Evening star., 1928-04-30

Siegfried was young German baron
with constant good luck. So lucky was
he in whatever he undertook that he
was famous for It. and his friends could
not understand why he did not capi-
talize 1t and became gambler--at faro,
the popular game. Siegfried would
never touch card. Then. because
people said he was selfish and afraid to
lose, he decided to play and lose a
thousand dollars.
But his good luck was with him, and
instead of losing he won. He won and
won again. He wanted to play until he
lost his winnings and the thousand dol
lars besides but fortune was in his
favor and he did nothing but win. At
last the fever OF the game took posses
sion of him and he set up his own bank
and became notoriously wealthy.
There came stranger to watch the
famous bankers play. This stranger
stared f1xedly at him, night after night,
till Siegfried in anger sent him away.
Then one day Siegfried met him, and
the man said he had story to tell.
This was his story:
1.-THE same brilliant qualities which
distinguish you, Herr Siegfried, gained
for Chevalier Menars the esteem and
admiration of men and made him q
lucky star. He. too, became a gambler
under much the same conditions as you
did and with much the same luck. SO,
in a similar way, he became a notori-
ouSly wealthy banker, with phenomenal
good luck.
Now. as perhaps you have not yet
realized, the emotions and sympathieS
of banker at faro soon dry up. He
becomes gambler, and nothing more.
Only gold interests him. He is as pitt
less as a stone. lie knows no mercy,
and demands that all losses be paid to
him as Scrupulously as he pays those
who win from him.
Then one night a famous miSer and
loaner of money appeared before the
table of Chevalier MenarS. This mans
name was Vertua, and he was hated by
every one because when he made loan
he exacted payment of 1t when due. All
people hate a man who is punctual in
money matters-eXcept the gambler
from whom they can win once in a
while.
"Vertua played against Menars and
lost. He did this night after night,
much to the delight of those who knew
and hated him He increased his bets
each time and always lost. He lost
everything he had but his house and
home. He gambled these also and lost
them--to Chevalier Menars. Then, hor-
rified at what he had done, he begged
for mercy.
II have lost everything at your
bank Vertua said. I have nothing
left I don't know where l shall lay
my head tomorrow, nor where / shall
get anything to eat. Lend me but the
tenth part of the sum I have lost 10
you so that I can begin my business
over again
The chevalier scorned this proposal
as ridiculous. No gambler had ever
been known TO lend money to losers, he
said. Vertua begged for a twentieth
part. or even, at last only a hundred,
or even $50. Still the chevalier scorned
him and demanded the papers turning
over his property They went to Ver-
tuas house TO finish the ugly transac-
ton Vertua begged only that his
daughter. Angela. might not learn OF
his loss.
You see, my friend, how mercilesS
this gambler Menars had become. He
was not even sorry for the daughter
until he saw her. She was very beauti-
full. and the sight of her startled Cheva-
lier Menars-indeed, 1t was love at first
sight, and a hopeless love. for he knew
that Angela had overheard his harsh
refusals of mercy toward her father
Chevalier Menars offered to restore Ver-
tuas property, but Angela would not
hear OF 1t.
"Chevalier Menars. though he knew
his love was hopeless abandoned the
cards and wandered about in despair
BY chance he met Vertua and his
daughter. and this time, through some
caprice of fate. Angela was sorry for
Menars and gave him some hope. The
result was, TO be brief, that they were
engaged TO be married. and Vertua thus
had the use OF his property back.
Meanwhile Angela, awaiting her
wedding day. saw a girlhood friend, q