Evening star., 1925-07-30

You are fortunate" the young man
murmured equally.
They are a small part of life. these
games of chance" Grant replied.
Itash's dark eyes glowed behind
their spectacles.
Listen" he expounded. IF you
treat life like a science to be lived
by the direction of the brain. day by
day, year by year. decade by decade,
then life is a thing that grows dry as
dust in the living. 1t counts only Tor
the hucksters. But If one only real
izes-if one treats it as a gamble-a
huno"ed-to-one chance. if YOU will
then life is entrancing.
Philosophy on the floor Of the
Casino " Grant observed. smiling.
You haven't lost all your Orientalism,
then, in Berlin and in London?
Il have only learned TO value it the
more" was the calm reply. Without
il no man can do more than climb
10 the middle places. In this world
one needs the gamblers instinct"
You'd be a dangerous fellow,
Grant remarked, Ito be trusted with
the whole of your patrimony within
these walls"
Itash glanced at his watch and
smiled.
My whole patrimony, my name,
and my honor" he said. are already
atsstake. but it is not the spinning of
p wheel which decides my fate. VIII
YOU take a little supper with me at
the Carlton. MIR. Slattery? ] have a
friend who awaits me thers-an ac-
quaintance. also, l believe, OF yours .
With the utmost pleasure, Grant
assented. Il came in here only be-
cause l was bored
49, ~ 4
back 10 the Carlton. Cleo was still
seated alone at her table. She watched
the two men enter together, without
change of countenance. ItaSh was
very ceremonious.
You have. I believe, already met
my friend, Mr.. Grant Slattery," he
ventured
II have taken advantage of made
moiselle's official position here Grant
hastened to intervene. II have given
myself the pleasure of dancing with
her"
I'm that case, mademoiselle will per
nit us to join her" Itash suggested
But you have wine already upon
your table Cleo. How is that"
She glanced at the bottle which
Grant had left three-quarters filled.
They come here, these men, after
4 dance" she explained. They order
wine. The management prefers that
] accept"
Itash waved it away impatiently
and gave fresh order. Nevertheless
his eyes were somberly liz.
Among Orientals," he confded
there is always one trait which sur.
vives-the trait of curiosity. Now
that I have you here together, tell
me, l beg, on what subject did YOU
two converse so earnestly in the cor
ner of the bar there, last niSht-or
was it two nights ago."
II was endeavoring to persuade
mademoiselle, Grant replied, that
plete affair. The most perfect dances
In the world have been those in which
the steps are absolutely registered
the minuet, for instance"
Il was venturing," Cleo murmured,
ito disagree with monsieur
1T appeared Itash reflected. that
you took the affair seriously"
Dancing" Grant remarked. lis the
profession of mademoisele. 1t hap
pens to be my chief amusement.
Itash turned upon his guest. His
question was asked with rapier-like
suddenness.
Your chief amusement, but not
your only one. monsieur"
Il play golf, l sail my yacht a
little, / am an Indifferent hand at
tennis" Grant acknowledged.
You have no more serious occupa-
tion in life?" Itash demanded in
credulously.
His guest leaned over the table.
MY friends he told his two com
panions, Il started life trying to be
serious. | was moderately well off.
l needed a profession. | embrac ed
diplomacy and then-see what hap
pened to me. / was left seventeen
million dollars, the whole of the Van
Roorden estate. Well, | confess it, !
fell where many a better man has
fallen before. l yielded to the call of
wealth. l am an idle man now for
the rest of my days"
Itash himself took the bottle from
the ice pail. filed his own glass and
Grants to the brim. He appeared to
have recovered his composure. The
shadow of some fear seemed to have
passed from him.
1T is what | have been told" he
admitted. such wealth might dazzle
any one. The spending OF it might
indeed enchain the imagination of the