Show r t l' l te I j r i The The Day Dayo o oED Days I ays w By LOUIS JOSEPH VANCE i i lei Copyright bt 1912 1911 by the Frank A. A Hunsey Co A k f Forty dollars was represented by that stunted pillar of ot brown wafers wael S P P. Sybarite experienced an effect of ot r coming to his senses after atter an abbreviated abbreviated dated amid add to tell the truth somewhat nightmarish nap Aping the manner of or one oue or two other players whom beli be he li fc had d observed ed before this madness pos pos- M e ed him he thrust the chips out of the charmed circle of ot chance and nodded nod nM ti ded again agahi with what a seasoned air airs to the croupier ampler Cu Cash Cush h or chips Inquired that tune tune- Oh cash thank you f The chips gathered Into the company v of ot their brethren Two twenty dollar T. T hills bills replaced them Stuffing these last into his pocket P P. Sybarite turned and strolled indifferently fx anti toward the door netter Better get a away way before Its It's too late Intelligence counseled i Right fight you ure are he admitted fairly Ill go home now before anybody taken this away uy from me rj Sensible of ot you you Intelligence e ap ap ap- ap proved pro Still SUII suggested the small but clear voice olce of greed before he could gain the theis is head of the stairs youve got your original orl C 5 j yet et to lose Be a sport lr Dont Don't go o away without turning In a arent rent cut to the house It wouldn't look pretty prett TIr Theres s 's so something in that that admitted admitted admit admit- ted P P. P Sybarite t Nevertheless Ne he n never ter quite understood understood under- under stood how It was that his feet teet carried him to the other roulette table at the end of the room opposite that at which f ho he 11 had been heen playing or how It was wast t Lint Hint Int his hh fingers produced one of ot the twenty dollar dollar- notes rather than ther the r modest five he had meant to risk and coolly handed h It over oer the board t now Flow mall many asked the new croupier croupier I pier plU pleasantly Before he could make up his mind exactly twenty white counters we were re meted out to him r- r What are th those these e worth he demanded demand demaud 5 ed td incredulously ly dropping Into a n chair One dollar each ench he was WiS Informed Indeed Indel lie lIl replied politely smothering i ering erini a n. n slight yawn r his lits face nm now nahed lied hed have hin to to- to 4 tit ago II through hi his twenty But after lifter that v- v exit I r lie He trade made this promise to himself lr Prying a n chip apart from Its fellows h h- h lie tossed It heedlessly upon th the numbered rell squares It landed upon its rim rolled toward to the wheel and faint 1 1 gracefully upon the green com coos f 00 oJ i t ft Th rhe croupier corked cooked an ey throw at att s. s t I rt if- if or g A him as if it questioning his intention at iJ a tile the Instant the ivory hory ball began beglin to sing hg Its one long I sustained note Abruptly M It was chattering in another Instant it was still The double 0 announced a voice olce h 4 A A. player next next p P. P Sybarite swore soul soul- v y fully tully Thirty five white chips were stacked slacked t alongside the winning stake With unbecoming un rI becoming haste P. P Sybarite crowed ed to t t them b fj Well Veli he sighed privately theres one thing thIn certain this certain this cant can't last But ButI f r. f I 1 dont don't like to seem a n piker Ill I'll Just V hake bake sure sur of this one It cant can't win And r And at that Im I'm 15 In r Deliberately he shifted the nineteen i remaining of hl his hIM original stack to keep keel oi company with his winning chip on the thet t ii double 0 O. i g r A minute or so later r the man at his ft th elbow said excitedly Ill be hanged if It rJ t It didn't repeat Can you beat that Ia P P. Sybarite stared stupidly L I saidi said t c Hows that he i i Double 0 0 the croupier answered d i the second time 1 C r This Is Iii becoming uncanny P P. Syb Syb- r t ante observed to himself and Cash Casil said he be with co cold d derisIon 1 Seven new hundred doll dolln t 1 ll i were placed in his hand In III a daze ho bo counted counted folded and und pocketed th them m. m While thus engaged he heard the ballS ball bal S 7 r fc spin again Ills lilt original 20 remained upon the double 0 O. Ten turned ups up t Ills His stake was wan gathered In jrr r Intelligence ad ad- You Tofu had enough J Perfectly true truc true P P. Sybarite ad- ad r tt t. t W- W S This time his hl his anatomy proved ed I Perr perfectly per per- r. r r docile HP Ill found himself at the i f t f 1 foot toot of the steps fatuously s smiling at nt atthe SS' SS the tbt keeper 71 lie aint come In yet yet said the lat lot 1 te ter but he's hes liable to b be here any 1 minute w v now t S t I Oh yes yes li sold laid P P. Sybarite l' l brightly j. j kr kro l o UnC It a- pause pause abr Mr Ir enfield 1 of y 1 cant can't wait alt ff course coarse Surly Sorry orl Well you'll oulI want your Jour hat I. I before fore you ou goy go wont won't you ou nn an Incredulous hand upon the theU U fc crown crown ri n ot t his hend head I P. P Sybarite realized f t that It was covered Ill exclusively Iely with r t I must t ha have 0 put put- K Jt down somewhere some- some S L a t where upstairs ho murmured In Ini t i panic V 5 I bhe JO ou left Itt It with Pete Iere bet before ore went u 1 a Jt you ul up t t l I L. L i e t i r rS S l I did uld Id k t to the lounge be he entered entered entered en en- j to It deserted save sate for the somnolent old gentleman and the hospitable hos ho- Pete but for whose drinks t 1 P. P Sybarite would probably never neter have e known the delirious Joy of ot Internal celebration or found the courage to ri risk k his first bet And suddenly the fifty cent tip Up previously pre lire bestowed upon epos the servitor ser r. r seemed to one unexpectedly fallen tallen heir hell to the princely fortune then In P. P Sybarites Sybarite's Syba Syba- Sybarites Sybarite's rites rite's pockets the very tery nadir of beg beggar beggar- lr- lr lineRs Pete said he Hh owlish gravity I begin t. t to see that 1 have done you an Inexcusable injustice Giggling the negro scratched his bis head Well sub he admitted Ah Xh h finds that genly lenly does dOt change they mins min's me they done cut er melon like With the air all of an emp emperor 1 P. P Sybarite Sybarite Syba Syba- rite presented the negro with one 20 bill And now now he he cut short a storm of ot thanks thanks U if you'll be go good d enough to lave give I e me Just one more glass of cham cham- champagne 1 I think Ill I'll totter home Yas suh In a twinkling a glass W was S In his bis hand As If It were so much water water water-III in short Indifferently P. P. P Sybarite tossed It off And my hat Yo hat Pete Iterated In surprise Yo didn't leaf yo hat wit me sub suh Yo done tak It wit yo when yo yo went ups tabs Oh Ohl Obi murmured P. P Sybarite dashed He lie turned to the door hesitated turned back and solemnly sat flat himself down Pete said he extending his right foot toot I wish you'd joud do something t for r me Y oft Take oil off my shoe Staring with naive nahe incredulity until his vision ns assured him of ot this gentleman's gentleman's gentle gentle- mans man's complete seriousness the ne ne negro ro plumped down upon hi his knees kneE's unlaced and removed remo the shoe It Its R a shocking shoe observed P. P i iS S Sybarite dreamily lr II Bending forward he tucked his origInal original original inal five he dollar note into th the toe of ot the tine despised footwear I 1 am nm not going home broke he be explained explained explained ex ex- ex- ex to Pete as das I certainly shall If I 1 go upstairs to find my hat bat Id just as leaves leave's not go fetch yo hat said Pete You needn't bother P. P Sybarite returned re re- re- re turned with dignity CHAPTER V V. V I The Plunger RUMOR HUMOR the most ost co cool l and reckless reck reele- reckless less imaginable now possessed P P. Sybarite The 73 in his pocket were possessed of ot a devil de of restlessness After all it was only not a i cent more than the wages wag of nine forty-nine weeks' weeks servitude to the genius of the vault of ot the smell So he sat down at nt the end of ot the ta table hible tn hi ble of his first t winnings s and exchanged ed i one one oi of his liis I ae lg bills tor for white chips What he asked with an ingenuous smile Is the maximum I It Its It's you ou said the croupier grinning well make muke It twenty a n throw Such Suh being bel the case case P. P. P Sybarite pushed buck back the little army of white I chips chips- you yon may give gI me twenty dark dark brown counters counters r for these In ten len en minutes he be had hid lost At Atthe Atthe Atthe the end jf of twenty minutes he excl exchanged ed his lust last 3 35 for tor z en seven brown chips Ten Tea minutes lit later tel he was worth 1800 In another ten bad had before him counters calling for or there there- It is he observed ed privately it must mut be my day of ot days A hand baud touched his shouler and a quiet voice olce said Beg pardon He lIe found at his elbow a large body of a n man entirely surrounded by by evening e clothes clothe maid and urbanity who whose e eface face was broad with plump cheeks particularly clean clenn shaven en I You were asking for Cor me I beHee believe bellee be- be e He pursued this person with complete complete complete com com- comI I sUI lt suavity I P. P S Sybarite pursed doubtful lips Im afraid he replied pleasantly you have ha the advantage of me Lets Let's Letsee see ee this I is my tb thirty second birthday The ball was spinning lIe He depo deposited deposit lt ed four clips chips on the square thirty two I I am um Mr 11 Penfield Really P P. Sybarite Jumped up and cordIally seized his hand I hope I 1 Isee see you ou w well ell tonight Releasing the hand he sat down I Quite well thank you In fact tact never ne better With a 11 slight aUght smile Mr 11 Penfield nodded toward the gaming table ln lIu Having a good time I two Thirty red even e observed ed the croupier Oh Oh t llera hie tolerable assented P. P S Sybarite blandly accepting counters count count- ers that called en lied for In one year from 1 I shall be today thirty three he hel l reckoned and shifted shined a II maximum to the square de designated by that num- num ler Ier Sorry forry a u prior Idor engagement obliged Cl me IDe to ke keep l you jou U waiting said Pen Pen- field three Thirty black odd dd Dont mention It it Insisted P. P Syba Syba- ll lite tte e politely Not ot another word of ot apology I I protest t Indeed 1 Ive I've l' l e managed managed man man- n aged to divert crt myself amazingly while waiting Thank you ou he added In acknowledgment of another con con- of ot chips hIps Toda Today he mused loud Is the of ot April The Tate corrected Mr Ir Penfield Today is only about two hours old Right Bight you rOU arc lire admitted l P. P S Sybarite Sybarite Syba Syba- barite ba rite shifting 20 20 from the thirteen to fourteen Careless memory of ur mine Thirteen black odd odd There now You tou see yuu see s you u spoiled J my aim nim P. P Sybarite OI pl J pt pee pee- It I Ifield Forgive me murmured Mr Ir Penfield Penfield Pen Pen- field while I P. S Sybarite III rite made mude another wager r. r Arc rp I In hi a u hurry to break i ithe the tho bank he hl added a n moment later Its ItH my ambition mo modestly otly confessed confessed con con- t the little man watching a u second sec see ond and twenty h J gathered In to the benefit of the house hout But Ive I've only a few tew m mutes minutes more more tad and you ou play such a small game elme Perhaps I can arrange matters for you jou ou suggested Mr Ir Penfield like the limit removed Not as bad as nil all that Make the maximum u a hundred and Ill I'll begin to feel teel at home Delighted to oblige You wont won't object ob oh- Jed to my rolling for you Penfield nodded to the croupier who who first first pa pay pay- lug Ing p I P. P Sybarite seven seten hundred on his last wager gave gae up his place Not in Inthe the least agreed ag P. P Syba Syba- rite marshaling his chips in to sta stacks ks of rr 1 Gb I Are you in a hurry to break the theU U Q b bank five five tl 25 each Its an honor he added added add add- ed cd covering o several numbers as Penfield Pen Pen- field dettl deftly set ball and wheel in motion mo mo- tion He lie won the first fall and encouraged encouraged aged by this began to play extra extravagantly extravagantly va- va gantly peppering the board liberally with v w wagers agers of 2 25 50 and Penfield cool and smiling confined his attentions to the wheel If It he felt any uneasiness or dismay on account of P. P Sybarites Sybarite's steadily augmented mountain of chips he betrayed It not at all ull o ertl overtly But abruptly they abruptly the they had been playing playing play play- ing hll less than fifteen minutes he paused and md instead of starting the ball hall on another race rate around its Us ebon ebony run dropped It lightly In the depression depres depres- depression sion I n Imm lately above the axle of the wheel l The game ume is closed he lie announced evenly enl with a n slow smile Sir directly to P. P a Sybarite a room losing losing los los- In ing 2 iu In OIl out one da day ceases operations opera opeia- You are just 2 to the good food Accept ept my m congratulations Opening the time cash drawer he be cleared cleared clear clear- ed ed cd It completely of ot its contents placing placing In ing before heton P. P Sybarite barite a tremendous accumulation of ot bills hills old and new of all nil denominations loose and nud in packages packages pack pack- acl ages together wl with h some ten or tw twelve lve golden double eagles I believe belie you OU will find that t cor lect he be observed genially Afterward After ward waid I 1 trust you Jou will do me the honor honorof of splitting a II bottle with me in id the lounge Delighted said P. P S Sybarite Penfield strolled trolled off oft exchanged a afew afew few tew words with an acquaintance or two and und a i few more with w his bis employees employees em em- and went downstairs do The remaIning remaining remaining re re- handful of ot patrons disappeared disappear disappear- ed cd gradually yet et so quickly that P. P Sybarite was waR a lonel lonely outsider by tin the time Ume he had bad finished d counting his winnIngs winnings winnings win win- and stowing them away about his person Presenting the croupier with jO he re relo ered o eyed his hit hat bat at ut last and de del descended ed to find Penfield n awaiting waiting I Mm m at lit the foot of ot the stairs When Pete fete hud had placed a n plate of caviar lar sandwiches between P. P Sybarite and his host hos and und filled tilled their theil glasses from a u newly opened bottle he withdrew withdrew with with- drew from the lounge and dosed closed the thedoor thedoor thedoor door behind him film Penfield's eyes ejes promptly lost loat much of their genial glow Notwithstanding this with no loss lass of manner munner he lifted a u ceremonious glass to the health of ot othis his iris guest Congratulations said he and drunk as tUI a thirsty thIrst man a Clinks May luJ your shadow never ne grow less I 1 P. P Sybarite returned putting down an empty empt glass a n perfectly good wish plumb wasted said laId Penfield refilling both I glasses hl his features twisted Into the 1 i wryest of grimaces Fact Is is-I is I dont don't I 1 mind telling you your you your luck tonight I has hus Im I'm afraid played the very tery devil l I with me This house wont won't open up again until I 1 raise another bankroll I Ily iMy My ly sympathy said P. P Sybarite sip sip- ping Im really distressed And Ami yet you ou couldn't have hn e won against me tonight tonight to to- night It could not be done I am im invincible In in- It Is my Is kismet my day of ot days Penfield |