The Monmouth inquirer., 1922-03-16

! THE CITY OF
PURPLE DREAMS
/, BY EDWIN BAIRD /.
! Copyright !
Paget Newspaper Service !
CHAPTER XXI
Games and Games

Saturday nlgnt ana until late sunday
afternoon. There was fifty dollar
limit and the playing ran proportion
ately high. Fitzhugh's Golden God
dess, Luck, frowned upon him at first
and he lost steadily, but later his SUI
perior playing began to tell, and as
her inclemency gradually turned to
smiles he won much faster than he
had lost. He was decidedly the master
of the others, as they soon learned.
He seemed to know just when to
plunge and when to "play close" and,
what was more, he always knew the
proper moment to bluff" and when
not to.
Artie Sparkle lost continually. Also
he continually drank. 1t was not quite
clear whether his adversely was re-
sponsible for his intemperance, or vice
versa, but certainly as his libations
increased he played the more reckless
fy. He seemed scarcely able to read
his cards, invariably forgot to "ante"
and frequently allowed a "hand" to
pass while he dozed drunkenly in his
seat. He distributed his paper freely.
but as he became more intoxicated
there was decided reluctance to the
advances. At length he was flatly re-
fused and advised to go to bed,
At this point Fitzhugh, who so far
had loaned him nothing, removed the
requested number of chips from his
generous heap and showed them across
the table to the tipsy one, who with
much difficulty counted them and
gave in exchange his / o U for five
hundred dollars. They soon went the
way of the rest, and he sat, slumped
down in his chair, his arms dangling
Imply at either side, his head sunken,
his mouth open, leering stupidity from
under dropping lids.
Fitzhugh caught his wandering eye.
Better try another stack. Sparkle"
he invited friendly and began counting
off small section Of his chip pile,
Certain of the others shook their
heads disapprovingly at the willing
lender; but he feigned not to notice
them, and still looking at the befud-
died borrower, asked:
How much shall I help you to,
Sparkle?"
Artie struggled yaliantly to speak
distinctly. "a tho--a thou-a hic!--a
thoushan'. op shap."
With considerable slowness and de-
liberation the transaction was made,
and Fitzhugh pocketed Artie's o U
for thousand dollars. When his last
"white" was gone Artie unobstrusively
fell asleep in his chair, from which
he was later removed to an adjoining
room and installed on a couch. About
two o'clock Sunday afternoon he stag
gered dizzily into the poker room,
steadied himself against the sideboard
and swallowed a glass of seltzer. Heed
less of the admonitions flung at him,
he reeled over to Fitzhugh, and lean
ing down, said in voice sobered by
sleep and solemn with significance;
81 say-whatevah y'name isl feel
cky-tremendously lucky One more
thousand-what?r
Certainly, Sparkle. Glad to accom-
mpdate you" Fitzhugh began count
Ing off the desired amount. AS by a
common impulse all the others ceased
| playing and silently looked on.
Hunt leaned over and said sharply:
''What the devils the matter with you
Dan? YOU
'You keep out O. this!' blazed Ar
tie, angry all over. What right've you
to break in on this?"
Said Fitzhugh: Don't butt in where
you're not wanted Hunt" Then he
very deliberately closed one eye at
his partner and resumed his counting
The early winter darkness had clos
ed in before the game ended, and most
of the gamblers were ready for bed.
Artie "cashed in" one dollar, which he
promptly flung at the boy cleaning the
room, accompanying the gift with an
expletive and remark upon the folly
CT cards.
Very quietly Fitzhugh went in turn
to all those who had taken Artie's
o US and bought them in In all, they
amounted to over eight thousand dol
lars, and the ones he himself held
brought the total to eleven thousand.
Hunt. who gladly relinQuished hum
dred dollars worth of paper. was more
perplexed than ever
s'I'd sure like to know what you're
Up to-" he said. Let me in on it won't
you?s
mot now. Hunt. Later, perhaps"
Fitzhugh closed the wallet which con-
tanned the o US, patted it affection
etely. slipped it in his pocket Lets
go down to the Annex for dinner an0
take in show afterward. Pm buying.
I've made the most delicious coupe Of
my life. and / don't want to go to bed .
Fitzhugh was alone in private COM
| partment of his brokers office Mon
day morning when. promptly at ten.
Otis entered. With brief Good morn
ing." the capitalist came straight to
the point.
-You are with US, Fitzhugh?"
''Sit down, Otis. Make yourself COM