Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1923-06-17

but for pastime. He was cautious
and disliked high stakes in a game
Of chance.
Il don't consider il hospitality to
have any man go out o my shack
sore" he was wont to say. Myself.
I'm a bachelor and got no obligations;
I'll shoot any man that can afford it
for anything he wants to. Trouble is,
you never can tell when a man can't
AFFORD it. or what harm his losin'
might mean. to the little grille at
penny-ante nd ten-cent limit is the
highest wsOgo in this ole shack.
Penny ANTE and a. few stems Of the
ole home brew that hasn't got d.
vorce in a barrel of it,
Penny-ante and old home-brew had
been in festal operation for half an
hour when the morose Collinson ar
rived this evening. Mr.. Loomis and
his guests sat about the round table
under the alabaster drop-light; their
coats were off: cigars were worn at
the deliberate poker angle; colorful
chips and cards glistened on the
cloth: one of the players wore green
shade over his eyes: and all in all.
here was little poker party for a
Autograph.
"Ole Collie. b'gosh" Mr.. LOOMS
shouted. humorously. Here's your
vacant cheer: stack all stuck out for
you n ever'thin', Set daown. neigh
Dor. an Smithie1l deal you in, next
hand. What made you 30 late?
Helpin' the little grille at home get
the kiddy to bed? That's a great
kiddy of yours. Collier.
Collinson took the chair that had
been left for him. counted his chips
and then As the playing of a hand"
still preoccupied three Of the COM
pany. he picked up a silver dollar
that lay upon the table near him
What's this?" he asked. "a side bet I?
Or did somebody just leave 1t here
for mee"
Yes: for you to look at" Mr..
Loomfs explained. It's Smlthfe's."
Whats wrong with it?''
"Nothin'. Smithis was just shown
1t to US. Look at IT,"
Collinson turned the ooin over and
saw a tiny inscription that had been
lined into the silver with a point of
steel. Luck, he read-"Luck hurry
back TO met" Then he spoke to the
owner Of this marked dollar. 81 sup
pose you put that on there, Smithie.
to help make sure of getting our
money tonight
But Smithie shook his head. mo"
he said. at just came in over my
counter this afternoon. and I noticed
it when I was checkin' up the days
cash. Funny, amt it: Luck hurry
back to mel"
who do you suppose marked that
on it?" Collinson said thoughtfully.
"Golly!" his host exclaimed. "It
won't do you much good to wonder
about that!'
Collinson frowned, continuing to
stare at the marked dollar. II guess
not, but really should like to know"
II would, too," Smithie said. 81
been thinkin' about 1t. Might "a been
somebody in Seattle or somebody in
Ipswich. Mass, or New Orleans or
st. Paul. How you goin' to tell?
It's funny how some people like to
believe luck depends on some little
thing like that"
Eyes, It is," Collinson assented, still
brooding over the coin.
T<HE philosophic Smithie extended
i his arm across the table. collecting
the cards to deal them, for the hand"
was finished. Yes. sir; it's funny"
he repeated. Nobody knows exactly
what luck is, but the way I guess It
out. 1t lays in a mans believin' he's
in luck, and some little object like
this makes him kind Of concentrate
his mind on thinkin' he's going to be
lucky. because, of course. you often
know you're goin' to win, and then
you do win. You don't win when you
want to win, or when you need to-;
you win when you believe you'll win.
don't know who It was that said,
Moneys the root OF all evil but
guess he didn't have too much sense.
I suppose II some man killed some
other man for a dollar, the poor fish
| that said that would let tho man out
and send The dollar to the chair
But hero this garrulous and disuur-
sive guest was interrupted By I'm.
moderate protests from several Of his
colleagues. Cut it OUT" DO some