Evening star., 1925-01-11

N EE JeWeler fingered the brace
let lovingly. Archie Moffan
inspected it searchingly, and
Il wished that he knew more
about these rummy little OBJ
jects. Reggie van Tuyl yawned de-
spondently. He had permitted Archie
10 lug him into this shop TO help him
select a birthday present for Lucille,
and he wanted to buy it and go.
"Eow this" said the jeweler, 81
eeuld do at eight hundred and fifty
collars"
Grab it." murmured Mr. Van Tuyl
yhe jeweier eyed him approvingly-
man after his own heart-but Ar
chic looked doubtful. 1t was AL very
well for Reggie to tell him to grab
IT in that careless way. Reggis was
dashed millionaire, but he himself
was in an entirely different position.
Il was only by what amounted to a
Jolly miracle that he was in a posi-
tion to purchase jewelry at all. Out
of an absolutely blue sky he had re-
ceived, two or three days ago, a
present Of $500 from an aunt in Eng
land. This, by thrift and enterprise
that is to say, by betting Reggie that
the Giants would win the opening
game of the series against the Pt-
rates-he had contrived. on the pre-
vious day, to double. He was thus
able to go q thousand dollars foe
LuciIle's birthday present, and it be-
hooved him to see that he got his
moneys worth.
Eight hundred and fifty" he said
hesitatingly.
Worth it," mumbled Reggie van
Tuyl.
More than worth it." amended the
ieweler.
"Yes?" said Archie. He took th&
bracelet and twiddled It thoughtfullY.
We'll. one can't say fairer than that,
can one, or two, as the case may beT'
He frowned. "Oh, Well; all right, my
dear old jeweler. But it's rummy that
women are so fearfully keen on these
little thingummies, isn't it? I mean
to say, can't see what they see in
them. Stones, and all that. Aill,
there it is, of course"
There" said the jeweler "as you
say. it is. VIII you take it with sou,
sir?"
Archie reflected.
'No-no-not take il with ma The
fact is. you know, my wife's coming
back from the country tonight, and
it's her birthday tomorrow, sNd the
things for her. and If it was pop
ping about the place tonight she
might see 1t, and it would sort OF
spoil the surprise"
Besides" said Reggie. "going to
the ball game this afternoon-might
get pocket picked. Yes; better have
it sent"
Where shall send it. sir?"
"Eh? Oh. shoot it along to Mrs.
Archibald Moffam, at the Cosmopolis.
Buzz IL in first thing tomorrow"
The jeweler threw off the business
manner and became chatty.
80 you are going to the ball game?
1t should be an interesting contest"
Reggie van Tuyl took exception to
this remark.
Not a bit of it,' he said decidedly.
No contest! Can't call it contest.
Walkover for the Piratesv'
What absolute bally rot!" Archie
exclaimed Look what the Giants
did to them yesterday"
Yesterday isn't today" said Reg
gle.
NO; it'll be a jolly sight worse"
said Archie. 'Loony Biddlell be
pitching for the Giants today"
N"That's just what l mean. The Pi-
rates have got his goat. Look what
happened last time"
A RCHIE understood, and his gener-
"A Gus nature chafed at the innuen-
do. Loony Biddle-so- called by an
affectionately admiring public as the
result of certain marked eccentrici-
ties-was beyond dispute the great
est left-hand pitcher New York had
possessed in the last decade.
But there was one blot on Mr..
Biddle's otherwise stainless escutch-
con. Five weeks before, on the oc-
casion of the Giants invasion of
Pittsburgh. he had gone mysterious
ly to pieces
I'm not saying" continued Reggie,
that Biddle isn't a very fair pitcher,
but it's cruel to send him against the
Pirates, and somebody ought to stop
it. Once d team gets q pitchers goat
he's never any good against them
again. He loses his nerve"
Archie eyed his friend sternly.
''It seems to me, old companion" he
said, that a small bet is indicated at
this juncture."
Don't want to take your money"
You won't have to. In the cool
twilight of the merry old summer
evening, I, friend of my youth and
companion Of my ripper years, shall be
trousering yours"
Reggie yawned
well just as you like, of course.
Double or quits on yesterdays bet, If
that suits you"
For a moment Archie hesitated.
Firm as was his faith in Mr. Biddle's
stout left arm, he had not intended
to do the thing on quite this scale.
earmarked for Lucille's birthday
present, and he doubted whether he
ought to risk it. Then the thought
that the honor of New York was in