Newspaper Page Text
EIGHT
AV t /
• » "» ~
A *
April
1.4
PROLOGUE.
I breaks the speed limit to
•ithereens."
That's a candid opinion about
this story There may have
bjen swifter tales, but not re
cently. It's an aeroplane of a
yarn, moving so fast that you
lose your breath while you fol
low it. But you don't need any
breath, anyway, because you
forget about respiration with
your eyes on reading of this
kind
Every man hat hl» day of day*.
Your* may have come and you may
be iwlmmmg tn the full tide of for
tune. If so, read how P. Sybarite
found hie. If your own ship la •till
In the off'nq. you will enjoy learnlno
how the little epunkv red headed
bookkeeper won a fortune and an
heiress, foiled all hia enemies and
had some of the moat amazing adven
tures ever penned—all In leas time
than It takee the hour hand to round
the dock dial twice.
(Continued from Yesterday)
Rut thl» roncliislon perturbed him
He couldn't Imagine oltlirr Mias l.«>
■ltiß nr MN>> Marian WesHlngtnn In nm
way Involved with « common or oven
prnjmr gnmlilt-t
Ilia tour lirutight him finally to n
pause by the roulette I Hide tti the rcii
of the room Curloim to'Watch the
game In Mli|l. he lingered there
1 here were perhaps half a dozen pluv
era round the lioardr four tifflnne wlnv
two on the Other Of m
waa Unit very young man wh > lie
been mqxinsllila for IV Sylmrti*
chance of mliul with regard to
home With a laiieil air tlila prodlr
waa frltlermc ah ay live dollm i•• *
on Ihe iviloi'- the i-olitmiiH and Ike li
ana. hi* 111 SUi-ces* tupendoil*. 11l- i|
linrelit Indifference Whether lie Won ■ *
loat |Mailtlve|> nuigullleeut. lint in III*
rourie of lie few mlnutea thnt I’
Rylmtite w.it- lied him he either *rc«
wenry or succeeded In emptylnc Ills
pockets nml erased to play
p. Sybarite win. abockad to hear hi*
own voice
"Five on Ihe red.” It aald dlatlnetly
with an effect of extravngnnt apathy
A thought Inter he caught the cron
pler'a eye and drove Ihe waiter home
with a nod IIN heart stopped beating
Five dollar*! All he hud In the
world.
The w hir of the deadly little ball In
Ha elMUiy runway was like not hi up le**-
than the exultant shriek of a banshee
'Three, redthe croupier begsu hN
chant
P. Sybarite fnlled lo hear the rest
The croupier loxxed him a chocolate
token. lie wax eonaeloux that lie
touched It with numb and wttlexx (In
pern, mechanically pushing It upon tin
red diamond
Ensued another awful, aoul sicken
Ins minute of suspense.
“Twenty live, red”—
A second brown chip appeared map
(rally on top of the drat I*. Sylmrlti
recorded them stupidly. Afraid b
touch them, hla brain communicated
to hta hand the Impulse to remove the
chip* ere It wax too lute, but the hand
bum: moveless In llxtlcxx mutiny.
‘Thirty-four, red '—
Two more chip* were added to Ills
stack.
And this time hlx brain sulked It
hla body wouldn't beta! Ita plain and
sagacious admonition—very well! Il
juet wouldn't Ixitber Itself to signal
any further advice.
But quite Instinctively hla hand
moved out. tenderly embraced the four
brown chips and tralistened them to
the green area dominated by the black
diamond
‘Twelve, black"—
Forty dollars waa represented by
that stunted pillar of brown wafers!
P. Sybarite experleueed au effect of
coming to hla senses after an abbre
vlnted and. to tell the truth, somewhat
nightmarish nap Aping the maunei
of one or two other players whom he
bad observed la-fort* (bis msdnesa pos
seated him. be thrust the chips out oi
ttu* charmed circle of chance snd nod
ded again iwith what a seasoned air!*
lo the croupier
“Cash or chips?" Inquired that fuuc
tioua ry
“Oh. cash, thank you.”
The chips gathered Into the company
of their brethren. Two twenty dollar
bills replaced them
Stuffing these last Into his pocket. I'
Sybarite turned and strolled IndHTer
ently toward the door
“Better get away before It’s too late.'
Intelligence counseled.
"Right you are." he admitted fairly
*TII go heme now before anybody
taken this ay from me."
"Sensible of you," Intelligence ap
proved.
DAY OF
DAYS
By LOLLS JOSEPH VANCE
Copyright, I*l2. hy iht Praak A. Maasay C#
She
"Still." suggesled the small, but Cleat
rob e of greixl la-fore he cattld gain tin
head of the stairs, “you've got yom
original $T> yet to lose Be a sport
Don't go away without turning In a
cent to the house It wouldn't look
pretty "
“There's something In that." admit
ted I*. Sybarite
Nevertheless he never quite under
stood how It was that hla feet carried
him to the other roulette table at the
end of the room opposite thnt at which
he had been playing or how II w«-
(hat his lingers produced one of the
twenty dollar notes rather than tin
modest live lie had meant to risk am
coolly handed It over the board.
“Ilow many?” asked the new cron
pier pleasantly
Before he could make up his mind
exsi-tly twenty white counters were
meted out to him.
“What are these worth?" he demand
rd Incredulously, dropping Into n chair
“One dollar each.” he was Informed
“Indeed!" he replied, politely smotti
erlng a slight yawn
To save his face now he'd have to
go through Ills twenty Rut after that
—exit
lie made this promise tn hluiself
Frying a single chip apart from Its
fellows, lie tossed It heedlessly upon
the numbered sunares It landed upon
Ita rim. rolled toward the wheel and
fainted gracefully upon the green com
pariment nmoored OO
The croupNr cocked an eyebrow at
him, aa If questioning hla Intention id
the Inatiint the Ivory hall begun to slug
Ita one l«ng sustained note Ahrttpth
It wua cbitllerlog: In another Instant It
was still.
"The double 0." announced a voice
A player next F. Sybarite swore soul
fully.
Thirty Mm- white chips were stacked
alongside the winning stake With on
la-* inning tin n- I' Sybarite removed
llieni
"Well." he sighed privately. There'*-
on*- thing certain this can't last Itu
I don t like to seem a piker. I'll jits'
make sure - f Mils one It emit win
And at tliiit I'm sls In."
IMllii-rali-lv he shifted the nlnetcei
remaining of his original stack to keep
company with Ids winning chip on tin
double II
A minute or so Inter the man nt Ills
elbow said excitedly: T‘ll be hanged I
It didn't repent! Can you Iveat that';'
F. Sybarite stansl stupidly.
"How's lliat ?" he said
"liouble 0." the croupier answered
“the second time."
"This Is becoming uncanny." F. Syl*
arlte observed to hluiself. and "Cash
said he. with cold derision
Heveu new hundred dollar rertltlcnir
were plains! In Ills hand In a daze l.*
counted, folded and pocketed then
While thus engaged he heard the I
spin again Ills original S2O remain,
upon Ihe double 0 Teu turned oi
Hla atake was gathered in
“You've had enough.” Intelligence ad
vised
"Perfectly true,” P. Sybarite ad
mitt ad.
This time Ills anatomy proved per
foctly docile lie found hliuself at the
foot of the steps, fatuously smiling nt
the doorkeeper
“Me ain't come In yet." said the Int
ter. "but ties liable to be here any
minute now- "
"Oh. yes." satd P. Sybarite brightly
after a brief puuae— “Mr. Feotleld, of
course Sorry I can't wait."
"Well, you'll want your hat b**fore
you go. won't you?"
Placing an Incredulous hand upon the
crown of his head P. Sybarite realised
that It was covered exclusively with
hair
“1 must have put It down some
where upstairs." he murmured In
panic.
"Mebbe von left It with Fete before
you went up ”
"Perhaps i did.'*
Turning back to the lounge, he en
tered to And It deserted save for the
somnolent old gentleman and the hna
pliable Fete, but for whose drinks F
Sybarite would probably never have
known the delirious Joy of Internal
celebration or found the courage to risk
his ttrst bet
And suddenly the fifty cent tip pre
vtously bestowed upon the servitor
seemed to one unexpectedly fallen heir
to the princely fortune then In P. Syba
rite's pockets the very iiadlr of beggar
llncss.
"Fete," said he with owlish gravity.
”1 begin to see thnt I have done you
an Inexcusable Injustice."
Giggling, the negro scratched hta
head
"Well, sub." lie admitted. "Ah finds
that gemmun gen’ly does change they
min* erbout me nftub they done cut er
melon like "
With the nlr of an emperor P. Sylw
rite presented the negro with one f'.’v
bill
"And now"—tie cut short a storm
of thanks "If you'll he good enough
to give me Just cue more glass of chain
pugue I think I'll totter home.”
••Yaa-subJ"
In a twinkling a glass waa In hla
band Aa If It wereaomuch water-tn
short. Indifferently—P. Sybarite tossed
It off.
“Aad my hat"
"To* hat?" Pet* Iterated In surprise
“To' didn't loaf yo' hat wtf me. sub
To' dono ink It wlf yo' when yo' went
o pa tabs."
“Oh!” murmured P. Rybarlte. dashed
Ha turned to tho door, hesitated,
turned back and solemnly sat himself
down.
"Peto,” aald he. extending hla right
foot. "I wish you'd do something for
me."
"Tassiih!"
"Take off tny shoe."
Ktartng with nalva Incredulity until
hla vision assured him of this gentle
man's complete seriousness, tha negro
plumped down upon his knees, unlaced
aad removed the shoe
‘lt's a shocking shoo." observed P
ftyharlle dreamily
Bending forward, ho tucked hla ortg
Inal five dollar note Into the too of the
despised footwear
“I am not going home broke." he ex
pis I ned to Fete, "rs I certslaly shall If
I go upstairs to find my hat."
"I'd Just as leave's not go fetch yo'
hat.” said Pete.
“You needn't Imther." P. Sybarite re
turned, with dignity.
CHAPTER V.
Ths Plunflsc.
Alin MO It the moat cool and reck
less Imaginable now possessed
P. Sybarite The $735 tn bis
pocket were possessed of s
devil of restlessness After all. It was
only $735. not a cent more than the
wages, of forty-nine weeks' servitude
to the genius of the vault of the smell!
Ho be sat down at the end of the ta
ble of bin first winnings and exchanged
one of his seven big hills for 100 white
chips.
“What." he asked, with an Ingenuoiia
smile. "Is the maximum?”
“Heeln'a It's you." said the croupier,
grinning, "we'll make It twenty a
throw "
"Much being the cane"-F. Sybarite
pushed back the little army of white
chlpe— "you may give me twenty dark
brown counters for these.”
In ten mlnutea he had loat S2OO. At
the end of twenty minutes lie exchang
ed his Inst $35 for seven brown chips
Ten miuiites later he was worth
SI,BOO, tn snotber ten hnd before him
counters celling for $5,000 or there
about*
"It Is." he observed privately. “It
must tie my day of days!"
A hand touched hla shoulder and a
quiet voice said. "Beg pardon”—
He found at his elbow a large body
es a man entirely surrounded by
evening clothes and urbanity, whose
face was broad, with plump cheeks
particularly clean shnven.
“You were asking for me. I be
lieve?" pursued this person with com
pleto suavity
P. Sybarite pursed doubtful llpn
“I'm nfrnld.' he replied pleasantly,
“you have the advantage of me. I.et's
see. this Is my thirty second birthday."
The ball was spinning. He deposit
ed four chips on the square oumhered
thirty-two.
“1 am Mr Fenfleld "
"Really V" P. Sybarite Jumped up and
cordially seized tils hand. "I hope I
sen you well tonight."
Releualug the band, he sat down.
"Quite well, thauk you la fact,
never better." With a slight amtle Mr
Prnfleld nodded toward the gaming
table. "Having a good time?"
“Thirty two. red, even," observed
the croupier.
"Oh. tolerable, tolerable." aasented
P. Sybarite, blandly accepting couut
era that called for S7OO. "la one year
from today I shall be thirty-three," he
reckoned and shifted a maximum to
the square designated by that num
ber.
"Horry a prior engagement obliged
ms to keep you watting.” said Pen
field.
"Thirty three, hlark. odd."
"Don't mention It," Insisted P. Syba
rite politely. "Not another word of
apology—l protest! Indeed. I’ve man
aged to divert myself amazingly while
waiting Thauk you." be lidded In
acknowledgment of auother S7OO con
algnment of chips 'Today," he mused
loud. "Is the 13th of April"—
‘The Mth." corrected Mr. Fenfleld.
"Today Is only shout two hours old."
"Right you are." admitted P. Syba
rite, shifting S2O from the thirteen to
fourteen "Careless memory of mine "
“Thirteen, black, odd ”
'There, now! You see—you spoiled
my stm," P Sybarite complained pee
vlshly
“Forgive tne." murmured Mr. Pen
field while P. Sybarite made another
wager. "Are you lu a hurry to broak
tha bank?" he added a moment later.
"It's my ambition." modestly con
feaned the little mau. watching a sec
oud tweuty gathered In te the benefit
of the house. "But I've ouly a few
wlmites more- and you play such a
small game!"
"Perhaps l can arrange matters for
you." suggested Mr Fenfleld. "You'd
like the limit removed?"
“Not as bud as all that. Make the
maximum a hundred, and Fll begin to
feel at home ”
“Delighted to oblige You won't ob
Ject to my rolling for you?” Fenfleld
nodded to the croupier, who—first pay
ing I', Sybarite seven hundred on his
last wager, gave up his place
"Not lu the least,” agreed P. Syba
rite, aura baling hta chips la stacks of
five—s2s each “It's an honor," he add
ed. covering several numbers aa Pen
field deftly set ball and wheel In m»
tii'ii
(To Be Continued Tomorrow.)
THE AUGUSTA HERALD, AUGUSTA, GA.
.
Better ne on the job—Don't be out wasting your working hours, for opportunity knocks but once.
WHAT A WOMAN DESERVES
(By Beatrice Fairfax.)
During their courtship a man treats
hts sweetheart as If she were a child
whose Ignorance of responsibility Is
what attracts him. After marriage,
lie demands that she be a woman
grown, with shoulders broad enough
to bear a woman's burden, and an un
derstanding that is her portion.
He never b-.irns thnt much which
goes wrong is due to his insane be
ginning.
A man who signs himself "Perplex
ed" writes:
“After having been In business for
tome time. 1 have commenced to keep
company with a young woman five
years my Junior, and have developed
a great affection for her which 1 have
reason to think la returned.
"But now I find that iny business Is
not progressing last enough; at least,
not us expected, and I do not know
just when I w ill be In position to think
seriously of marriage.
"Now, w hat I want to know Is. would
It bo proper for me to explain my po
sition to my friend, whose sterling
qualities would quickly gain her other
admirers, or shall I say nothing?" I
love her dearly."
Say nothing? Certainly, If you class
her among the simple and feeble-mind
ed! Stop paying her any attention
without ihe explanation due her if you
think she Is still a child, but If you
have the sense of a grown man and
realize that she has the brain and sym
pathies of a woman and Is neither a
baby nor a doll, go to her and tell
her the truth and the whole truth, be
ginning with the statement that you
love her. That statement will always
result tn a woman taking a chair,
eager to hear the rest.
There can be but one result: An
appeal to a woman's understanding
always gives her a better understand
ing.
"You have a brain In your head, and
will understand what 1 am trying to
tell you" Is what makes intelligent,
thinking women of young girls.
"You are Just a nice, pretty child,
ami l don't want your foolish little
head bothered with business." is what
makes young girls develop Into the
smirking young figureheads of society
who are only saved by their social po
sition from being classed as Idiots.
They were once the fashion In femi
ninity. There was a time when the
Ideal w oman was as Incapable of think
ing ns is the miniature sugar bride on
top of a Wedding cake, but the day Is
l>ust and gone, and the man of today
who treats a woman as If she wen
still of that period belongs away back
there with the yesterdays.
rv*n't he ot that number. Mr. Per
plexed. Give your sweetheart credit for
having a brain, and talk to her of your
hopes ami your prospects ns ts she w ere
an intelligent being Her sympathy
will help you over the rough places.
Her faith tn you will give you the
courage to make today develop into
a brighter tomorrow.
WHEN OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS
- —'• /nm</
‘WATCHFUL WAITING”
THURSDAY. MARCH 19.