in letting them furthef
their social advancement $3.50 pro-
miscuous like. with people they really
don't know anything about. they d
4 hink before
set of so-called gentleman gam :
blers Mr.. Ford was one of the latest
that got stung, | hear-but 1t was
Mr.. Creveling YOU wanted me 10 tell
you about"
"And more than his gambling" Nc
Carly remarked. I've heard talk OF ms
affairs with women and OF qua
with Mr. Waverly not more than fort
night ago. What do you know ABOUT
"only what the butler, Rollins. told
me- sir, and that's not much -!
course. before Mr. Crevelins married
it was just one affair after another;
and what with breach of promise ana
divorce suits threatened or penains II
was a mira Gle he wasn't shot long
ago" Hill said frankly. Il never saw
him fall so hard. though. as he did
for Miss Alexander. and when thes
were married l thought he'd settle
down; he didn't for long. but he's been
couldn't get line on him. I suppose
you think il was funny that I stayed
on with him after they'd prosecuted
my wife for stealing those jewels.
but I had purpose, sir; she was
innocent. but they'd done her. dirty
trick. and I meant to fight him the
same way. If l could: You see, m
giving it to you straight. l stayed 70
get something on him that ! couid hoio
over him and make him either produce
H. = fol- H..
self, as we both thought. or else have my
wife set free. He had influence enough
to do it even after she was indicted
il he wanted to. and ] meant to make
him want to worse than he had ever
wanted anything in his life before!
CaIl it blackmail if you like. sir;
my wife was facing prison for some :
thing she had never done and l was
near crazed with the thought OF II.
| OF course. would have been dis-
missed or maybe arrested too. IT they
had known that lisa and ] were man
the start to keep it secret until
| spring and then leave and get lit
tie place in the country. I've got
quite bit put by. and we were going
to open sort of little tea place for
motorists
His voice broke. and for a minute
he seemed on the point of breaking
down. but McCarty waited without
| speaking. and finally he gathered him
self together and went on:
| 81 knew. even before Rollins told
me of the words he had had with Mr.
| Waverly. that Mr.. Creveling had what
| YOU might call another affair on:
| haven't been with him all these years
| without learning his moods. and
took it that he wasn't receiving any
too much encouragement. He was
ugly for weeks past, and there was
no pleasing him. but all at once he
| changed and began to act as If he
| owned the earth. Whoever the-the
| lady was. he must have had reason
| to think she'd begun to like him"