The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1921-04-01

fronts leaped to bar his way. They
asked him a variety Of biting ques-
lions: Did he think 1t was night
lunchwagon7 Which chambermald
was ne calling on? Was he looking for
Mills hotel?
"Herbert!' roared Mr.. Randolph.
! The functionary named, head door
man for the Rocket club since first it
started on its appropriately meteoric
career, leaped from his dignified seat
on the somnolent side lines and stared
wide eyed at the servile apparition
that had dared shout the open sesame
to that inviolate portal.
'sMr. Randolph" he gasped at last,
and the stunned fronts started to stink
away.
Hold on, there !" said Mr.. Randolph,
and livested himself Of cap to one,
overcoat to another, gloves to the third.
and asked the fourth for light. Her
bert" he continued, In Sdulated
tones, ''the cab outside Is waiting for
Mr.. r. HI. Randolph. 1t may be there
for some time. Have an eye kept on
it."
sYes, Mr.. Randolph. I'll see to it,
Mr.. Randolph. George, MIR. Randolph's
letters"
.Never mind the letters" counter
manded the oft-named one, and pro-
ceeded to thread his way to certain
small room strategically placed well
within the depths Of the edifice and
far from the maddening tumult Of the
streets. The said apartment at the
moment of his arrival contained five
occupants seated round circular table
Of convenient height and clothed in
pale green, kindest of all shades to the
eve Of man. There were no mirrors
on the walls.
Mr.. Randolph's entry was greeted
first with CONSERVATION and then with
shouts.
Bobby, you old SCOUT"
"Herv, by great balls of sweat"
Randy, from where the devil?"
The speakers arose and pump
handled Mr. Randolph's arm.
"Ye gods, man, where you been
Strayed in from a fancy dress7"
"Never mind the glad rags, fellows
said Mr.. Randolph. 81 was just feel
ing lonely for the sound Of chips Room
for anOther?"
1.-THE surest thing! You don't know
these two chaps, do you? Mr.. Seegar,
passed on to us from Frisco, and Mr..
Bowling True, our latest new member.
Gentlemen, this is Mr.. Randy RAN
dolph of New Haven and New York,
in disguise but still the best ever"
liable stakes?' murmured Mr.. Ran
dolph, as he took his place, apparent
" at random. but at the left Of the
two comparative strangers.
"Of course! Same old ante. Same
old game. You talk as though you'd
been away for a month"
For a moment, but for a moment
only, Mr.. Randolph was Cazed. Was
| it possible that the last three weeks
hadn't been year? He drew out his
sixty-eight dollars and fifty cents nom
chalantly, as though they were merely
the loose change he had on his per-
son. bought fifty in chips, and laid the
small heap of what was left of his
cash on the board. The strain on his
nerves during the next half-hour put
that Of the five days wait for bunch
on the Street to the blush. There
came a moment when all his chips
were gone, and he was forced to see
with a full house for his small pile
of change only.
SERVES you right, Randy" said Mr..
Mein. "For forgetting to pile up the
ready in table-stake game there are
two and a half million walking the
| streets"
"Oh stow it'll" murmured Mr.. Ran
dolph, as he counted out his share
amounting to ninety-two dollars and
fifty cents. and pushed across the rest
of the fat pot to the next best hand.
| He looked up and smiled. Boys" he
remarked frankly, "I'm riding bunch
with four legs. Watch me-"
Five spectators did, but got little
excitement of their pains. Mr.. RAN
dolph was playing that most difficult
and uninteresting Of poker corollaries
Ia tight game. Mr.. Seegar turned i'm
patient as the conviction grew upon
him that he had run up against the
original hard-shell who never drew to
less than pair of tens. never bluffed
and could surrender three kings with
out sigh to low straight unseen
He began to make facetious remarks
in connection with the safety-first cam.
palgn which was then at its height.
Mr.. Randolph nursed his pile
through FIVE long hours up to eighteen
hundred dollars. Then it was that
he suddenly met raise of two hum
dred on the part of Mr.. Seegar, tackled
on three hundred more, waited for
that individual to throw in his very
good hand, face up, with the resigned
smile of wise one, and then careless