* ^NNI
 
 "SOME ONE HAS BETRAYED US." 
 
 Frontispiece. Page 196.
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 A STORY OF TO-DAY 
 
 BY 
 
 CHARLES KLEIN 
 
 AND 
 
 ARTHUR HORNBLOW 
 
 Authors of the Novels "The Lion and the Mouse,'* "The 
 Third Degree," " John Marsh's Millions," etc. 
 
 ILLUSTRATIONS BY 
 C. E. CHAMBERS 
 
 G. W. DILLINGHAM COMPANY 
 
 PUBLISHERS NEW YORK
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 CHAPTER I 
 
 riXTRA! Big Bank Failure! Extra!!!" 
 i 7 Half a dozen ragged, hoarse-voiced, 
 whisky-visaged messengers of misfortune, 
 colloquially known as "calamity howlers," shuffled 
 along Fifth Avenue with rapid, sinister gait, crying 
 in lugubrious, raucous tones their tidings of dis- 
 tress : 
 
 "Big Bank Wreck! Extra! Extra!!" 
 
 Bent almost double by the weight of newspapers, 
 breathless from their unusual exertions, each striv- 
 ing furiously to outsell his fellow, the vendors 
 halted here and there and, from points of vantage 
 on the curb, handed out papers to ready purchas- 
 ers, who, nervous and anxious eyed, crowded 
 around and eagerly snatched the copies not yet dry 
 from the press 
 
 The Avenue, this glorious Autumn afternoon, 
 presented its customary aspect of fashionable ac- 
 tivity. From Twenty-third Street to the magnifi- 
 
 7
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 cent new Public Library, and as far north as Cen- 
 tral Park, the sidewalks were thronged with styl- 
 ishly dressed, well-bred men and women. Society 
 was sunning itself, glad of the occasion to show 
 off its clothes. Fat dowagers with pampered pet 
 poodles, handsome young matrons, society debu- 
 tantes, millionaires, powerful Wall Street mag- 
 nates, prominent politicians, bankers, lawyers, mer- 
 chants, musicians, authors, painters, playwrights 
 all these, the elite of the American plutocracy, men 
 and women conspicuous in finance, politics, litera- 
 ture and art were on parade, promenading up and 
 down with leisurely nonchalance. Laughing and 
 talking, they passed and repassed, now entering 
 or leaving the luxuriously appointed shops, now 
 stopping to exchange a word with a passing ac- 
 quaintance, now saluting friends who swept swiftly 
 by in motor cars a curious, cultured crowd, an 
 ever-changing, intermingling, always interesting 
 kaleidoscope of fashion. Out in the roadway, where 
 hundreds of smart automobiles and handsome 
 equipages were hopelessly entangled, stalwart 
 mounted policemen regulated the congested traffic 
 by a mere gesture of their white-gloved hands. 
 
 8
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 "Extra! Big Bank Failure! Extra!!!" 
 The dismal, mournful cry, taken up in succession 
 in different funereal keys by each professional 
 "croaker," was singularly depressing and disturb- 
 ing. Purposely indistinct and incoherent, the vag- 
 abonds' jargon was so unintelligible that it was 
 impossible to guess the nature of the extraordinary 
 news which occasioned so much ado, but there was 
 no mistaking in their melancholy tones the sombre 
 accents of disaster. Like a dreadful, long-drawn- 
 out human wail, it told of sudden calamity, some 
 unexpected and dire catastrophe. The promena- 
 ders on the Avenue, instantly seized by an uneasy, 
 uncontrollable feeling of apprehension and inse- 
 curity, stopped and listened, straining ears to make 
 sense out of the discordant sounds. Pauper and 
 plutocrat, all for the nonce were on an equal foot- 
 ing. Danger of some sort threatened. Men looked 
 anxious; women nervous. A bank in trouble? It 
 might be their depositary! Immediately filled with 
 misgivings, they pictured the worst. Perhaps every 
 dollar they possessed in the world was gone. 
 
 A tall, handsome girl, of aristocratic appearance 
 and richly gowned in clinging chiffon velvet with 
 
 9
 
 THH GAMBLERS 
 
 a large plumed picture hat, ran up to a man who 
 was passing. 
 
 "Oh, Jim!" she exclaimed nervously. "I'm so 
 glad I met you ! Do tell me what those horrid men 
 are shouting. All I can make out is 'Bank.' I'm 
 so worried! I hope nothing's happened to my 
 bank." 
 
 James Darwin looked up in pleased surprise. A 
 good-looking, college-bred man of about thirty- 
 five, with square, athletic shoulders, a determined 
 mouth crowned by a short mustache, and cold, 
 steel-blue eyes, he looked the kind of man likely 
 to give a good account of himself either in a fight 
 or an argument. He had a newspaper in his hand 
 and, engrossed in reading as he walked, had not 
 noticed the girl's approach. Stopping short and 
 raising his hat, he looked admiringly at his inter- 
 locutor : 
 
 "How stunning you look, Kathryn ! I'm awfully 
 glad you saw me. I was so busy reading this vilely 
 printed sheet that I might have missed you. Where 
 have you been?" 
 
 "I've just come from Mrs. Thurston's. It's her 
 day at home. Isabel Emerson was there and her 
 
 10
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 brother Wilbur and a lot of people you know. It 
 was rather jolly." 
 
 The man frowned. With a tinge of sarcasm he 
 said: 
 
 "Wilbur Emerson there, eh? Hasn't he anything 
 better to do than waste his afternoons cackling 
 with a lot of old hens ? I should think that he had 
 enough to attend to at his father's bank without 
 wasting his time at tea parties. I never did think 
 he was much good." 
 
 The girl laughed lightly and laid a slender, 
 gloved hand on his arm. 
 
 "Don't talk like that, Jim, or people will say 
 you're jealous. Don't forget that the Emersons are 
 very good friends of mine." With mock severity 
 she added : "I've a right to choose my friends. Re- 
 member that, sir!" 
 
 He nodded rather sulkily. Then, laughing it 
 off, he said: 
 
 "Where are you going?" 
 
 "I'm on my way home. I heard those men cry- 
 ing 'Extra!' and I got nervous about my money. 
 You know all papa left me is in bank my whole 
 fortune. What's the trouble?" 
 
 TI
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 He looked at her with an amused expression on 
 his face. 
 
 "Don't pay any attention to them," he laughed. 
 "You're foolish to worry; it'll spoil your good 
 looks. Come and have tea with me at the Plaza." 
 
 The girl" shook her head ; hesitatingly she said : 
 
 "I'd like to, Jim, but when I left home I prom- 
 ised Aunt Mary " 
 
 "Oh, d n Aunt Mary!" 
 
 "Jim!" protested the girl. 
 
 "Oh, I didn't mean that. Aunt Mary's a dear old 
 soul, of course; but she'll excuse you if you're a 
 few minutes late. Please come!" 
 
 Putting his arm affectionately through hers with 
 the easy familiarity that suggests proprietorship, 
 he led the way, despite her mild protests, in the di- 
 rection of Fifty-ninth Street. 
 
 James Darwin had known Kathryn Forster ever 
 since they were children. They had, so to speak, 
 grown up together. Their respective parents, mem- 
 bers of two old Knickerbocker families, had been 
 intimate friends for nearly half a century and for 
 a good many years had resided in adjacent man- 
 sions in Washington Square, which at that time 
 
 12
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 was still one of the most fashionable and desirable 
 sections in the city. Kathryn's mother having died 
 in childbirth the care of the girl's bringing up was 
 intrusted to her father's sister, a prim, yet good- 
 natured and entirely lovable spinster, whom every- 
 body knew as "Aunt Mary." Mr. Forster and Mr. 
 Darwin were both prominent members of the bar, 
 so the two families naturally saw a good deal of 
 one another, and the young folks, particularly, were 
 most intimate. 
 
 Even in those early days it was jestingly said 
 that Jim Darwin and Kathryn Forster would marry 
 when they grew up, and the youngsters heard it 
 repeated so often that they began to look upon it 
 as a matter of course, an arrangement already 
 made in advance with which they had had nothing 
 to do and from which there was neither appeal nor 
 escape. Not that either of them was greatly op- 
 posed to the plan. James, a tall, handsome boy, if 
 somewhat headstrong and self-centred, was noth- 
 ing loath to carry out his part of the bargain. Cer- 
 tainly he liked Kathryn better than any other girl he 
 knew. Secretly, he admired her large, flashing 
 dark eyes, her full red lips, her haughty, well-bred 
 
 13
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 carriage. If he had any fault to find, it was that, 
 conscious of her beauty, she was somewhat of a 
 flirt, and permitted other youthful admirers to pay 
 her attention. This often led to angry words. 
 They quarreled and made up again, until at last 
 their early school days were over and they parted- 
 he to go to the University, she to make her debut 
 in society under the aegis of the watchful and kindly 
 Aunt Mary. 
 
 After leaving college with his B.A., James Dar- 
 win entered law school, where he gave every prom- 
 ise of one day becoming a jurist of uncommon 
 force and brilliancy. For keen, incisive logic, skill 
 in analysis and power in oratory he was unsur- 
 passed by any man of his year. Admitted to -the 
 bar, he joined a well-known firm of criminal law- 
 yers and, entrusted with the conduct of an impor- 
 tant case, fought his first legal battle in court. 
 Ambitious to make a success of this maiden effort, 
 he gave to it all the attention and energy of which 
 he was capable. His fresh, vigorous young mind 
 quickly mastered the complex features of the evi- 
 dence, and he astonished the court and spectators 
 alike with the skill and rapidity with which he
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 handled the witnesses. His hard logic and biting 
 sarcasm were unanswerable, his eloquence irresisti- 
 ble. He flayed his opponents relentlessly, merci- 
 lessly. The trial was hardly begun when the op- 
 posing attorneys were completely routed and the 
 case was won for his clients. 
 
 From that time on every one knew that James 
 Darwin was a man to reckon with. He, himself, 
 wished to get into public life; he was eager to grap- 
 ple with the vital, pulsating questions of the day. 
 Vigorous mentally as well as physically, he was a 
 born fighter and never was so happy as when in 
 the heat of the fray. Friends advised him to go 
 into politics. If he could win the district attorney- 
 ship there was no reason why he should not one 
 day be governor. The thought thrilled him. Why 
 not? That should be his goal the governorship! 
 Friends, pleasures, he would allow nothing to deter 
 him. Nothing should stand in the way of his am- 
 bition. 
 
 No one had watched his progress and rejoiced in 
 his success more than Kathryn Forster. Her father 
 having died in the interim, leaving his affairs some- 
 what entangled, she and Aunt Mary had been 
 
 15
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 forced to sell the Washington Square house and 
 take an apartment further uptown. When the es- 
 tate was settled Kathryn found herself with a small 
 fortune, the income of which, by the practice of 
 economy, was enough for a single young woman 
 to live on until she married, especially as Aunt 
 Mary had a private income of her own. Kathryn 
 did not have quite as many frocks as formerly, yet 
 that did not prevent her being one of the best- 
 gowned and most attractive girls in New York. 
 
 Every one wondered why she did not marry. 
 When a girl reaches the age of twenty-two it is 
 about time she made up her mind. It was not that 
 suitors were lacking. Everybody considered that 
 she and Darwin were as good as engaged. The 
 attorney was as infatuated with her now as he had 
 ever been, and she seemed to take great pleasure 
 in his company. In fact, all the men were wild 
 about her. She had as many as half a dozen pro- 
 posals in one season. People could not understand 
 why she did not accept one of these eager swains 
 and have done with it 
 
 There was a reason perhaps two reasons. 
 Kathryn was not, as some people hinted, a heartless 
 
 16
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 coquette. She simply could not make up her mind. 
 As a companion she liked James Darwin better 
 perhaps than any man she knew. She admired his 
 breadth of mind, his keen intellectual outlook on 
 life. Herself fond of books, and interested in 
 the scientific and sociological problems of the day, 
 a man of Darwin's mentality appealed to her very 
 strongly. She thought that any girl might con- 
 sider herself lucky to capture him for a husband. 
 There was no telling to what heights he might 
 climb. An ambitious girl, ready to subordinate 
 everything to her social advancement, would ask, 
 expect nothing else, but Kathryn, not yet entirely 
 spoiled by the world, paused at the brink. A dozen 
 times Darwin had urged her to marry him, and 
 each time she had avoided giving him a decided 
 answer. She hesitated because when she came to 
 analyze her feelings she did not believe in her own 
 heart that she loved him. Instinct told her that a 
 woman should feel quite differently towards the 
 man she marries. 
 
 There was also a second reason, and this, per- 
 haps, was the real one. There was another man 
 in the case. Aunt Mary and the others frowned 
 
 17
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 on Wilbur Emerson, and said unkind things about 
 him. He was not intellectual; far from it. He 
 was fond of high living and gambling; in fact, he 
 was a good deal of an all-round black sheep. 
 Kathryn was fully aware of all this, but she liked 
 him just the same. Somehow black sheep have a 
 way of ingratiating themselves into one's affections, 
 and perhaps secretly she was more attracted to 
 Wilbur Emerson by his vices than by his good 
 qualities. When, in moments of self -analysis, she 
 probed deeply into her heart, she knew that she 
 cared more for her friend Isabel's brother than 
 even she herself was willing to admit. 
 
 The crowds on the Avenue were getting bigger 
 each minute. It was getting late. The hour for 
 Fashion's parade was over. Soon the offices and 
 shops would close and then the tremendous army of 
 wage earners would issue from their hives and make 
 a mad rush for Harlem and home. The carriage 
 traffic was so congested that the roadway was en- 
 tirely blocked. Exasperated drivers vociferated, au- 
 tomobiles sounded their horns. Above the din and 
 turmoil was heard at intervals the lugubrious cries 
 of the newspaper vendors : 
 
 18
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 ''Extra! Special Extra!! Big Bank Fail- 
 ure!!!" 
 
 Kathryn turned impatiently to her escort. 
 
 "What are those wretched-looking creatures call- 
 ing? What has happened? Do tell me." 
 
 "A bank gone up, that's all!" replied Danvin 
 laconically. W T ith a shrug of his shoulders, he went 
 on: "A commonplace enough incident these days. 
 The way some banks do business, it is surprising 
 that any of them are solvent." 
 
 Kathryn was interested in banks, not only be- 
 cause she had a few thousand on deposit, but be- 
 cause she knew the Emersons so intimately. 
 Quickly she said: 
 
 "It's not the Emerson Bank, is it?" 
 
 Darwin laughed. 
 
 "Not yet," he said grimly. "The Emerson Bank 
 has always been considered one of the safest and 
 most conservative financial institutions in the city, 
 but there is no telling what may happen when that 
 precious son of the old man gets control. How- 
 ever, I guess it's safe enough for the present, al- 
 though I hear that Wilbur Emerson is getting more 
 and more of his own way in the management. No; 
 
 19
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 this bank that has failed is one of those wildcat 
 concerns that are crooked from the start. They 
 open splendid offices with a fine array of names 
 mostly dummies on their directorate, inveigle the 
 public into giving- up their money and then after a 
 brief but meteoric career close their doors." 
 
 Becoming more earnest and vehement as he pro- 
 ceeded, he went on angrily: 
 
 "If I were on the bench I'd take the greatest de- 
 light in sending these scoundrels to the penitentiary. 
 They're the meanest kind of thieves, for they delib- 
 erately rob the widow and the orphan. Our entire 
 banking system is rotten. The banking laws af- 
 ford crooks too many opportunities. It's simply 
 amazing what some bankers are permitted to do. 
 You've no idea what the conditions are. Being a 
 woman, more interested in styles than in cheque- 
 kiting, it isn't natural that you should " 
 
 Instantly she resented his gratuitous insinuation 
 that the feminine mind was incapable of grasping 
 matters of serious import. With pretended indig- 
 nation, she retorted: 
 
 "If women are not interested in finance, it is the 
 fault of you men. Do you ever take the trouble 
 
 20
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 to explain? Please don't be so sarcastic. Tell me 
 how these banks get into all this trouble." 
 
 Seeing that she was an interested listener he out- 
 lined present-day conditions as they were. The 
 fault, he said, was the extravagance of the times. 
 It was an age of foolish, reckless expenditures, 
 insensate greed for gold. Men sold their souls to 
 procure means to indulge their vices, their passions, 
 their love of luxury and show. Every one was liv- 
 ing at too fast a pace. We lived in an era of 
 criminal waste and prodigality. People were money 
 mad. The automobile craze had added immensely 
 to the cost of living. Men ran into debt, mortgaged 
 their homes so they might possess fast-running, 
 death-dealing machines. Women squandered for- 
 tunes on their personal finery, on hats, gowns, furs, 
 jewels, dinner parties, each striving to outdo the 
 other. No ordinary income sufficed to meet such 
 extraordinary expenses. Desperate for money to 
 pay the cost of these luxurious follies, the men 
 were driven to procure it by illegitimate 
 means. They went into Wall Street. They 
 became gamblers. In the treacherous, danger- 
 ous stock market game they stood to win or 
 to lose millions of dollars. Inoculated with the 
 deadly national ailment the get-rich-quick fever 
 
 21
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 they stopped at nothing in their race for great 
 wealth not even at crime. 
 
 "Crime?" echoed Kathryn, with a light laugh. 
 "Isn't that a little strong, Jim? Surely you 
 wouldn't put a banker in the same class as a com- 
 mon burglar." 
 
 "Why not?" he retorted. "All men are equal 
 before the law. If a man breaks the law, he be- 
 comes a malefactor, no matter whether he be rich 
 or poor. These gamblers these get-rich-quick 
 financiers are all crooks at heart. They dress well, 
 talk smoothly, cultivate nice people, but they're 
 crooks, all the same. They're worse than the com- 
 mon crook, because, coming from good families, 
 they've been well educated, and ought to know 
 better. But it's in their blood to be crooks. They 
 simply can't help it." Pointing at the splendid resi- 
 dences which they were passing, he added: "More 
 than one man who not so long ago owned one of 
 those houses and entertained there in princely fash- 
 ion is now doing time in the penitentiary." 
 
 "But how do they get into trouble?" demanded 
 Kathryn perplexed. 
 
 The bankers she knew were all highly prosper- 
 
 22
 
 THB GAMBLERS 
 
 ous, eminently respectable people, and it seemed 
 preposterous that such prominent members of the 
 community would jeopardize their social status by 
 offending in a way not only to bring upon their 
 heads social ostracism, but also the wrath and pun- 
 ishment of the State. 
 
 Darwin shrugged his shoulders, 
 
 "Oh, they don't go into it at first with the de- 
 liberate intention to be dishonest. They are led 
 along the crooked path step by step. At first it ap- 
 pears to the banker only as a perfectly legitimate 
 operation in high finance. He needs money des- 
 perately. His expenses are enormous, far beyond 
 his income. Heroic measures alone can help him 
 to meet them. At any cost he must keep in the 
 social swim, so he joins the gamblers the fra- 
 ternity who raise the wind by the exercise of their 
 wits. He takes a plunge into Wall Street with 
 money which, as president of his bank, he has tem- 
 porarily 'borrowed' from the funds entrusted to 
 its care. That is his first step in crime. He finds 
 he is unable to replace the money. Any day the 
 bank examiners may come on their visit of inspec- 
 tion. It is clear that he must cover up his tracks 
 
 23
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 or go to jail. Disgrace, ruin await him. In a des- 
 perate attempt to escape the inevitable, he goes 
 deeper into the mire. Not content with being a 
 thief, he becomes a forger as well. He extends his 
 operations and as he finds it easier to filch from 
 several banks than from one, he lays his plans to 
 secure control over a chain of banks, all of which 
 he forces to do his bidding. 
 
 "Too many of them," he went on, "are playing 
 the dangerous game using the money of unsus- 
 pecting depositors to further their own schemes. 
 Sometimes they get in too deep and then there's a 
 smash, as in this instance. The method is very 
 simple. An unscrupulous man, by stock purchase, 
 secures a controlling voice in a certain bank. Hav- 
 ing control he forces that bank to comply with his 
 wishes. He approves 'loans' on the flimsiest se- 
 curity, he lends himself huge sums on notes signed 
 by ten-dollar-a-week clerks. With the money thus 
 wrongfully obtained, he buys control in another 
 bank and then he has the funds of two banks to 
 dabble in instead of one. And so it goes, until 
 sometimes these so-called Napoleons of Finance 
 control a chain of ten or fifteen banks, representing 
 
 24
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 an aggregate of capital piling up into the millions. 
 
 "For a time all goes well the get-rich-quick 
 financier is the man of the hour. Having plenty 
 of money he is lionized socially, looked up to, ad- 
 mired by everybody. People call him a genius. He 
 has a palatial mansion in town and a superb coun- 
 try place. His wife has automobiles, diamonds, 
 servants galore. Suddenly something goes wrong 
 with his system of borrowing from Peter to settle 
 with Paul. A bank refuses to honor a big draft 
 insufficiently secured. There are disturbing rumors 
 round town. Gradually the whole edifice crumbles. 
 Depositors become alarmed. There is a run on 
 the bank. Half a dozen banks close their doors 
 precipitately. Public confidence gets a jolt, and a 
 commercial panic is only averted by the big finan- 
 cial interests hurrying to the rescue to save the gen- 
 eral situation. The frenzied financier either blows 
 his brains out or goes to the penitentiary. The 
 dear public soon forgets, and a year or two later 
 a new financial luminary appears on the horizon 
 and begins the same trick all over again." 
 
 The girl listened, interested. 
 
 "Can such things be prevented ? Isn't it illegal ?" 
 25
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 "Certainly, it's illegal. These men violate the 
 State banking laws every time they attempt any- 
 thing irregular, but they take the chance. They 
 may not be found out for years. Some are never 
 found out. Some are so clever in covering their 
 tracks that they deceive the most lynx-eyed bank 
 examiner. They're not easy to catch. Take, for 
 instance, this bank which closed to-day. The bank- 
 was comparatively unimportant. That's where 
 these scoundrels are clever. They're always care- 
 ful to avoid the big institutions. They know that 
 would be too dangerous a game. They've too much 
 regard for their own skins. They'd be caught and 
 jailed before they had a chance to stack the cards. 
 They select only the smaller banks their victims 
 are usually among the poorer class who don't un- 
 derstand and don't question, who think all bank- 
 ers dishonest, and that is their destiny to be 
 robbed." Determinedly, fiercely, he added: 
 
 "Wait till I'm district attorney. Woe to any 
 get-rich-quick financier who gets into my clutches! 
 I'll show him no mercy. I won't rest until I land 
 him behind the bars, no matter who he is." 
 
 26
 
 CHAPTER II 
 
 THEY had now reached the fine, open Plaza 
 at Fifty-ninth Street, which forms Central 
 Park's magnificent approach. On the east 
 side of the Square, Fifth Avenue continued its 
 way, straight as the crow flies, northward to Har- 
 lem, lined on one side by the beautiful white mar- 
 ble residences of America's merchant princes; on 
 the other by the low, ugly gray wall which marks 
 the boundary of the Park. Overtopping the bar- 
 rier, and as far away to the west as the eye could 
 reach, waved a mass of green foliage with glimpses 
 here and there of picturesque driveways, luxurious 
 lawns, silvery lakes, graceful swans, rustic benches 
 and winding paths leading into shaded glens a 
 spot of sylvan loveliness, an oasis of seclusion and 
 fersh air, set down in the midst of the nerve-rack- 
 ing, gasoline-saturated city. At the entrance to 
 the Park, like some colossal sentinel, stood St. Gau- 
 dens' heroic equestrian statue of Sherman leading 
 his troops to victory. On the left, its lofty, grace- 
 
 27
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 ful facade already a blaze of light in the gathering 
 dust, its portals beset by smart automobiles and 
 servants in livery, was the Hotel Plaza. 
 
 Entering through the Fifty-eighth Street door 
 Kathryn and her companion passed through spa- 
 cious marble halls and red-carpeted corridors until 
 they came to the tearoom, the location of which 
 even a stranger might readily find if only the sound 
 of the music were to serve him as guide. A few 
 minutes later and they were comfortably installed 
 in a secluded corner, sipping tea out of dainty 
 china the while they listened to the dulcet, dreamy 
 strains of Franko's string orchestra. 
 
 The place was crowded, as usual at this time of 
 day, with pretty and expensively dressed women. 
 Nearly every table was taken. The air was full 
 of perfume, chatter and laughter. Rival coteries, 
 sitting apart in scattered groups, retailed the latest 
 news and gossip of the Avenue, and as they talked 
 volubly, each at the same time, the women furtively 
 took measure of each other's gowns and hats. 
 Envy, hatred, malice and all uncharitableness was 
 the keynote of every conversation. The utter triv- 
 iality of the topics under discussion, the silly mu- 
 
 28
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 tual admiration of gushing, empty-headed girls, the 
 inept, inconsequential utterances of dandified, de- 
 generate men, the general low moral tone as re- 
 flected in the sentiments expressed by maids and ma- 
 trons all this, the characteristic attitude of the 
 "smart set," would have made the Recording Angel 
 weep. Who was safe in this place of slander and 
 double entendre? These butterflies of fashion 
 thought no more of tearing an absent sister's repu- 
 tation to tatters than of breaking between their ta- 
 pering, highly-manicured fingers the dainty tea 
 wafers passed by obsequious waiters on silver sal- 
 vers. It was Society's school for scandal, the five- 
 o'clock rendezvous of "everybody" in town. 
 
 While Kathryn was nodding amiably to several 
 acquaintances whom she recognized in the throng 
 and pretending not to see others whom she wished 
 to ignore, which some consider a rather clever way 
 of snubbing undesirables, Darwin watched the ani- 
 mated scene in silence, an expression of disapproval 
 on his face. Turning suddenly to his companion, he 
 asked : 
 
 "Do you come here often?" 
 "No; not often. Why do you ask?" 
 29
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 With a gesture of angry impatience which took 
 in the whole assemblage, he said: 
 
 "This kind of thing disgusts me. To look at 
 those women over-dressed and over-fed one 
 would think that there was no such thing as pov- 
 erty in the world. See the way they're got up 
 the furs, the jewels, the hats! I told you about 
 the gamblers just now. These women are the 
 spenders. It is they who make the gamblers. Prac- 
 tically they force men to steal so they may spend. 
 They are the real malefactors of wealth." 
 
 Drawing her attention to two elegantly-gowned 
 women who had just entered wearing priceless 
 furs, he went on : 
 
 "Look at those women! That chinchilla coat 
 cost $20,000 if it cost a cent. The hat she's wear- 
 ing couldn't be duplicated for $300. To look at 
 them you'd think they were Russian princesses with 
 a fabulous fortune. I happen to know they're just 
 ordinary Americans, badly inoculated with the 
 spending fever. Their husbands are plain, every- 
 day business men, who have to scheme and sweat 
 all year so their wives may parade here in their 
 fine feathers." 
 
 30
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 Kathryn looked up in surprise. 
 
 "It's theirs to spend as they like, isn't it?" she 
 said. 
 
 "Not always," was his laconic rejoinder. 
 
 "You mean they steal it ?" she exclaimed incredu- 
 lously. 
 
 "Many do," he answered coolly. Slowly he went 
 on : "Our business ethics to-day are deplorable. The 
 line between what is legitimate and what is down- 
 right knavery is so finely drawn that it is impossi- 
 ble to say positively nowadays whether a man is 
 honest or a crook. The only real difference between 
 some so-called successful business men and a com- 
 mon thief is that the business man is not found out, 
 or I should say escapes indictment, while the pro- 
 fessional cracksman is nabbed in the act. The 
 get-rich-quick frenzy is making potential criminals 
 of us all, and it is just such lazy, over- fed women 
 as you see here with their mania for jewels, fine 
 clothes, automobiles and other expensive luxuries 
 that drive our business men to crime." 
 
 The girl pouted. She did not like these homilies, 
 for she was fond herself of all the good things 
 which life had to offer. Besides she thought the
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 attorney took too pessimistic a view of the case. 
 
 "But all people are not dishonest," she protested. 
 "Why shouldn't they spend and enjoy their money? 
 The country is prosperous." 
 
 He shook his head. 
 
 "You are mistaken. The country is not prosper- 
 ous. The crops are below the average, business is 
 bad everywhere, railroad earnings have fallen off. 
 We are drifting towards a commercial cataclysm. 
 Yet all is serene on the surface. Wall Street gives 
 no sign. Stocks artificially bolstered up, remain 
 at top notch prices, and the extravagance of the 
 people goes on unchecked. Outwardly yes we 
 are prosperous, and this in spite of the fact that 
 we are buying more from Europe than they from 
 us. Everybody is wearing diamonds and drinking 
 champagne on what? Borrowed money. Credit 
 has been expanded to the breaking point. To own 
 automobiles people of moderate means have not 
 hesitated even to mortgage their homes. In the 
 foolish pursuit of pleasure they have rashly im- 
 periled all that they own in the world. Because 
 you see people throwing money about recklessly 
 you must not jump to the conclusion that they are 
 
 3 2
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 really prosperous. Often they are merely spend- 
 ing what is not theirs, they are borrowing trouble 
 for the future. Because you see none but well- 
 dressed people on Fifth Avenue, don't imagine that 
 poverty and distress have been banished from the 
 world. Go into the slums. Stroll along the river- 
 front, enter the noisome rookeries that abound 
 along the Bowery. The harrowing sights, the 
 hopeless, grinding poverty would appall you. The 
 world will not appear so prosperous then." 
 
 She listened in silence. His earnestness amused 
 her. She was not able to follow his arguments, 
 but they sounded convincing. She had always ad- 
 mired Jim's keen, intellectual grasp of affairs. 
 What a fine public speech he could make! In her 
 mind she already saw him Governor, addressing a 
 vast crowd on some vital public question. The 
 people, carried away, would cheer and call him out 
 and how proud she would be to share his triumph 
 and be pointed to as his wife ! 
 
 "Of course," he went on, "we shall always have 
 the very poor with us. Some unfortunates seem 
 to be so constituted mentally that they can never 
 prosper. These will always be public charges. 
 
 33
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 But the prodigality of the times is adding to our 
 pauper class every year. Instead of growing richer, 
 the world is actually growing poorer. The army 
 of the destitute is growing bigger, each year the 
 peril looms larger, more menacing. If, at last, 
 rendered desperate by high food prices, prohibitive 
 rents, the people raise the standard of revolt and 
 the country finds itself involved in the throes of 
 revolution, the stupid extravagances of the rich, idle 
 class, the chicanery and knavery of the capitalistic 
 class alone will be to blame. I see danger signals 
 everywhere. Take your friend Wilbur Emerson, 
 for instance " 
 
 Startled, Kathryn put down her cup. 
 
 "Wilbur Emerson!" she exclaimed. "What has 
 he to do with it?" 
 
 "Nothing and yet perhaps a great deal," was 
 the cautious rejoinder. Watching closely on her 
 face the effect of his words he went on : "I've been 
 watching Emerson lately, and I don't much like the 
 way he's going. It doesn't augur well for the fu- 
 ture " 
 
 "Why," demanded Kathryn, slightly coloring un- 
 der his persistent gaze, "what's the matter ?" 
 
 34
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 Toying idly with his spoon the attorney replied: 
 
 "Wilbur Emerson is what we call a high roller. 
 He's as different from the old man as a son can 
 possibly be from his father. Their ideas, especially 
 their morals, are entirely opposed. Old Mr. Emer- 
 son is high principled, conservative, a man of un- 
 questioned integrity and honor. I am not so sure 
 about the son." 
 
 "Do you know anything tangible, or are you only 
 surmising?" demanded Kathryn with some show of 
 irritation. She resented this reflection on an ab- 
 sent friend. 
 
 The attorney nodded sagaciously. Carelessly he 
 said: 
 
 "Oh, we hear things downtown, you know. Wil- 
 bur has been taking some high fliers in Wall Street 
 lately, and some of his deals didn't turn out very 
 successfully. I hear that he dropped $10,000 in 
 the last break. Besides, it's a common knowledge 
 that he belongs to a fast crowd. It's curious, too, 
 for his father never was that way " 
 
 "You spoke of danger any particular danger?" 
 interrupted Kathryn. 
 
 "Only this," replied Darwin carelessly, "that 
 35
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 were a man of his loose propensities to get control 
 of the Emerson Bank there is no knowing what 
 might happen. He's ambitious. He's a born gam- 
 bler. He longs for the power money can buy. 
 People say that he is getting more and more of his 
 own way in the bank, and that he has some scheme 
 of reorganization which, if successful, will increase 
 the financial power of the bank, and make him a 
 power in the Street. All these are danger signals." 
 Kathryn made no reply. Darwin had always dis- 
 liked Wilbur; she knew that. Although their fam- 
 ilies were friends, the two men had never been able 
 to get along. The chief reason, of course, was 
 Darwin's insane jealousy. He could not bear Wil- 
 bur Emerson's name mentioned. Even when she 
 happened to remark that she had met the young 
 banker he grew sulky and moody. It was horrid 
 of Jim to talk in this way about a man behind his 
 back, yet she could not contradict him. All he said 
 she had already heard from others. She liked 
 Wilbur Emerson immensely, but she realized that 
 his lack of moral stamina would always be a stum- 
 bling block in the way of his success, and if, un- 
 fortunately, his father died, leaving him in control 
 
 36
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 of affairs at the bank, matters might be even worse. 
 Certainly, he was not the kind of man for any 
 woman to entrust her future to, no matter what 
 pleasure she might find in his society. 
 
 The clock struck the half hour. It was getting 
 near dinner time, yet the crowds still lingered at 
 the tables, laughing and talking. People came and 
 went, the waiters ran in and out, the hum of con- 
 versation and the clatter of dishes drowned every 
 other sound, even the music of the orchestra. A 
 beautiful woman, gorgeously attired in a gown that 
 would grace an empress, and literally blazing with 
 precious stones, swept by, accompanied by a foppish 
 blond young man barely out of his teens. Darwin 
 attracted his companion's attention to them. With 
 a laugh he said : 
 
 "Did you see that woman ? her diamonds would 
 pay a king's ransom. She always has that boy 
 dangling after her. Her husband, a manufacturer, 
 went through the bankruptcy court only a month 
 ago." 
 
 Kathryn laughed outright. Her companion's cyn- 
 icism amused her. 
 
 "What a shocking moralizer you are, Jim! If 
 37
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 we poor women were to listen to you we'd be wear- 
 ing sackcloth and ashes. What is the world for if 
 we are not to enjoy ourselves in it and make our- 
 selves beautiful?" 
 
 She sat back and laughed, showing a glimpse of 
 white, pearly teeth between the delicately chiseled 
 lips slightly parted. The warmth of the place after 
 the long walk in the cold air had rilled her cheeks 
 with a rich red color. Her large, luminous eyes 
 shaded by extremely long lashes, shone brilliantly. 
 Darwin gazed at her in silence. Never had she 
 seemed more lovely, more desirable. Leaning over, 
 he said in a low, earnest tone : 
 
 "Some women don't need the help of dress to 
 make them beautiful. You're one of them, Kate." 
 
 The compliment pleased her, but in bantering 
 tones, she cried : 
 
 "What, Mr. Philosopher growing romantic?" 
 With more mock warning she added: "Take care, 
 or you'll lose your judicial point of view." 
 
 Disregarding her teasing manner, he went on : 
 
 "Kate, isn't it about time you and I understood 
 each other? I had a purpose in making you come 
 here this afternoon. I wanted to talk to you alone. 
 
 38
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 I haven't had a good opportunity before. Kathryn, 
 you and I were children together. We don't have 
 to stand on ceremony. You know what I want to 
 say. I've loved you all these years. I've asked you 
 time and time again to marry me. You've kept put- 
 ting me off on one pretext or another. I only ask 
 you to let me know, one way or another. This in- 
 decision isn't fair to you or to me. I love you. I 
 want you for my wife. If you don't love me, if 
 for some reason or another marriage between us 
 is impossible just tell me, and I will go out of 
 your life forever. But don't keep me longer in 
 suspense. I'm thinking of going away." 
 
 She looked at him quickly. 
 
 "Going away?" 
 
 "Yes," he answered, averting his head; "if it's 
 no, I don't care to stay here. I should travel for a 
 year or so " 
 
 She made no reply, but sat quietly sipping her 
 tea and watching the people as they came and went. 
 Jim was right, she thought. Her indecision wasn't 
 fair to either of them. People already thought 
 they were secretly engaged. Why shouldn't she 
 make up her mind ? She was getting on in years ; 
 
 39
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 there was no time to lose. Any woman might be 
 proud to be James Darwin's wife. He had made a 
 splendid reputation. Each day he was becoming 
 better known. At next election he would be on 
 the Republican ticket for the district attorneyship. 
 The newspapers were already predicting that he was 
 the coming man in politics. She did not love him. 
 She knew that. Yet what of it? Many women 
 had married men they did not love, and in time 
 had learned to care for them. 
 
 For a moment the face of Wilbur Emerson 
 loomed up in her mental vision, but she dismissed 
 it instantly. She liked him, better, perhaps, than 
 any other man of her acquaintance, but as a pros- 
 pective husband she was rather afraid of him. She 
 had heard so many stories of his gallantries! He 
 was a ban vivant a sensualist. He had no taste 
 for literature; he admitted that books bored him. 
 What intellectual companionship could such a man 
 give her? No; her future would be too uncertain. 
 He compared unfavorably with James Darwin. Jim 
 was cold, self-centred; his personality was not as 
 attractive or as lovable as the young banker, but 
 he was intellectual and his prospects were more 
 
 40
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 promising. She believed that one day Jim would 
 rise to great things. How proud she would be to 
 be the wife of a prominent public man! James 
 Darwin would help her to realize this ambition. 
 Wilbur Emerson never would. 
 
 Darwin broke in upon her reflections. Earnestly, 
 his voice in a tremor he exerted himself to control, 
 he said: 
 
 "Well, Kate what is your answer?" 
 
 She laid her ungloved hand on his, and with a 
 little pressure meant to express affection, she said: 
 
 "Yes Jim and God grant that I make you a 
 good wife!" 
 
 Despite her words, her tone was cold and his 
 eager, passion-lit eyes saw no response in hers. It 
 was the voice and the look of a woman who had 
 sacrificed everything to her ambition. But Darwin 
 heeded it not. He knew only that he had won the 
 most desirable girl in the world. But for the hun- 
 dred eyes watching them he would have taken her 
 in his arms. She noticed his involuntary movement 
 towards her and instinctively she shrank back be- 
 fore the threatened caress. 
 
 "I ask only one thing, Jim."
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 "What's that?" he said hoarsely. 
 
 "That you won't say anything about our engage- 
 ment for a week. I don't want my friends to know 
 until I tell them myself." 
 
 He drew back, and his face slightly darkened. 
 
 "Wilbur Emerson, for example!" he said, with 
 an almost imperceptible sneer. 
 
 She returned his gaze firmly. Her large, wide 
 open eyes were frank and ingenuous as a child's. 
 Somewhat haughtily she said : 
 
 "Wilbur Emerson or any one else, Jim. I have 
 no accounting to give to you yet. In one week 
 from to-day you may announce our engagement. 
 It's a condition. Do you accept?" 
 
 Forgetting his momentary ill humor, Darwin 
 bent eagerly forward and whispered: 
 
 "And our marriage, Kate? When shall that be?" 
 
 The girl was silent for a moment, then she said : 
 
 "This is October. What do you say to next 
 June?" Laughingly she added: "It's the month 
 for brides." 
 
 "What!" he cried. "Wait till June? Why, that's 
 eight months away!" 
 
 He was about to make vigorous protest when 
 42
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 suddenly a feminine voice close by interrupted their 
 conversation. 
 
 "What are you two doing spooning in a corner 
 all by yourselves?" 
 
 Kathryn, surprised, looked up quickly, while 
 Darwin rose quickly to his feet. Embarrassed for 
 a moment Kathryn reddened and said: 
 
 "Hello, Gladys! I didn't see you. When did 
 you come in ?" 
 
 The new arrival, a vivacious blonde girl, showily 
 dressed, smiled knowingly as she gushed out : 
 
 "Why we've been here all the time. I'm with 
 Mabel. We're sitting near the orchestra. Isn't that 
 first violin a handsome man? He plays divinely. 
 I wish he'd elope with me. Mabel's perfectly daffy 
 over him. I threatened I'd tell Mr. Cowper. I've 
 been trying to catch your eye for some time. But 
 you were so taken up with Mr. Darwin. Really, I 
 can't blame you. No thanks ! I won't sit down." 
 
 She glanced coquettishly at the attorney, who 
 offered her a seat. Annoyed at this unexpected in- 
 trusion on their privacy at such a moment, he made 
 a grimace. Kathryn, noticing it, laughed, but 
 Gladys, not to be suppressed, rattled on: 
 
 43
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 "I wanted to ask you if you were going to the 
 Emersons' dance ?" 
 
 "When is it?" demanded Kathryn. 
 
 "Didn't you get a card?" 
 
 "Yes; mine came yesterday; but I didn't notice 
 the exact day." 
 
 "It's next Thursday. You'll go, of course." 
 
 Darwin, who had been toying nervously with the 
 sugar tongs, dropped them noisily on the floor. For 
 a moment Kathryn hesitated, and glanced at him, 
 as if doubtful of his approval. Then hurriedly she 
 said: 
 
 "Certainly, I shall go. Isabel Emerson is my 
 most intimate friend. I couldn't very well refuse.'' 
 
 44
 
 CHAPTER III 
 
 NOT far from the corner of Fifty-third 
 Street, on the same side of Fifth Avenue 
 as the Cathedral, stood a house which 
 never failed to attract the attention of the passer- 
 by. Conspicuous enough to excite comment even 
 in this exclusive neighborhood of aristocratic resi- 
 dences, it was built of red limestone and had a 
 frontage of fifty feet, with two unusually large 
 windows on either side of an imposing entrance, 
 access to which from the street was had by a broad 
 flight of steps. It was not a new house ; indeed it 
 could hardly be described as modern. Built some 
 thirty years ago, before property on the Avenue 
 had reached the present fantastic prices, it was 
 planned on bigger, nobler lines than it is possible 
 for the architect of to-day to follow. The rooms 
 were spacious, lofty, and beautifully proportioned. 
 A striking feature on entering the main reception 
 hall was the grand staircase, which was of white 
 
 45
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 marble and carpeted with rich, velvet pile. Situ- 
 ated on the left, and open all the way up, it formed 
 on the second floor a kind of gallery from which 
 hung rare old tapestries. 
 
 All the decorations were on the richest and most 
 elaborate scale, in keeping with the size and impor- 
 tance of the house. The ceilings were frescoed 
 and inset with fine paintings, representing mytho- 
 logical and historical subjects executed by world- 
 famous artists. The walls were of Carrara marble 
 and onyx, paneled in places with rare, highly-pol- 
 ished woods. Stained glass over a monumental fire- 
 place and in various nooks imparted rich tones to old 
 armor, ancestral portraits, tapestries, Oriental rugs, 
 gilt and brocaded furniture and other objets d'art, 
 which went to complete the rich, aesthetic furnish- 
 ings. 
 
 John Emerson built the house in the late seven- 
 ties, soon after he came to New York from Bos- 
 ton, and established the successful banking busi- 
 ness which still bore his name. It was the pride 
 of his earlier manhood, and even to-day, in the 
 decline of his honored life, when he was rapidly 
 approaching the three-score years and ten which 
 
 46
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 the Bible tells us is man's allotted span of life, he 
 still loved every nook and corner of it. 
 
 To-night the Emerson mansion was brilliantly 
 illuminated in every part. Lights blazed from 
 every window. There was unwonted bustle of 
 servants, who could be seen hurrying to and fro 
 behind the drawn blinds. Messenger boys arrived 
 with flowers and packages. A striped awning with 
 a crimson velvet runner covered the steps from the 
 front door to the curb, and a footman in livery 
 stood awaiting the arrival of the carriages. It was 
 not often that the old house awoke from its digni- 
 fied lethargy. Indeed, it was so seldom that the 
 banker's residence gave any outward sign of life 
 that the neighbors looked on in breathless amaze- 
 ment. Mr. Emerson was not given to much enter- 
 taining. This, however, was an exception. It was 
 the birthday of the banker's daughter, and the oc- 
 casion was being properly celebrated by a dance 
 and supper. 
 
 A widower for ten years, the banker had two 
 children Wilbur, a son, now in his thirtieth year, 
 and Isabel, an amiable, domesticated kind of girl, 
 who, greatly to the surprise of all her friends, was 
 
 47
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 still unmarried at twenty-five, a critical age in a 
 woman's life, the age wjiere the road suddenly 
 branches out into two roads one leading to matri- 
 mony, the other to spinsterhood. Some girls, no 
 matter what their virtues may be, do not attract 
 men. Isabel was one of them. She was good-look- 
 ing, though not what one would call beautiful, or 
 even attractive-looking. A very sensible, whole- 
 some girl, healthy in mind and body, she had many 
 sterling qualities. She was a devoted daughter 
 and no doubt would have made a good wife. Pro- 
 posals had come her way, but as is often the dilemma 
 of girls with money, she doubted their sincerity and 
 good faith. It was well known that her father had 
 settled $100,000 on her, and this had not failed to 
 attract greedy suitors. But Isabel was too shrewd 
 to be imposed upon, and since the right man did 
 not appear she sensibly resigned herself to the idea 
 of spending her life in single blessedness. After 
 all, why should she marry ? Had she not her father 
 and her brother to look after? 
 
 Wilbur, the son, had recently been given a re- 
 sponsible position in the bank, which enjoyed the 
 reputation of being one of the most conservatively 
 
 48
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 managed financial institutions in the country. For 
 a hundred years and more the Emersons, a proud 
 New England family of Puritan descent, had held 
 an enviable place in the annais of American his- 
 tory. Unassailable integrity, a spotless record, 
 "without fear and without reproach" this had 
 been the family's tradition, handed down from fa- 
 ther to son as a precious heirloom until the very 
 name Emerson became per se a valuable busi- 
 ness asset, a pseudonym for respectability and 
 honor. People put their money in the Emerson 
 Bank with the utmost confidence because John Em- 
 erson was at the head of that institution. They 
 knew their man. They knew that John Emerson 
 would never countenance in his bank the methods 
 which looser business principles nowadays toler- 
 ated, and which were responsible for all the bank- 
 ing scandals, the runs, the failures, the panics, the 
 suicides which had become a crying disgrace in our 
 banking system. Other financial institutions might 
 be induced to attempt big things on weak capital, 
 spread out, make millions by putting through 
 "mergers," build up chains of banks with deposi- 
 tors' money. But not any institution controlled 
 
 49
 
 THB GAMBLERS 
 
 by John Emerson. He stood firm as a rock for 
 honest banking. He was conservative, old-fash- 
 ioned, out of touch, perhaps, with up-to-date finan- 
 cial methods, but no one had ever questioned his 
 unequivocal, uncompromising honesty. Resisting 
 persistently the schemes of wily promoters and 
 other knights of crooked finance, he adhered firmly 
 to sound banking principles. He believed in main- 
 taining a standard of sound banking practice, and 
 refused to depart even by a hair's breadth from the 
 straight, open course. With God's help he hoped 
 to make Wilbur as sound and conservative a 
 banker as himself. It was not easy. He realized 
 that, like all young men, Wilbur was a little head- 
 strong. He chafed under the curb. Impatient at 
 the slowness of the bank's present way of doing 
 business, he had tried to introduce several reforms, 
 and some of his innovations had brought about 
 good results. They had increased the bank's 
 business and done no harm. His confidence 
 gained, gradually, by degrees, Mr. Emerson 
 relaxed the tight rein and gave his son more 
 leeway, until now Wilbur was vice-president of the 
 bank. 
 
 50
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 "I think that will do, Thomas. Are you sure 
 the champagne is on the ice?" 
 
 "Oh, yes, miss; I seen to that myself, miss." 
 
 "You'd better go and make sure, Thomas. My 
 brother is so fussy about the champagne being 
 very cold." 
 
 "Yes, miss." 
 
 The butler left the room, and Isabel drew back 
 and critically surveyed her work. 
 
 All dressed to receive the guests who would soon 
 arrive, the daughter of the house was busy in the 
 dining room, helping the servants put the finishing 
 touches to the table. Laid for forty people, cov- 
 ered with snowy linen, glittering silver and spar- 
 kling crystal, decorated with flowers and ribbons, 
 and with a vast silver centrepiece filled with 
 orchids, it presented a beautiful sight. Carefully 
 Isabel began to arrange the cards on each plate. 
 Gladys would sit next to Mr. Cowper, Kathryn 
 next to father, Mrs. Thurston next to Tooker, 
 Mabel next to Wilbur, Miss Forster next to Mr. 
 Raymond 
 
 Suddenly the girl's calculations were rudely in- 
 terrupted. She felt herself seized by strong hands, 
 
 51
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 and before she could defend herself, she felt a 
 man's kiss on her cheek. Turning- quickly, she 
 saw her brother laughing at her. In his hand was 
 a small package tied with ribbon. 
 
 "Hello, sis!" he exclaimed. "Many happy re- 
 turns ! Missed you all day. Didn't forget, though. 
 Bought you a little trifle at Tiffany's. Hope you'll 
 like it. Where's the gov'nor?" 
 
 Taking the package Isabel started to untie it. 
 Smiling, she said : 
 
 "Gracious, Wilbur how you frightened me! I 
 didn't hear you come in. Father's upstairs dress- 
 ing." 
 
 By this time the outer wrappers were off and a 
 dainty little jewel box was revealed to view. The 
 girl opened it, and to her delight saw a beautiful 
 ring pearl set in a circle of brilliants. 
 
 "Oh, Wilbur!" she exclaimed. "How good of 
 you!" 
 
 Wilbur Emerson was a favorite, not only with 
 his sister, but with almost every one else. Hand- 
 some, clever, good-natured, he was one of those 
 brilliant men who, naturally amiable themselves 
 and possessing no little personal magnetism, have 
 
 52
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 the knack of communicating their geniality to 
 others and thus make for themselves hosts of 
 friends. True, he had a reputation for being fond 
 of late suppers, speeding, little blonde actresses, in- 
 cursions into Wall Street, and similar diversions 
 for which rich men's sons seem to have a particular 
 predilection; but since he had become one of the 
 officers of the Emerson Bank, he had, to a great 
 extent, dropped his old associates, and sobered 
 down. In any case, his father had no reason to 
 complain of the manner in which he attended to his 
 duties, and it was a great source of satisfaction to 
 the old gentleman to think that, when the time came 
 that he would be compelled to lay aside the cares 
 of business, there was another Emerson to take up 
 the reins. 
 
 Women, especially, liked Wilbur Emerson. 
 While always the gentleman, his attitude towards 
 them had that delightfully frank and easy manner 
 which soon established relations of intimate cama- 
 raderie. At times his audacity had outstripped the 
 bounds, and then a look sufficed to make him be- 
 have. If he took liberties, it was usually the fault 
 of the women. They encouraged rather than re- 
 
 53
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 sented his familiarities, just because, as they said, 
 he was good-looking and dangerously fascinating. 
 Wilbur Emerson was, in truth, an uncommonly 
 handsome man. The beau ideal of a Paul Bourget 
 hero, his tall, slender figure always faultlessly 
 dressed, a pale and rather classic face, with dark, 
 wavy hair, fine eyes and a sensitive mouth he 
 looked as though he might have stepped out\of 
 the pages of the latest novel. Not that there was 
 anything in his appearance to suggest weakness or 
 effeminacy. There was nothing degenerate about 
 him. Looks are often deceiving, and never more 
 so than in this instance. Slender and delicate as 
 he seemed, his muscles were rigid as steel. He was 
 wiry as a cat and supple as an eel. At college he 
 was the best long-distance runner of his year, and 
 his rooms were littered with other trophies of his 
 athletic prowess. Nor was he always the suave, 
 easy-going person he appeared in the drawing- 
 room. In business hours, he was alert, energetic, 
 masterful. When anything went wrong at the 
 bank he was suddenly transformed into a veritable 
 cyclone of wrath, nor was he appeased until mat- 
 ters had been adjusted to his satisfaction. 
 
 54
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 It was an agreeable surprise to many to see how 
 well he had turned out at the bank. When first it 
 was announced that his father had taken him in, 
 the depositors shook their heads ominously. They 
 only knew the young man as a congenial viveur, 
 an acknowledged leader among New York's gilded 
 youth. Wherever there was a joyous, boisterous 
 crowd, at the club, theatre or restaurant, they knew 
 it was safe to count him one of the number. The 
 boy had started wrong. His school companions left 
 much to be desired, and he soon displayed tenden- 
 cies that augured ill for the future. The gay world 
 was a call too strong to resist. Alone the old man 
 had faith in his son. "Give the boy time," he said. 
 "He's young yet, full of the unreasoning exuber- 
 ance of youth. Let him sober down. Then all will 
 be well." It was something new for an Emerson 
 to run so wild, and the croakers made dismal 
 prophecies. They looked dubiously at Wilbur en- 
 tering the bank, and at first they were inclined to 
 resent it. For his father's sake, however, they said 
 nothing. They had not much confidence in the 
 young man, but they knew that so long as John 
 
 Emerson lived the bank was safe, and now that 
 
 55
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 the son seemed to have sown all his wild oats and 
 sobered down they were quite ready to admit that 
 possibly they had been a little hasty in their judg- 
 ment. 
 
 "How kind of you, Wilbur!" exclaimed Isabel 
 gratefully. "How did you guess I wanted a ring?" 
 
 The young man smiled grimly as he turned to 
 a convenient mirror to adjust his full-dress white 
 tie. 
 
 "Oh, that was a pretty safe guess. Did you ever 
 hear of a woman who had no use for a ring?" 
 Changing the subject, he said: "The people will 
 soon be here. It's past nine. Who's coming?" 
 
 "The usual crowd all the girls, and Mrs. 
 Thurston, Mrs. Dyas and Mr. Cowper, Mr. Ray- 
 mond, Mr. Tooker " 
 
 Her brother interrupted her with a laugh. 
 
 "Cowper Raymond Tooker! It sounds like 
 the roll-call of one of our bank directors' meet- 
 
 ings " 
 
 "I had to invite them," explained Isabel almost 
 apologetically. "They're directors in the bank, and 
 it wouldn't look well to ignore them. Father 
 thought they should be asked. Besides," she added 
 
 56
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 roguishly, "Mr. Cowper is sweet on Gladys. I may 
 be able to make a match. Mr. Raymond and Mr. 
 Tooker can talk finance with you and father." 
 
 Wilbur pulled a wry face. 
 
 "Thanks I'd rather be excused. I see enough 
 of them in the bank. Who else is coming?" 
 
 "I asked Mr. Darwin, but I doubt if he'll come." 
 
 A cloud passed over the young man's face. Bit- 
 terly he exclaimed : 
 
 "Not if he knows that I'm here with Kathryn 
 Forster. I'm surprised he's willing to have her come 
 here alone. I wonder he's not afraid I'll cut him 
 out." 
 
 Isabel looked up at her brother wistfully. With 
 a sigh she said : 
 
 "I wish you could, Wilbur. I'm so fond of Kath- 
 ryn. I'm sure she thinks the world of you " 
 
 "Thinks the world of me, but marries the other 
 chap, eh?" 
 
 Since the death of their mother Isabel sometimes 
 felt that she owed Wilbur more than the attention 
 of a sister. It was her fondest desire that he might 
 marry happily and settle down, but for some reason 
 he was still a bachelor at thirty. Like all men as 
 
 57
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 they get older, Wilbur was beginning to realize 
 that a man who does not choose a life companion 
 early in life makes a mistake which he is apt to 
 bitterly regret in after years, but so far he had 
 been content to gather honey at all the flowers in 
 the matrimonial garden instead of at only one. Her 
 friend, Kathryn Forster, was just the girl for him. 
 and for a long time Isabel, as well as every one 
 else, had expected daily to hear they were engaged. 
 She knew that Wilbur thought a great deal of her. 
 in fact, was very fond of her. If there was noth- 
 ing between them it could only be that Kathryn 
 gave him no encouragement. That there was an- 
 other rival in the field she was well aware. She 
 also knew that Kathryn was ambitious, and might 
 be dazzled by Jim Darwin's political prospects. 
 
 "I wish you would marry her," went on Isabel, 
 not noticing the interruption. "I'd like to see you 
 comfortably settled and happy." 
 
 Her brother laid a hand gently on the girl's 
 shoulder. Shaking his head, he said : 
 
 "We can't always arrange these things to suit 
 ourselves, sis. I'm fond of Kathryn you know that. 
 No man could think more of her than I do. But 
 
 58
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 I don't believe she really cares two straws about 
 me. Sometimes I think she studies her own in- 
 terests more than her feelings. She is very ambi- 
 tious. Perhaps she thinks that Darwin can give 
 her more. Anyhow, he's got her completely hypno- 
 tized. I wish it were otherwise. Don't you sup- 
 pose I'm tired of knocking about? I'd be glad to 
 settle down. 
 
 "Sis," he went on earnestly, "I'll tell you a se- 
 cret ; but only to you. Kathryn is coming here to- 
 night. It may be my last chance to talk with her 
 alone. I'm going to ask her to marry me. If she 
 
 says no well " He stopped and stroked his 
 
 sister's hair, then, with an effort at gayety, he 
 added: "We'll both remain single you and I 
 just to spite 'em.'' 
 
 Isabel laughed, and going round the table re- 
 sumed her work of arranging the cards on the 
 plates. Wilbur followed her. Hesitatingly he said : 
 
 "Isabel there's something else I want to speak to 
 you about something very important." 
 
 The girl looked up in surprise. With anxiety she 
 exclaimed : 
 
 "Something important? What is it?" 
 59
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 The young man gave a quick glance around to 
 make sure they were alone, and then said quickly: 
 
 "It's about the bank. I want you to help me. 
 It's something I've had on my mind for some time. 
 My whole future is at stake. My father has put 
 me in the banking business, and it's too late for 
 me to take to anything else. But if I'm to remain 
 a banker, I must be a real banker. I'm not the 
 kind of man to be content to remain in the back- 
 ground, to be a mere figurehead. I want to be just 
 as big as the other fellows. Banking to-day is 
 quite a different matter to what it was when father 
 first established his bank. In those days they did 
 business on a small, conservative scale; to-day it's 
 a game of millions hundreds of millions! You 
 know we have no real standing. We are respected 
 and all that, but we are not a factor in the colossal 
 financial operations of the day. While other in- 
 stitutions have forged ahead, we are standing still ; 
 in fact, we are losing ground every day, losing de- 
 posits, losing business of every kind, simply be- 
 cause we are not progressive. Do you follow me ?'' 
 
 The girl nodded. 
 
 "Yes, I understand you perfectly well. I think 
 60
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 I agree with you. Father, of course, is old-fash- 
 ioned in his ideas and out of touch with modern 
 methods, but how can I help you?" 
 
 "You can help me in this," he went on earnestly. 
 "I'm going to ask father to give me more au- 
 thority, to let me go ahead in my own way and re- 
 organize the bank on more modern lines. I want 
 him to let me make millions for him where formerly 
 we have been content with thousands. I am young, 
 I have energy, determination. I want to do what 
 the others are doing take part in the fierce, ex- 
 citing money game and make the name 'Emerson 
 Bank' ring around the world!" He stopped as if 
 to judge of the effect of his words and then went 
 on : "Things can't go on like this. If we don't do 
 something we shall be crowded to the wall, snuffed 
 out of existence altogether. I want you to per- 
 suade father to let me have my own way in this. 
 All the others are with me. Mr. Tooker, Mr. Ray- 
 mond, and the other directors of the bank are 
 ready to fall in line. They are willing that we 
 should organize and have a chain of banks and 
 get out of the game all there is in it. Will you 
 talk to father, sis?" 
 
 61
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 Isabel was quiet for a moment, but stood medi- 
 tatively playing with the plates. Wilbur was quite 
 right, she thought to herself. It was only natural 
 that he should be ambitious and want to accomplish 
 big things and make a name for himself. It was 
 her duty to help him. 
 
 "Yes, Wilbur," she said simply, "I'll speak to 
 father to-night, if possible." 
 
 Her brother took both her hands in his. 
 
 "Thank you, sis; I knew you would." 
 
 Suddenly the butler appeared in the doorway 
 leading to the main hall. Proud of his wide ex- 
 panse of shirt bosom, clean white gloves, and newly 
 starched tie, he announced pompously: 
 
 "Carriages beginning to arrive, miss." 
 
 Isabel gave a little cry of dismay. 
 
 "Here I am chattering when I should be receiv- 
 ing my company. Wilbur see if father is ready 
 to come down!" 
 
 The footman, on guard at the front entrance, 
 threw the great iron doors open. A lady, bundled 
 up in wraps, entered. Isabel ran lightly forward. 
 
 "Oh, Gladys you dear thing! How sweet of 
 you to come so soon!" 
 
 62
 
 CHAPTER IV 
 
 THE string orchestra, cleverly concealed be- 
 hind a bank of palms, played a dreamy 
 Strauss waltz while the young couples 
 turned gracefully on the highly polished floors to 
 the rhythm of the languorous music. It was nearly 
 one o'clock in the morning, yet no one thought of 
 going home. At midnight supper was served, and 
 after that the dancing began again. 
 
 Mr. Emerson, Sr., a veteran of the old school, 
 with snow-white hair and courtly manner, sat in a 
 corner, rinding pleasure in watching the animated 
 scene. Near him were Giles Raymond and Fred 
 Tooker, directors of the Emerson Bank. 
 
 "It does me good to see them. It makes me feel 
 young again," smiled the old man, nodding his head 
 approvingly as he caught a fleeting glimpse of his 
 son waltzing past with Kathryn Forster. 
 
 Raymond, a coarse-faced, heavy-jawed man who 
 had a habit of chewing his cigar viciously in the 
 
 63
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 corner of his mouth, giving him the appearance of 
 an ex-prizefighter, chortled loudly: 
 
 "You should have seen me in my dancing days! 
 I was a perfect divil among the women." 
 
 Tooker, a shock-headed man with a stupid man- 
 ner and watery eyes, gave a snort of defiance. He 
 and Raymond had been chums and business asso- 
 ciates for years, but they were always quarreling 
 and loved nothing so much as an old-fashioned ar- 
 gument. To-night Tooker had supped over well 
 and taken a little more champagne than was good 
 for him. 
 
 "Rot!" he growled. "Men and women jumping 
 about like a lot of grasshoppers ! It's idiotic- 
 Raymond and Tooker were typical representa- 
 tives of the nouveau riche class. Both self-made 
 men, of course, primeval instincts, unrefined by edu- 
 cation and cultured surroundings, they had hewed 
 their way brutally through life with only one object 
 in view that of making money. They had been 
 successful, too, for middle age found them in pos- 
 session of a comfortable fortune. Money, power, 
 influence these had been the coveted goals, and 
 
 they had stopped at nothing to reach them. None 
 
 64
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 too scrupulous, some of their business transactions 
 would hardly bear the light of day, but if in their 
 past career they had anything to reproach them- 
 selves with, they always solaced themselves by point- 
 ing to their bank account. They were rich, that 
 was enough. 
 
 That they were not very congenial to Mr. Emer- 
 son, himself a refined and perfect gentleman, goes 
 without saying. Their manners and conversation 
 were vulgar; they talked loud and boasted of their 
 money and influence. They were undesirable from 
 many points of view. Yet, for reasons of policy, 
 they were tolerated, even by those who despised 
 their class most. In these days of keen competition 
 it is hardly practical to scrutinize business associates 
 too critically. Raymond, ambitious to "jimmy" his 
 way into society, had decided to become a bank 
 director, and with that end in view he and his friend 
 Tooker had acquired large holdings of stock in the 
 Emerson Bank. Otherwise, apart from their man- 
 ners, which left so much to be desired, they were 
 not bad fellows at heart. Each had a large supply 
 of coarse humor, in which they indulged at every- 
 body's expense, and in a certain set of their own 
 
 65
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 they were popular, especially Tooker, who at times 
 had generous impulses. Raymond, on the contrary, 
 was an extremely selfish man, cold and calculating, 
 and intolerant of any one expressing an opinion 
 that was not his own. 
 
 "Thirsty work dancing!" said Tooker as he 
 watched the couples whirling past. 
 
 Quick to note the hint conveyed in the remark, 
 Raymond quickly picked his friend up. Sarcas- 
 tically he said: 
 
 "Makes you dry even to think of it, eh, Tooker?" 
 
 Mr. Emerson smiled and, rising from his seat, 
 said courteously : 
 
 "Come, gentlemen, let us adjourn to the smoking 
 room. I think we shall find some refreshment 
 there." 
 
 "Motion carried!" cried Tooker enthusiasti- 
 cally. 
 
 The two directors jumped up from their seats 
 with alacrity, and, following Mr. Emerson's lead, 
 ambled off in the direction of the smoking room, 
 where a side buffet was temptingly set out with 
 cigars, cordials and decanters of all shapes. 
 
 "That's the idea!" exclaimed Raymond, chewing 
 66
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 his cigar more energetically than ever. "Why didn't 
 we come here before?" 
 
 "We've been wasting precious time, that's sure," 
 said Tooker cheerfully. 
 
 "Help yourselves, gentlemen," said Mr. Emerson. 
 
 Taking a whisky decanter and filling a glass, 
 Tooker raised it to his lips. 
 
 "Here's how !" he said with mock politeness. 
 
 Noticing that his chum was taking nothing, he 
 protested : 
 
 "What's the matter, Giles? I thought you wanted 
 a drink." 
 
 Raymond paid no attention to him, but, dropping 
 into one of the big easy leather arm chairs, rested 
 his chin on one hand in a thoughtful attitude. 
 Nervous in manner, he started chewing his cigar, 
 as he usually did when anything important was on 
 his mind. 
 
 "Drink?" he growled. "No I want to talk to 
 Mr. Emerson." 
 
 Overhearing the remark, the veteran banker 
 turned politely toward his guest. Amiably he 
 asked : 
 
 "What is it, Raymond? I'm all attention." 
 67
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 Raymond pointed to a chair. 
 
 "Sit down, Mr. Emerson," he said. "It isn't 
 often we get a chance to have a few moments' quiet 
 chat with you. For a long time Tooker and I have 
 been waiting for this opportunity. Dancing and 
 society and all the rest is very nice, as far as it goes, 
 but there's something else in life besides that. Ain't 
 there, Tooker?" 
 
 His fellow director, still busy at the buffet, gave 
 a nod of maudlin wisdom. Mr. Emerson took a 
 seat and said: 
 
 "Go on, Mr. Raymond, I am listening." 
 
 Tooker refilled his glass. 
 
 "Take another drink," grinned Raymond. 
 
 "Thanks, I will," retorted his chum. 
 
 Raymond scowled at his companion to desist. He 
 did not much relish the idea of having to carry him 
 home. 
 
 "You've had enough, Tooker," he said severely. 
 
 "Mind your own business," retorted the di- 
 rector. 
 
 Raymond, with a snort of contempt, turned to 
 his host: 
 
 "Mr. Emerson, this isn't exactly the place to talk 
 68
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 business, but we don't often get an opportunity to 
 get together you and I " 
 
 The banker looked at his interlocutor in surprise 
 At first he was inclined to think that he, too, had 
 supped not wisely but too well, but a glance showed 
 him that he was sober enough. He had something 
 to say and wanted to say it. His manner was so 
 confidential and mysterious that Mr. Emerson's 
 curiosity was aroused. Encouragingly, he said : 
 
 "Why certainly what is it? I'm listening." 
 
 Raymond looked around cautiously before pro- 
 ceeding. Then he said : 
 
 "Mr. Emerson, I've been thinking that you and I 
 and our friend Tooker here are not getting out of 
 this business all there is in it " 
 
 "Not by a long shot," chimed in Tooker, draining 
 his glass. 
 
 "What business?" demanded Mr. Emerson, puz- 
 zled for a moment. 
 
 "The banking business, Mr. Emerson, the bank- 
 ing business " 
 
 He stopped short and cleared his throat nerv- 
 ously. Then, looking around as if seeking for a 
 cuspidor, he went on : 
 
 69
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 "Your son Wilbur is a young man, sir, but he's 
 no fool. Anybody can see that. Considering the 
 short time he has been in the banking business, it 
 is remarkable how quickly he has mastered its many 
 intricate and complex details. He does credit to 
 your intelligence in having entrusted him with a 
 post of so much responsibility. He has shown 
 marked capacity, great executive ability, I believe. 
 I may say we believe a great future awaits him 
 as a financier of the first rank." Turning to 
 his fellow director, he added: "Don't we, 
 looker?" 
 
 "We certainly do," gurgled the latter between 
 drinks. 
 
 The veteran banker sat watching them in amaze- 
 ment. One of them was drunk, no doubt, but the 
 other seemed sober enough. Not knowing exactly 
 how to take them, he said : 
 
 "Gentlemen, you are very kind " 
 
 Raymond raised his hand in protest. 
 
 "No, no, Mr. Emerson, this is no jesting matter. 
 It's a very serious matter, which Tooker and I 
 have often talked over among ourselves. Mr. Cow- 
 
 per is of the same opinion " 
 
 70
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 The banker was more and more mystified. 
 
 "What opinion?" he exclaimed. 
 
 "Just this, Mr. Emerson, we're not getting out 
 of the bank all that we expected. I may say that 
 we are not getting even a fair return on our money." 
 He stopped for a moment to judge what effect this 
 preliminary had, and noticing that his host was an 
 attentive listener, he proceeded: "This is not the 
 day of the four per cent, the five per cent, or even 
 the six per cent. To be frank, I may even say I am 
 not even a ten per cent man. Years ago people 
 were satisfied with a small return for their money, 
 but not now. Living expenses have increased enor- 
 mously, rents have trebled, to-day people demand 
 as necessities what to our forefathers were unheard 
 of luxuries. If you want to hold your head up 
 to-day you need money, and a lot of it. The man 
 without money to-day is a failure, a disappointment 
 he is nothing. He might as well drown him- 
 self " 
 
 The orator stopped, while Tooker snorted ap- 
 provingly. Mr. Emerson raised his hand impa- 
 tiently. 
 
 "My good Mr. Raymond, what you say is only
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 the merest commonplace. What has this to do with 
 me or the bank?" 
 
 "Only this, sir I'll be quite frank the Emerson 
 Bank to-day is behind the procession. It's a very 
 conservative institution, highly respectable and all 
 that. It is a credit to you in that respect. I'll grant 
 you that, sir. But it's not up to date, not progres- 
 sive. It's too old-fashioned, and it's losing ground 
 daily. You're not in business for your health, I 
 presume; neither are we. You must be able to see 
 for yourself that we have no real standing in finan- 
 cial circles to-day. Other banks are paying a hun- 
 dred, two hundred and three hundred per cent to 
 stockholders. What do we earn? A mere baga- 
 telle. It's simply ridiculous. Look at the Nelson 
 banks. They're simply coining money, and inci- 
 dentally cutting into our business terribly. During 
 the last twelve months they have taken from us no 
 fewer than five hundred accounts, totaling up an 
 aggregation of close on to a million dollars. Why? 
 Because with their smarter, modern way of doing 
 business, they are able to offer bigger inducements ; 
 they make their loans on better terms, and so forth. 
 Nelson to-day is one of the biggest men in the 
 
 72
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 financial world. With the money under his control 
 he has become a power in Wall Street to be reck- 
 oned with. How has he done it? By his chain of 
 banks. We could do it, too, if we only had the 
 nerve. We don't branch out. We allow compet- 
 itors to throttle us. We simply stagnate " 
 
 He stopped and looked at Mr. Emerson, as if 
 expecting him to say something. The old banker 
 was silent for a moment. He sat thoughtfully, as 
 if weighing carefully what they had said. Then 
 slowly, deliberately, he said : 
 
 "Gentlemen, I am flattered that you have made 
 me your confidant in this matter. Of course, you 
 know that I own the controlling interest in the 
 Emerson Bank. I alone have the power to dictate 
 the bank's policy. In some respects I agree with 
 you. Business methods to-day art totally different 
 to what they were thirty or even twenty years ago. 
 Are they as safe? That is the question. I would 
 sacrifice my last dollar rather than see a depositor's 
 money jeopardized in the slightest. That is why 
 we have pursued this slow, conservative policy, 
 which, after all, is the only absolutely safe one. 
 But, as you say, our more up-to-date competitors 
 
 73
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 have made serious inroads into our business. There 
 has been no way of preventing it. Depositors in- 
 sist on higher interest, and they will go where they 
 can get it, regardless of the higher risk. I realize 
 all this, and it has set me thinking. My son, also, 
 has talked with me about it. I doubt very much 
 that I shall ever be able to give my consent to 
 any plan which would entail a radical departure 
 from our present way of doing things, but I will 
 think over what you say and see what can be 
 done." 
 
 Not satisfied with this half promise, Raymond 
 was about to proceed with further arguments when 
 suddenly Isabel entered the room. 
 
 "Why, father gentlemen !" she exclaimed, "what 
 are you doing in here? I've been looking every- 
 where for you." Looking at her parent with fond 
 solicitude, she added: "Father, you had better go 
 to bed. It's late for you." 
 
 The old gentleman shook his head. Patting his 
 daughter indulgently on the cheek, he said : 
 
 "No, child, I enjoy it better than any of you." 
 
 "We've just been having a quiet talk about bank 
 matters," interrupted Raymond. 
 
 74
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 The girl held out her hand to her father. With 
 a smile she said: 
 
 "Is that so? How curious! That's just what I 
 wanted to speak to father about. Come, dad, there's 
 some one in the ballroom I want you to meet an 
 old friend of mother's." 
 
 Mr. Emerson rose with alacrity. 
 
 "A friend of your poor mother's !" he exclaimed. 
 
 "Yes, an aunt of one of the girls. She's just 
 come. I want you to meet her." 
 
 "Very well, daughter. Where is she? You'll 
 excuse me, won't you, gentlemen?" 
 
 He went away with Isabel on his arm, leaving the 
 two directors puffing at their perfectos in silence. 
 
 "Great old man, that, do you know it?" said 
 Raymond, with the sententious gravity of one mak- 
 ing a new discovery. Removing his much-chewed 
 cigar stump from the corner of his mouth, he looked 
 around under the chairs for a cuspidor. Not find- 
 ing one and disgusted at his fruitless search, he 
 replaced the weed between his teeth and muttered 
 viciously: "These 'high-brow' houses make me 
 tired! Where do they expect a fellow to spit on 
 the floor? 1 ' 
 
 75
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 Tooker, with unsteady hand, refilled his glass. 
 Raising it to his lips, he was about to drink, when 
 suddenly he caught a glimpse of Wilbur Emerson, 
 who was hurrying through the outer hall. He 
 hailed him. 
 
 "Hello, Wilbur, my boy! Where are you run- 
 ning to? Have a drink?" 
 
 "Come and join us, Wilbur," chimed in Raymond 
 cordially. 
 
 Both men liked Wilbur, not only for himself, but 
 because he was useful in a business way. He was 
 easier to handle than the old man, and as his posi- 
 tion in the bank was steadily growing, they realized 
 the importance of cultivating him. The young man 
 stopped and came over to where they stood. Heart- 
 ily he said: 
 
 "What are you doing here? The fun is inside, 
 where they're dancing." 
 
 Tooker made a wry face as he retorted: 
 
 "For you, yes; we prefer this." 
 
 "Chacun a son gout," laughed Wilbur. 
 
 Raymond, solemn as an owl, looked at the young 
 banker in silence. Chewing his cigar he said : 
 
 "Wilbur, we've talked to the old man. We told 
 76
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 him just how matters lay told him what we ex- 
 pect, what we want. It's up to you now " 
 
 The young man started with surprise. His face 
 flushing, he exclaimed eagerly : 
 
 "You spoke to father? What did he say?" 
 
 Turning his head for a moment to let fly at the 
 cuspidor, the director replied nonchalantly: 
 
 "Oh, he seemed to understand the situation. We 
 gave it to him right from the shoulder. Of course, 
 he spoke of conservatism and all that kind of rot, 
 but I think if we keep hammering at him we will 
 get what we want. Now, what is the plan that you 
 propose ?" 
 
 "Yes, what about the plan?" chimed in Tooker. 
 
 Wilbur stood still for a moment, looking at them 
 without saying a word. If his father was half way 
 inclined to grant the desired changes, it was great 
 news, indeed. It meant everything to him. There 
 were no heights to which he might not climb. As 
 he stood there his brain began to work rapidly, his 
 pulse throbbed quicker, he could feel the hot blood 
 coursing madly through his veins. This was the 
 great opportunity of his life. He felt he was able 
 to conquer the world. 
 
 77
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 "Well," demanded Raymond, impatiently, "what 
 is the plan ?" 
 
 "The plan, gentlemen," he replied hurriedly, "is 
 in substance this: We reorganize, with a capital 
 of $5,000,000. We proceed immediately to secure 
 control of another bank. Then we take the sur- 
 plus of both to secure other institutions, until we 
 have a chain of a dozen or more banks, giving us 
 absolute control of nearly a hundred millions. With 
 this colossal sum in our hands, do you realize what 
 a power we shall become in the financial world? 
 We can bring Wall Street to its knees." 
 
 "Not a bad scheme," drawled Raymond, nodding 
 his head approvingly. "Of course, them big fel- 
 lows in Wall Street won't take to us any too kindly. 
 The Money Trust will come down on us good and 
 hard. They'll get our scalps if they can." 
 
 "We won't let 'em, boys! We won't let 'em!" 
 cried Wilbur enthusiastically. "We'll play the game 
 for all it's worth, but we'll keep well within the 
 limit, so, no matter what emergency arises, each of 
 our banks will be able to pay one hundred cents on 
 the dollar." 
 
 Tooker shook his head ominously. 
 78
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 "If ever they suspect we're short of the market 
 they'll put on the screws, and then where would we 
 be? Caught in a trap." 
 
 Wilbur laughed carelessly. He cried: 
 
 "We'll be as clever as they are. They'll never 
 catch us short of cash trust me for that. There'll 
 never be a run on an Emerson Bank while I'm presi- 
 dent of the company. Well, boys, this is agreed? 
 You, as directors, give me authority to go ahead if 
 I can get father's consent." 
 
 Almost in chorus Raymond and Tooker re- 
 plied : 
 
 "We agree." 
 
 Wilbur beamed with satisfaction. 
 
 "Very well," he said with a smile. "I must be 
 off now. I believe my name's down on a lady's card 
 for the next waltz. I must not prove a defaulter. 
 I'll talk to the governor and see how quickly we can 
 begin." 
 
 Raymond patted him familiarly on the back. 
 Heartily, he exclaimed: 
 
 "That's the idea, Wilbur, my boy. I always 
 knew you were all right. You can tell the old gen- 
 tleman that I and Raymond and Cowper are behind 
 
 79
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 you. If he likes he can call a special directors' 
 meeting." 
 
 "Certainly that's proper," snorted Tooker, as he 
 turned once more to the buffet. 
 
 "Very well," replied Wilbur hurriedly, "leave it 
 to me; I'll speak to father and let you know. I 
 must go now." 
 
 Leaving the two directors alone, he hurried in 
 the direction of the reception room. He had prom- 
 ised Kathryn to dance the next waltz with her, and 
 the musicians had just struck up the first graceful 
 measures of "Fledermaus." There was no time to 
 be lost. He was crossing the hall when suddenly 
 he was bumped violently into by a lanky young man 
 who ran out of one of the rooms. 
 
 "Hello, Cowper!" exclaimed Wilbur. "Where 
 are you rushing like that?" 
 
 "How do, Wilbur? You're just the man I'm 
 looking for." 
 
 A young, oldish-looking man of nervous and 
 rather erratic temperament, George Cowper came 
 of good family, but had few friends. He was one 
 of those men who, not possessing in themselves 
 the capacity of making friends, are content to go 
 
 80
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 through life without any. His career had begun 
 unfortunately at college. Mixed up in a hazing 
 affair, he turned informer, and several men were 
 expelled in consequence of his revelations. This 
 alone would have been enough to turn the whole 
 college body against him, even had he been liked 
 for himself. But he was promptly boycotted and 
 virtually forced to leave. This unfortunate inci- 
 dent he had never been able to live down, and to a 
 great extent it had embittered his character. He 
 inherited from his father sufficient means to make 
 him independent, and, investing the money in Em- 
 erson Bank stock, he was made director, thanks to 
 the influence of Wilbur, who knew him at college 
 and felt sorry for him, thinking that he had been 
 punished enough. 
 
 "You're in an awful hurry !" exclaimed Wilbur. 
 
 "Oh, excuse me, my dear fellow," he stammered. 
 "I didn't see you. I'm so happy that I don't know 
 what I'm doing. Congratulate me." 
 
 "On what?" 
 
 "I've just proposed to Gladys Norman, and would 
 you believe it, she accepts me!" 
 
 "Lucky dog!" laughed Wilbur. "Go into the 
 81
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 smoking room and tell Tooker. He and Raymond 
 are holding an informal meeting in there. You'll 
 be interested. Big projects are on foot." 
 
 "Big projects! what big projects?" demanded 
 Cowper. 
 
 Without stopping to answer, Wilbur hastened 
 away to the ballroom. 
 
 82
 
 KATHRYN was waiting for him, seated in a 
 far corner of the ballroom. She saw him 
 coming in the distance, and he noticed that 
 her eyes lit up with pleasure. A slight flush suf- 
 fused her cheek as she said reproachfully : 
 
 "How long you've been ! I thought you had for- 
 gotten me." 
 
 "Forgotten you!" he whispered. "Not while life 
 remains !" 
 
 She was looking radiant to-night. Her gown 
 of old rose satin, trimmed with Irish point lace, set 
 off admirably her dark, Southern type of beauty. 
 Cut generously low, the dress displayed her beauti- 
 fully moulded shoulders and allowed a fleeting 
 glimpse of her full, rounded bosom. Her hair, al- 
 most black, was relieved by a band of gold, and a 
 string of valuable pearls encircled her slender 
 throat. For the time being she had forgotten 
 everything, even Jim Darwin and his jealous whims. 
 
 8.3
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 Recklessly, unrestrainedly, she had abandoned her- 
 self to an evening of pleasure. 
 
 She rose with a gracious smile for the promised 
 waltz, and as her hand touched his, Wilbur felt a 
 thrill go through him as of an electric shock. Never 
 had this woman, whom he had desired so long, 
 appeared to him so fair. At this close physical con- 
 tact every other thought left him. His heart leaped 
 to his throat, mad thoughts went rushing through 
 his brain. For a moment she stood motionless in 
 his embrace, waiting until they caught the time of 
 the music. Then slowly they began to turn to the 
 languorous music, and as she drew closer within 
 his arms until he could feel her warm breath upon 
 his cheek and he could smell the fragrance of her 
 skin, the people, the room itself, all seemed to dis- 
 appear in a kind of enveloping mist. Clasped close 
 to the woman he loved, he forgot everything in the 
 ecstasy of the moment. The music, which he heard 
 only vaguely, as if the orchestra were away off in 
 the distance, sounded in his ears like celestial harps. 
 He was treading the fleecy heights of heaven to- 
 gether with the one being who was all the world 
 to him. 
 
 84
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 As they whirled along he wondered what answer 
 she would make to him. If she would be his wife 
 he would be willing to forego all his schemes of 
 financial aggrandizement. Much as his heart was 
 set on this plan of radical reorganization, full well 
 he realized the peril of the step. Smarter men than 
 he had been engulfed in the whirlpool of frenzied 
 finance. If Kathryn would marry him he would 
 be content with domestic felicity on earth, without 
 trying to reach to the stars. Raymond and Tooker 
 could get some one else to lead them in the Wall 
 Street game of millions. In the companionship of 
 the woman he loved he would be satisfied with the 
 little he had. If she wouldn't marry him well, 
 that would be a different matter. Certainly he 
 would marry no one else. To-night he would know 
 his fate. 
 
 After a few blissful moments that flew by all 
 too swiftly, the sensuous, dangerous music ceased. 
 The spell thus rudely broken, they suddenly found 
 themselves on earth again. From the dizzy heights 
 of supreme ecstasy once more they had descended 
 to the trivial and the commonplace. Neither of 
 them had spoken, yet instinctively Wilbur felt that 
 
 85
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 Kathryn was as much affected as himself. This, 
 perhaps, was his opportunity, the psychological 
 moment he had waited for so long. Leading his 
 partner in the direction of the palm garden, under 
 the pretense of eating a cooling ice, he found a cosy, 
 secluded corner where they were conveniently 
 screened from observation by a group of exotic 
 plants. 
 
 Still partly under the spell of the waltz, he did 
 not trust himself to speak. He remained silent and 
 his manner was so constrained that Kathryn, even 
 though she divined the cause, could hardly avoid 
 commenting upon it. With forced carelessness, she 
 said: 
 
 "What's the matter to-night, Mr. Emerson ? You 
 seem unusually thoughtful." 
 
 Quickly he turned and, looking straight into her 
 eyes, said in broken tones : 
 
 "I'm wondering why I shouldn't be as happy as 
 some other men Kathryn, I " 
 
 At that instant a waiter came up with ices and 
 cakes. Wilbur scowled at the man and under his 
 breath consigned him to a dreadful fate, while 
 Kathryn, secretly glad of the interruption, breathed 
 
 86
 
 THH GAMBLERS 
 
 a sigh of relief. Her engagement to Jim was still 
 a secret. Evidently this man was about to propose 
 to her. What was the use? It would only pain 
 her to refuse him, and humiliate him to learn the 
 truth. Her mind was fully made up and her word 
 given. She liked Wilbur, perhaps she only realized 
 fully for the first time how much she was attracted 
 to him during that brief soul-disturbing embrace of 
 the intoxicating waltz. Yes, she knew he was a 
 gambler, somewhat of a black sheep. She loved 
 black sheep, yet for all that, she was sensible enough 
 not to allow herself to be governed by her emo- 
 tions. There were many reasons why she was 
 rather afraid of Wilbur Emerson. He had always 
 been among the most ardent and persistent of her 
 admirers, and a single look would at any time have 
 brought him to her feet; but she had consistently 
 resisted all his advances, and now she was promised 
 to another, it was all the more necessary that she 
 give him not the slightest encouragement, no 
 matter how fascinating he might be personally. 
 Changing the conversation, she said indiffer- 
 ently : 
 "I expected to see Mr. Darwin here to-night. Do 
 
 87
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 you know if he's here? There's such a crush it's 
 hard to find people." 
 
 Curtly, almost savagely, he replied: 
 
 "Perhaps you'd like me to go and find him for 
 you?" 
 
 She looked up at him, a look of reproach in her 
 dark eyes. Gently she said : 
 
 "Mr. Emerson, I am surprised, after the nice 
 waltz we've just had together." 
 
 "That's just it," he cried hotly. "Why mention 
 that man now? You know he detests me, per- 
 haps as much as I do him. Why should you 
 care whether he is here or not? What is he to 
 you?" 
 
 It was her cue to tell him of her engagement. It 
 would have been only fair, before letting him pro- 
 ceed further. Yet why should she announce it be- 
 fore she was quite ready ? There were good reasons 
 why she did not want that house full of people to 
 know to-night. Once she told him. it would be all 
 over town. Besides, she was eager to know what 
 he was going to say, for she was only human. 
 Womanlike, she was curious to know what he 
 would say and how he would say it. So she re- 
 
 88
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 mained silent. He saw her hesitate and, manlike, 
 construed it to his advantage. 
 
 "Kate," he blurted out, "I've been waiting so 
 long for this opportunity. I've wanted to tell you 
 that I love you that I want you for my wife." 
 
 Without waiting to hear her answer, he went on 
 ardently : 
 
 "You must have seen it. I've loved you ever 
 since I firtt met you. Sometimes I've fancied that 
 you cared for me that you encouraged me. I 
 thought I could detect it in a look in your eyes, in 
 the smile on your lips, in the grasp of your hand. 
 You know what I am, what my position is. I have 
 means I expect to have more. I am now formu- 
 lating plans that will make me one of the most suc- 
 cessful and prominent financiers in this country. 
 My success, if it comes, I want to share with you." 
 
 He stopped and looked at her, waiting for her 
 answer. Slowly, deliberately, she laid aside the 
 empty ice glass and shook her head. Kindly she 
 said: 
 
 "Mr. Emerson, you've taken me completely by 
 surprise. I knew we were good friends, but the 
 idea of anything beyond that never entered my head. 
 
 89
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 I am deeply flattered, and shall always be grateful 
 to you for the great compliment you've paid me. 
 But it is impossible. I can't tell you why. But it 
 is impossible." 
 
 He looked at her fixedly for a moment, as if try- 
 ing to penetrate her mask of polite reserve. Then 
 hotly, determinedly, he returned to the siege. Ar- 
 dently, passionately, he pleaded with her. Some 
 one had prejudiced her against him, the stories she 
 had heard about him were untrue. His enemies 
 had fabricated them to injure him in her regard. 
 He had been a little wild, he admitted that, but it 
 was because he had no one to care for him. He 
 needed the love of a good girl to keep him straight, 
 to make a man of him. He loved her passionately, 
 to distraction. She was the only girl he had ever 
 loved truly, purely. If she refused him, he would 
 go to the dogs, and she would be to blame. 
 
 He approached nearer and put his arm around 
 her waist. Clasped close to him, and feeling for a 
 moment some of his own ardor, she wavered. She 
 looked up into the handsome face eagerly bent 
 down on hers. His hands were trembling from 
 suppressed excitement and nervousness, in his eyes 
 
 90
 
 flashed the strange fires that disturb women's souls 
 and imperil their virtue. Hotly, passionately, he 
 enfolded her in his arms, seeking her mouth with 
 his, trying to awaken her sensuality, endeavoring 
 to win in a moment of abandon what her cooler 
 common sense and cold calculation had always 
 denied him. 
 
 But Kathryn was not the kind of a girl to be 
 won in that way. Kindly but firmly she drew away. 
 Men often over-estimate their powers of seduction. 
 It is easier to light the flame of an extinct volcano 
 than the voluptuousness of some women. It is 
 merely a matter of temperament which different 
 women possess in different degrees. In Kathryn 
 the mentality was never subjugated to the physical. 
 Even while Wilbur's kisses were hot on her lips, 
 her mind saw the future clearly, lucidly. This 
 man, although a charming companion, was a spend- 
 thrift, a gambler, a voluptuary. He was not the 
 kind of soul-mate she yearned for; he would always 
 fall short of satisfying her spiritual and intellectual 
 wants. 
 
 Misunderstanding her silence, he pleaded with 
 her, ardently, passionately: 
 
 91
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 "Kathryn," he murmured, "do not keep me in 
 suspense. Tell me will you be my wife?" 
 
 She shook her head. 
 
 "It's impossible," she answered nervously. "I'm 
 very sorry, but I'm engaged to Mr. Darwin." 
 
 The blood receded from his face, leaving him 
 ghastly pale. It was a totally unexpected, crushing 
 blow. For a few seconds he was too much stunned 
 to speak. Rising stiffly, he said huskily : 
 
 "I'm sorry you didn't tell me." 
 
 "I'm sorry, too," she said, half apologetically. 
 "I didn't want to tell any one. It isn't public yet. 
 You forced me to speak. We are to be married 
 next June." Hastily she added: "But that need 
 make no difference in our friendship. I hope we'll 
 always be good friends." 
 
 He was about to protest when suddenly footsteps 
 were heard approaching. 
 
 "Hello, Kate!" said a man's voice. "I've been 
 searching for you everywhere." 
 
 The next instant James Darwin appeared. The 
 lawyer gave both a keen, suspicious glance, and 
 after shaking hands coolly with Wilbur, turned to 
 Kathryn. The girl looked up in surprise. 
 
 92
 
 DARWIN' EYED THEM SUSPICIOUSLY. 
 
 Page 92.
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 "I didn't know you were here," she said quickly. 
 
 The lawyer laughed cynically. 
 
 "How could you hidden away here ?" 
 
 Not noticing the irony, she demanded : 
 
 "When did you come in?" 
 
 "Only a few minutes ago. I was detained." 
 
 "I began to think you weren't coming. Mr. Em- 
 erson has been very kind keeping me company." 
 
 Darwin bowed coldly and there was an awkward 
 silence. 
 
 At that moment the orchestra struck up another 
 waltz. The lawyer extended his arm. Pointedly 
 he said: 
 
 "I believe this is my dance." 
 
 The girl rose and, turning to Wilbur, said with 
 a forced smile : 
 
 "Will you excuse me?" 
 
 He bowed without replying, and with a swish of 
 her soft draperies she went away, leaning on Dar- 
 win's arm. 
 
 Standing still, as if rooted to the spot, Wilbur 
 watched his successful rival lead away the woman 
 he loved, the one woman for whom he would have 
 done everything, sacrificed everything. So she was 
 
 93
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 going to marry Darwin! He did not believe for 
 an instant that she really cared for the lawyer. She 
 was ambitious, she had been dazzled by the noise 
 of Darwin's sudden success, fascinated by the prom- 
 ise of other triumphs yet to come. He himself was 
 not big enough for her. No doubt she thought him 
 a fool, a failure, an incompetent, a man who could 
 never rise above the common rut. Well, he would 
 show her that she was mistaken. From this mo- 
 ment on he would devote all his energies, every 
 instant of his waking hours to acquiring position 
 and fame. Vast wealth, unlimited power, should 
 be his. He would show her who would have served 
 her social ambitions best a pettifogging attorney 
 or a man at whose frown Wall Street and the whole 
 financial world would tremble. From now on he 
 would go in for the money game, and he would play 
 it for big stakes. Yes, the Emerson Bank must 
 change its policy. Tooker and Raymond and the 
 other directors were right. The bank was away be- 
 hind the times. He must have an understanding at 
 once with his father. He must be given a free rein. 
 Then, with the bank behind him, he would show the 
 world what he could do. 
 
 94
 
 CHAPTER VI 
 
 TWO years sped quickly by. And what may 
 not happen in the space of two years? 
 Dynasties may crumble and fall, men may 
 be born and die. The ambitious may climb, only 
 to tumble ignominiously. 
 
 What had Wilbur Emerson done in two years? 
 He had kept his word. He had at least shown of 
 what he was capable. He had astonished the finan- 
 cial world by his masterful tactics, his skillful 
 manipulation, his audacious methods. They hailed 
 him as the Napoleon of finance a wizard of Wall 
 Street. His success had been complete, over- 
 whelming. 
 
 But it had not been accomplished without a strug- 
 gle. Mr. Emerson, ST., had fought the proposed 
 reorganization plan hard. He refused to sanction 
 the suggestion of a chain of banks, and he opposed 
 the new policy with all the vigor of which he was 
 capable. Each director, Mr. Tooker, Mr. Raymond, 
 and Mr. Cowper, took the old gentleman in hand 
 
 95
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 in turn, and argued in support of Wilbur's scheme, 
 all to no avail. He flatly refused to be convinced, 
 and for a time the directors retired from the field, 
 despairing of success. Wilbur alone persisted. His 
 mind was fully made up. No one not even his 
 father, whom he loved and revered could deter 
 him, once that he was convinced that in a change 
 of policy alone lay his stepping-stone to success and 
 world recognition. He persisted in his arguments, 
 his pleadings. A drop of water constantly dropping 
 in one spot will in time wear away the stone. In 
 time his forceful arguments began to have their 
 effect on his father. 
 
 John Emerson was a man of strong character 
 and the highest integrity. No one could tempt him 
 to deviate from the course, once he was convinced 
 that it was the right one. Yet, in the armor of all 
 strong men there is a weak spot somewhere. The 
 weak spot of John Emerson was his love for his 
 son. The way Wilbur put the matter before him 
 caused him to reflect. He was getting old. In the 
 natural course of things, he would not live very 
 much longer. His son would succeed him as head 
 of the Emerson Bank. Was it fair to handicap 
 
 96
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 his son by insisting on the continuance of a policy, 
 no matter how sound, which the other directors 
 pronounced out of date and non-progressive? Cer- 
 tainly he sympathized with some of the arguments 
 advanced. Their younger competitors were taking 
 away their business. The only way to fight them 
 successfully was to use their own weapons, organize 
 a chain of banks which, by the sheer weight of 
 money, would either keep them at bay or compel 
 them to retreat. All this the old gentleman consid- 
 ered, until one morning he called Wilbur into his 
 room. 
 
 "My boy," he said, "I've thought it all out. Per- 
 haps you're right. I guess I'm getting old. I con- 
 fess I don't understand these modern financial 
 methods. I'm going to let you work things out 
 your own way, boy. I've the greatest confidence 
 in you. Go in and win, and God bless you!" 
 
 From that moment the Emerson Bank occupied 
 a new place in metropolitan financial affairs. From 
 an old-fashioned, conservative house, steadfastly 
 faithful to the principles of sound banking practice, 
 catering to and patronized by a quiet, staid, exclu- 
 sive clientele, it became almost over-night an ag- 
 
 97
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 gressive, enterprising and powerful institution, with 
 branches scattered all over the city. Given a free 
 rein in the management and backed up by Tooker, 
 Raymond and Cowper, which gave him a majority 
 on the directorate, Wilbur started in to organize a 
 chain of banks, acquiring by purchase of majority 
 stock, a number of institutions which insured him 
 direct and sole control of almost unlimited cap- 
 ital. 
 
 Now the master of millions, he became a money 
 power. Entering Wall Street, he played the game 
 of stock manipulation on a colossal scale. He 
 bought the controlling interest in important rail- 
 roads which, by skillful maneuvering, he sold later 
 at an enormous profit to competing lines. He or- 
 ganized giant corporations, created vast trust com- 
 panies which opened imposing offices in all the big 
 cities in the Union. The name of Wilbur Emerson 
 was on every one's lips. Men courted his favor, 
 trembled at his frown. He was a huge, undisputed 
 success, and the wealth he quickly piled up was 
 shared by his fortunate associates. 
 
 "I always said Wilbur would make good," 
 grinned Tooker, pulling a wry face as he quaffed 
 
 98
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 the glass of water, the only refreshment available, 
 to his regret, at directors' meetings. 
 
 "You mean he's fixed us good," interrupted Cow- 
 per, suddenly awakened from his day dream. 
 
 Jubilantly the young director was counting the 
 days that still remained before his wedding day. 
 Gladys had heretofore insisted on a preposterously 
 long engagement, saying that no girl should be 
 willing to marry a man for life unless she had had 
 him under observation for at least a couple of years. 
 But the wonderful success recently of all the Emer- 
 son interests, in which success, of course, Mr. Cow- 
 per shared, induced her to view the matter in a dif- 
 ferent light, and without further ado she had con- 
 sented to advance the date of the marriage. 
 
 "Thank God it has turned out all right!" mur- 
 mured old Mr. Emerson. "I had my doubts, my 
 misgivings in the beginning, but I guess you gentle- 
 men were right. I didn't understand modern finan- 
 cial methods." 
 
 While fortune had smiled on Wilbur Emerson 
 and his projects, it had not neglected its other favor- 
 ites. James Darwin, supported by a large majority 
 at the last election, was now district attorney, and 
 
 99
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 there was every promise of still higher political ad- 
 vancement. His talent and energy, and the deter- 
 mined vigorous warfare which he fearlessly waged 
 against malefactors of every class, regardless of 
 influence of wealth, had made him the popular idol 
 of the hour. 
 
 For all the world knew to the contrary, his mar- 
 ried life was a very happy one. He and his beauti- 
 ful young wife had a splendid home on Riverside 
 Drive, where they entertained a good deal, but 
 Kathryn had never been over-fond of society. She 
 had little patience with silly, giggling women, and 
 stupid people bored her. She was content with the 
 companionship of a few selected friends and the 
 intellectual delights that her reading and music gave 
 her, reveling in the joys of a fine library, and stim- 
 ulated by intellectual association with a brilliant 
 husband. The outside world, which often forms 
 an opinion when quite ignorant of the real facts, 
 considered that she had every reason to feel happy 
 and content. She looked unusually well, and had 
 developed mentally and physically, blossoming out 
 as young married women do, like lovely flowers, to 
 maturity. Her cheeks had the ruddy glow of health 
 
 TOO
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 and her line, dark eyes sparkled with exuberance 
 and the joy of living. 
 
 In spite of her husband's aloofness, she often vis- 
 ited the Emersons, usually when she was sure that 
 Wilbur was away from home. For, as she put it, 
 Jim was dreadfully jealous and she had to be very 
 careful. One day she explained matters frankly to 
 Isabel. 
 
 "Jim is kind, perfectly charming. He is an un- 
 usual man, with sterling qualities of heart and 
 mind. As far as I can discover, he has only one 
 fault. He is insanely, unreasonably jealous. Why, 
 I dare not even look at a man. For some reason 
 he is frightfully jealous of your brother, Wilbur. 
 He can't even hear his name mentioned. Of course, 
 it's absurd, and sometimes it makes me very angry. 
 He actually insisted that I stop coming here. I 
 laughed at him. The idea! Just as if I were going 
 to give up my best girlhood friend simply because 
 he's absurdly jealous without cause." 
 
 Isabel listened and shook her head. 
 
 "Ah, Kate, if you had only married Wilbur!" 
 
 The district attorney's wife looked away as she 
 asked : 
 
 101
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 "Does he ever speak of me?" 
 
 Isabel shook her head. 
 
 "No, I think he's trying to forget you. Be- 
 sides, he's very busy with his financial opera- 
 tions." 
 
 Kathryn was silent. A recollection of that night 
 of the dance was still fresh in her mind. Almost 
 directly afterwards her engagement to Mr. Darwin 
 was made public, and she saw Wilbur no more. 
 Sometimes she caught a glimpse of him on the Ave- 
 nue, but otherwise their pleasant intimacy was at 
 an end. One day they met by accident at an "at 
 home." It was very embarrassing. He was polite 
 and amiable, but once, when suddenly she turned 
 and caught him looking at her, she thought she 
 detected a sad, reproachful expression in his face. 
 Only recently she had seen him in a cab driving 
 down Fifth Avenue at breakneck speed. His face 
 looked stern and set. 
 
 "I saw your brother on the avenue the other day," 
 she said. "He was looking pale and worried. I 
 hope he isn't ill." 
 
 "No, no," replied Isabel quickly. "Wilbur is all 
 right. At least, I suppose so. He nerer complains. 
 
 1 02
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 We don't see much of him. He is tremendously 
 busy." 
 
 "Yes," replied Kathryn thoughtfully. "He has 
 been wonderfully successful, hasn't he?" 
 
 Wonderfully successful ! Such is the hasty, su- 
 perficial judgment of the world, easily deceived by 
 appearances, ignorant of the truth. 
 
 103
 
 CHAPTER VII 
 
 IT has been calculated that a financial crisis may 
 be expected in the United States about every 
 ten years. The progress of these stupendous 
 cataclysms which, spreading misery and terror in 
 their path, come in cycles every decade, may be 
 easily followed by the student of economics. First 
 there is the slow recovery from the previous panic, 
 a long period of discouragement and business de- 
 pression. Capital is timid ; public confidence is not 
 yet restored. People are compelled to retrench; 
 trade is bad everywhere. This continues for about 
 five years. Then, as time goes on, the salutary les- 
 sons of the past are gradually forgotten. Capital 
 becomes bolder ; business starts to boom, the public, 
 growing more optimistic daily, rushes headlong into 
 all kinds of new enterprises. The pace grows 
 swifter. Soon factories and industries all over the 
 land are working overtime. The production is 
 prodigious, the public extravagance unlimited. 
 There is frenzied speculation on the Stock Ex- 
 
 104
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 change. The prices of securities soar to record 
 heights. Apparently the country was never so pros- 
 perous. All at once, without warning, the skies 
 darken; there is an ominous creak in the flimsily 
 constructed edifice. A bank closes its doors. Dis- 
 quieting rumors continue. People run to withdraw 
 savings from the banks and hoard their money. The 
 cycle has once more completed its course. Another 
 panic is on. 
 
 In the late autumn of 1906 there was nothing in 
 the air or the general aspect of things to warn peo- 
 ple that the dreaded cycle was again at hand and 
 that the country was fast drifting towards one of 
 the worst crises in its history. A stroll along 
 Broadway revealed nothing wrong. The stores 
 were full of shoppers, the hotels and theatres were 
 doing a capacity business. The banks, securely pro- 
 tected on the outside by massive steel bars, but 
 strangely neglectful of the thieves within, transacted 
 their normal amount of business, accepting serenely 
 the money of trusting depositors. The streets were 
 crowded with smart vehicles and well dressed peo- 
 ple. There was evidence of wealth and luxury, 
 gaiety and laughter everywhere. Factories and 
 
 105
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 mills were humming to their capacity. Public works 
 were being promoted, industrial enterprises of all 
 kinds undertaken. Apparently the country was never 
 so prosperous. And on the tip of every tongue was 
 the name of Wilbur Emerson, the young Napoleon 
 of Finance who had astonished the world by the 
 magnitude of his operations, the sheer audacity of 
 his deals, the amazing skill with which he handled 
 the most intricate financial problems. His banks were 
 all flourishing; almost every month he was adding 
 to their number. Already Wall Street had felt the 
 weight of the vast sums which had now passed un- 
 der his direct control. The Money Trust, greedy 
 for monopoly and jealous of any newcomer who 
 challenged its supremacy, took alarm. If Emerson 
 were permitted to go on building up his chain of 
 banks in this manner, there was no telling what the 
 end might be. The supreme power might be trans- 
 ferred to other and abler hands. There were hur- 
 ried secret sessions in the tall buildings that frown 
 down upon lower Broadway. The money kings, 
 recognizing in Wilbur Emerson a dangerous rival, 
 decreed his ruin. 
 
 One day stocks began to sell off on the Exchange. 
 1 06
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 At first no one paid any particular attention. The 
 market had been going up for some time, and a re- 
 action was long overdue, but when the days passed 
 and the decline continued, apparently without rea- 
 son, the movement began to attract attention. Who 
 was selling? 
 
 Instead of abating, the decline continued, prices 
 falling away with the speed of snow melting under 
 the rays of the warm spring sun. The brokers' 
 offices were crowded with men who watched the 
 board with drawn, anxious faces. All sorts of ru- 
 mors were flying around. The timid ones, appre- 
 hensive of the worst, began to let go their holdings. 
 In a single afternoon Steel Common dropped from 
 50 to 43; Union Pacific from 120 to no; Reading 
 from 89 to 83. The next day the slaughter of 
 prices continued. Feverish at the opening, stocks 
 were urgently pressed for sale until, all at once, the 
 hitherto steady decline developed into a demoralized 
 rout. Pandemonium reigned on the floor of the 
 Stock Exchange as the excited brokers threw over 
 great blocks of stocks for whatever price they would 
 bring, and amid wild scenes of tumultuous disorder 
 made frantic efforts to execute their clients' orders. 
 
 107
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 Wilbur, bending nervously over the ticker in his 
 private office in the Emerson Bank, watched with 
 blanched face and quivering lip the raging of the 
 terrific financial battle. Telephone calls had already 
 summoned Raymond, Tooker and Cowper to a hur- 
 ried directors' meeting. The president's tremulous 
 hand held the ribbon as it ran out of the machine 
 telling the tragic story: US., 32; UP., 115; RG., 
 79 ; Cen, 97 the whole market down twenty dollars 
 a share from the high, and still falling! 
 
 "My God!" he muttered between his teeth. 
 "Where will they end? If this goes on we are 
 ruined; we face disgrace, and worse!" 
 
 Unless the decline was soon checked, there was 
 no telling what disaster might ensue, not only to 
 Emerson interests, but to the whole country. Pub- 
 lic confidence would be shaken, there would be runs 
 on the banks, thousands of people would be made 
 paupers. Well he understood what it all meant. 
 This was a deadly blow directed at himself. Took- 
 er's warning was prophetic. The Money Trust had 
 set a trap and they had fallen in blindfolded. This 
 unexpected break, coming suddenly at a moment 
 when everything seemed serene, had caught them 
 
 1 08
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 unprepared, and this, too, when all their resources 
 were tied up in the new merger scheme. Practically 
 every dollar they had was invested. It was impossi- 
 ble to realize in this market without fearful loss, yet 
 suppose the decline went on and the public, easily 
 frightened, started to withdraw money from the 
 banks? What then? They were heavily involved. 
 Perhaps the Money Trust suspected as much. Once 
 let the rumor start and the Clearing House refuse 
 their paper, and they were done for. That would 
 be the end ! 
 
 As he realized in what peril he and his fellow 
 directors stood, Wilbur turned hot and cold in turns. 
 He blamed himself. He should have been more 
 cautious, more prudent. What would his father 
 say? He had no idea, he never dreamed to 
 what extent they were involved. He had 
 questioned nothing, he had trusted him im- 
 plicitly, proud of his son's success, apologetic be- 
 cause he had opposed modern methods so long. 
 Modern methods ! Ah, what a bitter mockery ! The 
 family's entire fortune might be swept away and 
 his father reduced to want in his old age. The 
 thought was maddening. Sooner than that, he 
 
 109
 
 GAMBLERS 
 
 would kill himself. Yet what good would that do? 
 That was the coward's way. No, he must remain 
 to fight it out, to provide, if necessary, for the 
 dear ones whose future happiness and comfort had 
 been imperiled by his recklessness. Now, perhaps, 
 for the first time, he could picture the mental agony 
 of those men who, caught in like manner, have 
 ended it with a bullet rather than face exposure. 
 
 Suddenly the door opened and Raymond entered 
 hurriedly, followed by looker. The directors' 
 faces showed that they were badly frightened. 
 
 "Well ?" demanded Raymond, going to the ticker. 
 "How are prices now ?" 
 
 "They can't keep going down," muttered Tooker 
 anxiously. "There must be a bottom somewhere !" 
 
 While Wilbur continued to pace the floor, Ray- 
 mond picked up the tape which, like a long, wrig- 
 gling snake, had overfilled the basket and spread 
 out all over the floor, and with the inevitable cigar 
 jammed into the corner of his mouth, he read ofT: 
 . "US., 2Sy 2 ; UP., 109; Cen, 92 ^ ; SR, 67." 
 
 A groan from his associates interrupted him. 
 Meantime Cowper had quietly entered the room and 
 joined the throng gathered round the ticker Ray- 
 no
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 mond threw down the tape and dropped into a chair. 
 
 "Good God!" exclaimed Tooker, "this is awful. 
 Do you fellows realize what it means?" 
 
 Wilbur turned and faced him. With forced 
 calmness he said: 
 
 "Yes, it means a run on all our banks, and we are 
 utterly unprepared." 
 
 "But we are solvent, aren't we?" exclaimed 
 Cowper. 
 
 "Yes, if we had time to realize on our securities," 
 replied Wilbur quickly. "But we need ready cash 
 and " 
 
 He stopped and looked squarely at each director. 
 No one spoke. The silence was oppressive. Wil- 
 bur continued : 
 
 "It has taken all our capital, as you know, gen- 
 tlemen, to put through the mergers. If this raid 
 on the market had happened a month later, we 
 should have been all right; but coming now, it cre- 
 ates a desperate situation. That is the long and 
 short of it." 
 
 Raymond gave vent to an expressive grunt. 
 Surlily he said : 
 
 "This comes of going in too deep." 
 in
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 Tooker flared up angrily. 
 
 "Now, what's the use of doing the baby act, 
 Giles? You voted with all of us for the mergers 
 to be put through, and you knew exactly where the 
 money was to come from. You make me tired !" 
 
 Wilbur put up his hand. 
 
 "Gentlemen, no words, please. This is no time 
 for quarreling. The question is, what can we do 
 to meet this emergency?" 
 
 At that instant the telephone bell rang. Quickly 
 Wilbur snatched up the receiver. After listening a 
 moment he hung it up and turned to his fellow 
 directors. His face was a shade whiter and his 
 lips trembled as he said: 
 
 "It is as feared. A quiet run has set in on our 
 downtown bank. The manager of the Broadway 
 bank telephones that the line already extends to the 
 street. There is enough money to last through to- 
 day, but to-morrow " 
 
 "To-morrow?" echoed the directors in chorus. 
 "What about our reserves they are intact !" 
 
 "Unless we can raise $2,000,000 in gold by nine 
 o'clock to-morrow morning," repeated Wilbur 
 coldly, without noticing the interruption, "the Em- 
 
 112
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 erson banks will be forced to suspend. I'm not 
 afraid of the run. We've got enough cash now in 
 the vaults to pay everyone who comes. In our dif- 
 ferent branches we have still got more than 
 $5,000,000 in gold. But just now we need some of 
 that money for other purposes than paying out to 
 frightened depositors. We're caught long of the 
 market. That Nelson merger must go through, or 
 we might just as well surrender to our enemies now 
 and confess ourselves beaten. To carry out this 
 deal to a successful issue and to protect ourselves 
 in the Street, I must have to-morrow morning at 
 least $2,000,000." 
 
 "Two millions in gold!" cried the directors in 
 dismay. 
 
 "Two millions in gold," repeated Wilbur calmly. 
 
 "Where can we get it?" demanded Raymond. 
 
 "Let's hear what you propose," said Tooker. 
 
 "Have you any idea?" inquired Cowper. 
 
 Wilbur faced his associates calmly. His face 
 was white as death, but about his mouth were the 
 determined lines, the set expression of the man 
 who, driven into a corner, still refuses to admit he 
 is defeated. His enemies should not triumph over
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 his downfall. What he was about to propose was 
 as audacious, as daring, as anything as he had yet 
 done. It was a crime. Yet there was no help for 
 it. It must be done, if only to save hundreds of 
 people from ruin. The Money Trust was fighting 
 him unfairly, unlawfully; well, he would protect 
 himself, even if he had to break the Federal bank- 
 ing laws. Facing his associates, he said calmly : 
 
 "Yes, gentlemen, I have a plan ; it is the only way 
 to save ourselves from disgrace and ruin. If we 
 can stop the run and restore confidence, we shall 
 win the day. When the Emerson banks open to- 
 morrow morning they must be stacked high with 
 money, so all who come may see and go out and tell 
 the rest. Our merger must go through. We must 
 present a smiling face to our foes. Where can we 
 get that money? I'll tell you. There is no time 
 for that. Quick action is necessary. We must take 
 it from the reserve " 
 
 "What? Touch the reserves?" ejaculated Ray- 
 mond, startled. 
 
 "Touch the reserves!" exclaimed Tooker and 
 Cowper. 
 
 "No, gentlemen, just borrow from the reserves, 
 114
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 that's all. We need two millions ; I think that sum 
 will tide us over. There are two millions in cash 
 downstairs in our vaults at the present moment. I 
 had hoped to leave the reserves intact. It is im- 
 possible. We are in too deep. We will take that 
 money and put up collateral." 
 
 "Collateral?" interrupted Tooker. "What col- 
 lateral?" 
 
 "Our notes, gentlemen. Each of us will give 
 his note for $400,000 Raymond, Tooker, Cowper, 
 my father and myself. There will be five notes 
 aggregating $2,000,000." 
 
 Raymond shook his head. 
 
 "It's monkeying with a buzz saw, my boy. If 
 the bank examiners got wind of that there'd be the 
 devil to pay." 
 
 "Yes, it's dangerous!" objected Tooker. 
 
 "Can you suggest any other course?" demanded 
 Wilbur. As no one spoke he went on: "The 
 money is only taken for two days. At the end of 
 that time we can borrow enough to take up the 
 notes. It's only a question of getting out among 
 our friends. You, Raymond ; you, Tooker, can eas- 
 ily raise half a million each."
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 Raymond nodded. 
 
 "Yes, if I have time. I guess it's as good a plan 
 as there is. As you say, we'll take up the notes and 
 no one will be the wiser. But what about your 
 father? Will he be willing?" 
 
 Wilbur nodded. Quickly he said : 
 
 "I'll see my father. He'll do anything I say." 
 
 "All right," said Raymond, "prepare the note 
 and I'll sign it." 
 
 "Very well," chimed in Tooker and Cowper, 
 "we'll sign." 
 
 Cowper picked up the tape. 
 
 "How are prices now?" demanded Wilbur 
 quickly. 
 
 Cowper gave an exclamation of dismay. 
 
 "Great God! Just look at it! The bottom's 
 fallen out of the market. They're throwing stocks 
 away for anything they'll bring." 
 
 The telephone bell rang again. Wilbur unhooked 
 the receiver and put it to his ear. After listening 
 a moment he spoke through the receiver. 
 
 "It's all right, we're watching the market; the 
 turn must come soon. Don't sell us out on any 
 account. We'll send you $500,000 more margin 
 
 116
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 to-morrow. Keep on buying- all the Reading in 
 sight below seventy." 
 
 Hanging 1 up the receiver, he turned to his asso- 
 ciates and exclaimed hoarsely: 
 
 "It's our broker. We're long of Reading at 101. 
 It's selling at 74. He demands more margin im- 
 mediately." 
 
 "That's all right," drawled Raymond. "He 
 shall have it. Draw those notes and we'll sign 
 them." 
 
 117
 
 CHAPTER VIII 
 
 FOUR o'clock was striking in the big custom- 
 ers' room of the Emerson Bank. The day's 
 business was over. The tellers had gone 
 home. The clerks were closing their ledgers. Soon 
 the last employee had taken his departure and the 
 watchman began to get busy locking and barring 
 the massive steel doors. 
 
 The bank was deserted, yet not everybody had 
 gone. Upstairs in his private office Wilbur Emer- 
 son sat at his desk, deep in the study of a number 
 of loose sheets of paper, closely filled with figures 
 and intricate calculations. Every now and then he 
 rose from his seat, and going to the now silent stock 
 ticker, picked up the tape and ran over the cabalistic 
 signs and figures. Then, throwing it aside with a 
 gesture of impatience, he strode nervously up and 
 down the room. 
 
 "Why doesn't Cowper come?" he muttered to 
 himself. "It's past four. He ought to be here. If 
 he's only been able to raise the money, it will put 
 us right." 
 
 118
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 Dropping into the seat at the desk, he buried his 
 face in his two hands. The continued mental and 
 physical strain was more than he could bear. Unless 
 the tide turned soon he would be an utter wreck. 
 People envied him, talked about his success. Little 
 they knew what it had cost. What does the world 
 know or care? The man who, by sheer audacity, 
 does big things is the hero of the hour. While the 
 sun shines he is courted, envied; but once let the 
 tide turn ; his friends fall away, he is maligned, for- 
 gotten. Who can guess at what cost this apparent 
 success, this tremendous publicity has been attained, 
 at what awful sacrifice of health or honor, or both? 
 He had succeeded beyond his wildest hopes. He 
 had tasted the sweets of power, great wealth had 
 been within his grasp. But now the tide seemed on 
 the ebb. Of late things had gone badly. He had 
 avoided destruction only by a fluke. 
 
 As he sat there all alone thinking, scheming, the 
 seriousness of his position became clearer to him. 
 Something must be done and quickly. The strain 
 he was under was slowly undermining his reason. 
 Utterly exhausted, he felt himself about to collapse. 
 Gradually his highly nervous condition gave way 
 
 119
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 to a dull feeling of insensibility and indifference 
 The world and its affairs seemed a million miles 
 away. All outward disturbances the cries in the 
 streets, the noise of traffic, the tick of the clock 
 had a strange, far-away sound. They were there, 
 as usual, but he heard them not. Before his feverish 
 mental vision arose the face and form of a girl 
 whose image he had never ceased to carry in his 
 heart, although she had married another man. 
 What would she say to his disgrace ? In his fevered 
 fancy he thought he could detect an expression of 
 sadness in her large, luminous dark eyes. She 
 seemed to beckon him to come to her, as if she had 
 something important to impart to him. Perhaps 
 she was unhappy with her husband. How Dar- 
 win would exult over his downfall! Already he 
 could hear him exclaiming gleefully: "I told you 
 so!" What a sacrifice she had made of her life, 
 what a wreck they had made of both their lives! 
 If she had married him, things might have been 
 different. He would not have been tempted into 
 all this wild frenzy of speculation. She would have 
 been his guiding star, his sane adviser. 
 
 If he got out of this scrape it would be a lesson 
 1 20
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 to him. Never again would he allow himself to be 
 tempted. It was not his fault if the bank had be- 
 come so deeply involved. No man with red blood 
 in his veins would have acted differently. He had 
 done it for the best. If he had not succeeded in 
 making that merger with the Nelson Bank the 
 other fellows powerful business rivals would 
 have at once secured control. The situation was 
 such that it became absolutely imperative to block 
 their game. To make the merger, money was 
 needed a lot of money. None was available. 
 Carefully made plans for the quick realization of 
 a million dollars had failed failed miserably at the 
 eleventh hour. Then the market went to pieces. 
 They had to protect their holdings at all hazards. 
 A loan was out of the question. There was no time 
 for that. Yet they must have money if they were to 
 circumvent and thwart their foes. Money he had to 
 get, somehow, somewhere. All at once, like a flash, it 
 had dawned upon him the vaults of the Emerson 
 banks! Over five million dollars in specie lay idle 
 in the vaults. By using some of it he could make 
 it yield a return to the stockholders of over 25 per 
 cent. It was a legitimate business transaction. The 
 
 121
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 merger would promote their interests. Of course, it 
 was dangerous, it was wrong, to touch the bank's 
 reserves. But who would be the wiser? It would 
 never get out. The personal notes of himself and 
 his fellow directors were collateral for the loan. 
 There was plenty of time to take up the notes and 
 pay back the money. The bank had only recently 
 been examined; another examination was not due 
 for months. 
 
 Well, it was all over with now. For the time 
 being they had confounded their enemies and had 
 a breathing spell. The Money Trust, amazed at 
 their powers of resistance, had stayed their hand, 
 the decline on the Exchange had stopped, prices 
 were recovering. The public, feeling more confi- 
 dence, had ceased to harass the banks. The worst 
 of the storm was over, but the skies were not yet 
 clear by any means. As long as those notes were 
 in the vaults, as long as the money they had taken 
 was not repaid, there was danger. Already there 
 had been disquieting rumors. Only last evening 
 the financial column of an evening newspaper had 
 made vague allusions to a well-known promoter 
 who had successfully weathered the storm, although 
 
 122
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 known to be heavily long of the market. "Wall 
 Street rumor," the writer went on to say, "had it 
 that the institution of which the promoter was the 
 head narrowly escaped finding itself in a serious 
 predicament." When he read that Wilbur winced. 
 His enemies were watching him, that was very evi- 
 dent. No doubt some of them had guessed how he 
 had dammed the flood. Probably complaint had 
 already been made to the authorities, which would 
 explain the despatch they had received from Wash- 
 ington: "The bank examiner will visit your insti- 
 tution next week." 
 
 The shock had come like a bolt from the blue. 
 A hurried call brought the badly frightened di- 
 rectors together again once more in secret session. 
 Raymond, livid from anxiety, had dropped his air 
 of insolent bravado ; Tooker was peevish and peni- 
 tent, Cowper morose. Raymond and Cowper were 
 disposed to blame Wilbur. Wrath fully the young 
 man turned on them till they winced. 
 
 "Don't sit snarling here," he shouted. "Get out 
 and hustle for money. Those notes must be made 
 good. The bank examiner will be here next week. 
 No power on earth can prevent his discovering what 
 
 123
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 we've done. If he finds our notes and then discov- 
 ers the specie gone, he'll make a report to Washing- 
 ton, and a thorough investigation will be ordered. 
 The notes will be discovered. No power on earth 
 can save us from indictment!" 
 
 "What can we do? What can we do?" came 
 from the directors in frightened chorus. 
 
 "Get out and hustle for money. Go to your 
 friends. Rush all over town. Borrow it or steal 
 it, any way you like. But get the money somehow, 
 and help take up those notes. I'll do the same. 
 You, also, Cowper. What about those rich relatives 
 of yours in Philadelphia? Jump on the train and 
 see what you can raise to save us! Report back 
 
 here to me." 
 
 ******** 
 
 The time dragged along, and still Wilbur sat at 
 his desk waiting for Cowper. He had been four 
 days away. He ought to have done something by 
 this time. Suddenly he thought he heard a foot- 
 step, and he started from the chair and listened 
 intently. No, he was mistaken. It was not Cow- 
 per ; only the watchman closing up the bank. Where 
 could he be all this time? Sitting down before his 
 
 124
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 desk once more he became absorbed again in the 
 maze of figures on the sheet of paper before him, 
 desperately trying to find some way out, some loop- 
 hole of escape from the impending ruin. Money 
 money must be obtained at once. The incriminat- 
 ing notes must be taken up without delay. If only 
 he had more time. Tooker and Raymond had no 
 resources; all their money was invested; but Cow- 
 per had rich friends. If only he would come. 
 
 A cab stopped at the curb outside. A moment 
 later a door slammed downstairs. He heard the 
 watchman greet the newcomer. He started from 
 his seat. This time he was not mistaken. It was 
 Cowper. 
 
 The next instant the young director entered the 
 room. He was breathing hard, his face white 
 and haggard. Advancing eagerly, Wilbur ex- 
 claimed : 
 
 "Well, Cowper?" 
 
 The young man dropped exhausted into a seat 
 and shook his head despondently. 
 
 "Nothing!" 
 
 Wilbur stopped short. His fingers opened and 
 dosed spasmodically. 
 
 125
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 "Nothing?" he echoed hoarsely. 
 
 "No; I saw Mr. Weinstrom. He's several times 
 a millionaire. He wouldn't lend us a cent. I saw 
 Mr. Saxe with the same result. Mr. Lucas was in 
 Europe. Mr. Johnson refused flatly. They all 
 talked pretty frankly " 
 
 "What what did they say?" 
 
 "They said they didn't like your methods; that 
 sooner or later you'd come a cropper." 
 
 Wilbur's face twitched painfully. The lines 
 about his eyes and mouth deepened. He grew ashy 
 pale. 
 
 "Then it's all up, Cowper." 
 
 His fellow director looked up, alarmed. 
 
 "What do you mean?" demanded the newcomer. 
 
 "I mean that you and I all of us will have to 
 go to jail for this !" 
 
 "To jail !" cried Cowper, turning pale. 
 
 Wilbur nodded gravely. Firmly he said: 
 
 "Yes, to jail. We have broken the law. We are 
 common malefactors. We may each get ten years. 
 Nothing can save us from the penitentiary the 
 authorities already suspect us. An investigation 
 may begin to-morrow. An indictment by the grand 
 
 126
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 jury will speedily follow. That fellow Darwin 
 would jump at the chance to prosecute us; he's 
 always had a personal grudge against me, and 
 under the pretence of doing a public service he will 
 leave no stone unturned to put us behind the 
 bars." 
 
 Cowper listened in consternation. His face had 
 grown ashen white. 
 
 "Can't you do something?" he cried. 
 
 "I've done everything possible," replied Wilbur 
 calmly. "I have left nothing undone. There is 
 still a chance that I may be able to save the situa- 
 tion. I am now negotiating for a loan. If I suc- 
 ceed we are saved; if I fail we're lost." 
 
 Cowper looked at him in dismay. 
 
 "Prison!" he wailed, terror-stricken. "I never 
 dreamed of anything like that." Advancing to- 
 wards Wilbur, his hands outstretched, he exclaimed 
 pleadingly: "Oh, Emerson, I couldn't stand that, 
 I could not. It would wreck my life utterly. You 
 know I'm engaged to Gladys Norman. Our wed- 
 ding is fixed for next month. This will stop every- 
 thing. Her family would not let her marry a 
 felon." 
 
 127
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 Wilbur looked at him in silence. With a shade 
 of irony in his voice he said quietly : 
 
 "It's no worse for you, Cowper, than for the rest 
 of us." 
 
 "Perhaps not. But I could not bear it I could 
 not." 
 
 Wilbur looked at his watch. 
 
 "There is still twenty-four hours before the ex- 
 aminer's visit." Taking his hat he said impatiently : 
 "In that time we may be able to do something. 
 Don't stand moaning there. Get out and do some- 
 thing. Go and see Harris & Harris, ask Richard- 
 son & Co., appeal to Woodford & Son. We've 
 done them favors in the past. See what you can 
 do. I'll do the same. I'll turn the city inside out 
 to raise that money." 
 
 "And if you don't succeed?" demanded Cowper 
 fearfully. 
 
 "We all go to jail !" was the laconic rejoinder. 
 
 128
 
 CHAPTER IX 
 
 THE Darwins' home at No. Riverside 
 Drive, if not the largest and most expen- 
 sive of the many stately residences that 
 face the swiftly flowing Hudson, was certainly one 
 of the most attractive and artistic. The house was 
 an American basement, with a fagade of white mar- 
 ble in purest Greek style of architecture. Hand- 
 some highly polished gates gave access to a spa- 
 cious reception hall, at the end of which were broad 
 stairs leading to the living rooms above. The hall, 
 thickly carpeted and hung with rich tapestries, tro- 
 phies and rare engravings, bespoke the culture 
 and taste of the owner. On the second floor in 
 front was the drawing room, treated in white and 
 gold; at the rear the dining room, with beamed 
 ceiling and wainscoted walls. Upstairs, on the 
 third floor, and occupying the entire width of the 
 building, was the library, a splendid room of noble 
 proportions, with an immense bay window overlook- 
 ing the river. 
 
 129
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 This room, luxuriously and warmly upholstered 
 in a rich, red plush and lined from floor to ceiling 
 with black walnut shelves rilled with books, was 
 Kathryn's paradise. Dominating the mantel was 
 a fine, life-size bust of Lincoln, the Emancipator; 
 in a corner stood a stand displaying a fine suit of 
 medieval armor. Here among the world's classics 
 Kathryn could browse to her heart's content and 
 satisfy the intellectual side of her nature. It was 
 all that was left in her life, for she did not love her 
 husband. She had found that out long ago, and it 
 was a great secret grief which she carried in her 
 heart. It was too late now for regrets. She must 
 live the life she had made for herself. She tried 
 to do her duty by her husband, seeing after his crea- 
 ture comforts and managing his household, but oth- 
 erwise, they saw little of each other. 
 
 A very busy man, with all kinds of political irons 
 in the fire, Darwin was not able to spend much 
 time at home. His official duties kept him down- 
 town all day, and almost every night he was sum- 
 moned to attend a big dinner or address some 
 meeting. Kathryn had her own suite of rooms, her 
 own friends, her amusements. She spent her time 
 
 130
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 paying calls, shopping, riding in the park, play- 
 ing bridge, reading or writing. Thus the days 
 passed pleasantly enough, so agreeably that it never 
 occurred to her that James was really her husband 
 in name only. On the other hand, when occasion- 
 ally they passed an evening together in the library, 
 she found him a charming companion. She ad- 
 mired his broad, intellectual outlook, his wide, sane 
 reading. His vigorous mentality and interesting 
 conversation acted as a powerful stimulant to her 
 own literary aspirations. She rejoiced in his suc- 
 cess, and it pleased her vanity to be pointed at in 
 public as the beautiful young wife of the famous 
 district attorney. But that was not love, and there 
 were times when her heart craved for that which 
 she realized was lacking in her life. 
 
 When at home it was the lawyer's custom to 
 work in his library. There was a great flat desk 
 strewn with papers in the middle of the room, and 
 frequently, night after night, he would sit there 
 until the small hours of the morning, poring over 
 affidavits and other legal papers connected with the 
 cases that he was then trying before the courts. For 
 the past two weeks he had been kept especially busy
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 with a case that absorbed all his energies and made 
 a call on every instant of his time. It was a case 
 with sensational features and one which, if success- 
 fully handled, would not only draw to him the at- 
 tention of the Federal authorities, but give him the 
 reputation of being one of the most wide-awake and 
 energetic district attorneys New York had ever 
 had. But that was not all. In addition to the hope 
 of personal glorification and advancement, there 
 was still another and stronger incentive revenge! 
 
 James Darwin knew his wife did not love him. 
 His instinct told him that. Apparently they got 
 along together. The outside world thought they 
 were a happy, ideal couple. But the lawyer had 
 never deceived himself. His wife did not love him. 
 He possessed her body ; she was his by law ; but he 
 did not possess her soul. That eluded him, and the 
 conviction of it embittered him. He said nothing, 
 preferring to suffer in silence, and gradually their 
 relations became those of friends who for reasons 
 of policy wish to remain on good terms and studi- 
 ously avoid doing anything that is likely to cause 
 words or friction. 
 
 But calm and courteous without, the attorney 
 132
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 raged within. He had thought to find heaven in 
 this marriage ; he had found only hell. Distracted, 
 almost frenzied with jealousy, he began to study 
 Kathryn, trying to read her mind. Was Wilbur 
 Emerson his rival in her affections? He recalled 
 that night of the dance, when he had unexpectedly 
 interrupted their tete-a-tete in the conservatory. 
 Was it possible that she still thought of the fellow, 
 that she loved him? Like a flash other thoughts, 
 giving corroboration to this idea, came crowding 
 into his brain. Kathryn, he was well aware, was 
 still very intimate with Wilbur Emerson's sister. 
 His wife visited the Emerson home frequently. It 
 was only natural that she should meet the brother. 
 Perhaps it was the brother that attracted her ! The 
 very thought drove him into a frenzy. Perhaps 
 they met elsewhere! Perhaps they were good 
 
 friends; perhaps they were 
 
 As he sat and pondered it all came back to him. 
 Kathryn had shown great interest in Wilbur Em- 
 erson's success. His father had left him to man- 
 age the Emerson Bank, and he had started in to do 
 big things. He recalled that he had scoffed at the 
 news. He had heard of these get-rich-quick fel- 
 
 133
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 lows before. They went up like a rocket, but came 
 down with the stick. Mr. Emerson, Jr., he laughed 
 derisively, would bear watching. 
 
 And he had watched these two years watched 
 as a cat watches a mouse, a tiger its prey. If any- 
 thing went wrong, was not he, James Darwin, dis- 
 trict attorney, there to set it right and punish the 
 offenders in the name of the people? And how 
 doubly gratifying for a public officer to feel not 
 only that he is doing his duty to the community, 
 but at the same time settling an old score with the 
 man who had stolen away his domestic happiness 
 and ruined his life! This, with James Darwin, be- 
 came the one obsession, the one fixed thought. His 
 instinct told him there was something wrong in 
 the wildcat financial schemes of the new bank man- 
 agement, that it was only a question of time when 
 Wilbur Emerson would be caught in a trap of his 
 own making. 
 
 He did not have long to wait. The operations of 
 the Emerson Bank grew more and more extensive. 
 Millions of dollars were involved in financial un- 
 dertakings of huge magnitude. The ramifications 
 of the concern gradually became so extensive that, 
 
 134
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 were anything to affect the credit of the parent bank, 
 a commercial panic might ensue. Rumors flew thick 
 and fast and the scandal grew until at last the Fed- 
 eral authorities took the initiative. Word reached 
 Washington through indirect channels that the di- 
 rectors of the Emerson Bank were borrowing in ex- 
 cess of their capital a punishable offence. A straw 
 will show which way the wind is blowing. Scenting 
 trouble, the authorities quietly ordered an investiga- 
 tion. If, as was feared, irregularities were discov- 
 ered, the banking department would immediately 
 take charge of the institution. The district attorney 
 would go before the grand jnry with evidence in- 
 criminating the directors, and their arrests would 
 follow. 
 
 This is what had kept Mr. Darwin busy, and he 
 had left no stone unturned to ensure success. His 
 detectives men of the Secret Service watched 
 the Emerson Bank, and also the Emerson residence, 
 night and day. Wilbur Emerson and his associates 
 were kept constantly shadowed; they did not make 
 a move without their actions being instantly re- 
 ported to Mr. Darwin. Meantime, being well aware 
 of his wife's close association with the Emersons 
 
 135
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 and afraid that she might be tempted to give them 
 warning of the impending proceedings, he was care- 
 ful to say nothing about his plans to Kathryn. 
 
 Although well aware that her husband would 
 never become reconciled to her keeping up her inti- 
 macy with the Emersons, Kathryn had always in- 
 sisted on maintaining her independence in this re- 
 spect. Not that she deliberately set herself to dis- 
 please him, but she did not see why she should be 
 forced to terminate the friendship of a lifetime sim- 
 ply because he saw fit to be unreasonably, insanely 
 jealous. There was one function in the Emerson 
 home particularly that she never missed, and that 
 was Isabel's birthday. The first year after their 
 marriage he had objected strenuously to her going, 
 and this year he was even more obstinate in his 
 opposition. 
 
 "Kate, I would rather you did not go," he said 
 firmly. 
 
 "But why?" she persisted. "Isabel is about the 
 only woman friend I have. I've been going to their 
 birthday parties for years long before I married 
 you. Why should you try to deprive me of this 
 
 little pleasure?" 
 
 136
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 "There is a reason. I am not at liberty to tell 
 you what that reason is. It should be enough that 
 I express the wish that you do not go." 
 
 Knowing of no other possible reason than a ridic- 
 ulous jealousy of Wilbur Emerson, she lost her 
 temper for the first time. Hotly she said : 
 
 "Yes, that's it! You express the wish, and you 
 think I must obey like some wretched, beaten slave. 
 You consult only your own selfishness. You are 
 absurdly jealous. You think I meet Wilbur Emer- 
 son there when I go. Well, if it will comfort you 
 I'll tell you this I never see him. He's never 
 there. Sometimes I'm sorry he isn't. He might 
 help me to forget how unhappy I am at home." 
 
 His lips tightened and there was a dangerous 
 flash in his eyes. She was sorry now that she had 
 said so much. Of course, she didn't mean a word 
 of it. Womanlike, to save the situation, she took 
 refuge in tears. 
 
 Darwin, incensed almost beyond control, mas- 
 tered himself by an effort. Calmly he said: 
 
 "You are mistaken, Kathryn. Jealousy does not 
 enter into the matter at all. I have too much respect 
 for the woman I married to even harbor such a 
 
 137
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 thought. But now, since you insist on knowing the 
 true reason why I wish your visits to the Emerson 
 house to cease, I will tell you the real state of affairs. 
 Emerson's chain of banks is being investigated. The 
 Federal expert examiners are about to take posses- 
 sion, and in all probability the hands of the Govern- 
 ment will fall heavily on them. It means disgrace, 
 most likely imprisonment. In my position as special 
 appointee of the United States attorney general, I 
 cannot allow my wife to remain on terms of social 
 intimacy with with prospective criminals." 
 
 "James!" she protested. 
 
 "Oh, I hardly expected you to sympathize with 
 my attitude," he said bitterly. "We so seldom agree 
 on anything, but I am making the investigation, 
 and I am in a position to know what they are. 
 However, that is not the point. I have expressed 
 a wish that you do not go. That ought to be suf- 
 ficient." 
 
 The blood rushed to her face. For an instant 
 she was seized by an almost irresistible impulse to 
 rebel, to tell him she hated him, that she had done 
 with him forever. But the impulse passed and she 
 said calmly: 
 
 138
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 "Very well, James, as you wish." 
 
 A few days later Darwin had forgotten the inci- 
 dent. He was at work in his library going over the 
 papers connected with the case. Kathryn had gone 
 out horseback riding in the park and had not yet 
 returned. Matters relating to the suspected bank 
 were reaching an acute stage. No inkling of trou- 
 ble had reached the public. The financial skies were 
 as yet serene, but it was only the calm before the 
 storm. Those on the inside of affairs in Wall Street 
 were well aware that one of the flimsiest structures 
 of wildcat finance seen in years was about to topple. 
 
 James Darwin exulted. Ordinarily he was not 
 a vindictive man. His political enemies had scoffed 
 at him as chicken-hearted because, in court one day, 
 out of pity, he had let a crippled prisoner escape pun- 
 ishment. But in this case he was pitiless. He for- 
 got friendship, mercy, everything in his wild, un- 
 reasoning, jealous rage. Even the fact that the 
 Emersons were his wife's closest friends did not 
 deter him. It made no difference. Even if she 
 came and knelt at his feet and implored him to let 
 Wilbur Emerson go, he would refuse. On that 
 point he was determined, implacable. His only 
 
 139
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 anxiety now was concerning his ability to prove 
 Wilbur guilty. He might have broken the law, 
 committed a felony. But how could it be proved? 
 Would he be able to find sufficient proofs to show 
 that he had committed a crime? 
 
 He was deeply absorbed in these reflections when 
 he heard the front door bell ring downstairs. An 
 interval followed, and Jane, the maid, appeared. 
 
 "A gentleman called to see you, sir." 
 
 Mr. Darwin turned angrily. 
 
 "Didn't I tell you, Jane, that I was busy, and 
 not to be disturbed?" 
 
 "Yes, sir," said the maid, apologetically, "that's 
 what I told the gentleman, but he insisted. He said 
 it was of the greatest importance, that he must see 
 you at once." 
 
 "Who is he?" 
 
 "Here's his card, sir." 
 
 The girl handed her master a bit of pasteboard. 
 Mr. Darwin glanced at it. Not recognizing the 
 name and puzzled, he said to himself : 
 
 "Mr. George Cowper. Cowper Cowper? Who's 
 he?" 
 
 "I don't know, sir. I asked him if you knew 
 140
 
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 him. He said that you did not know him person- 
 ally, but that if you wanted to know, I was to tell 
 you he was one of the directors of the Emerson 
 Bank." 
 
 Darwin jumped up from his chair. Now he 
 knew. Of course George Cowper ! He was one of 
 the men mentioned in the indictment. Why had 
 he called? There could be only one reason. He 
 had come in the hope of securing immunity at the 
 expense of his fellow directors. This was the op- 
 portunity he had looked for. Through this traitor 
 he could secure the proofs he had been seeking. 
 Concealing his exultation as well as he was able, 
 he turned to the maid. 
 
 "Show the gentleman up." 
 
 A moment later Cowper entered the room. He 
 was ashen pale and his manner agitated. Awk- 
 wardly he said: 
 
 "I must apologize for this intrusion, Mr. Darwin. 
 I don't know if you remember me. I met you 
 some years ago." 
 
 "Yes, of course; glad to see you," said the law- 
 yer, cordially pointing to a chair. "Sit down, Mr. 
 
 Cowper." 
 
 141
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 Cowper dropped into a chair. For a moment 
 there was silence. Neither spoke. Darwin had 
 cleverly arranged the seats in such a manner that 
 the light from the desk lamp fell full on his visitor's 
 face, while his own remained in the shadow. With- 
 out saying a word, he fixed the bank director with 
 an almost hypnotic stare. Quickly he took mental 
 measure of the man. He's a coward, he thought 
 to himself. He's afraid. He knows a crime has 
 been committed, and he hopes to escape punishment 
 by rendering some service to the State which will 
 buy his pardon. Yet, ready as he was to accept the 
 traitor's services, Darwin could not help feeling 
 contempt for the trembling wretch who, with his 
 eyes glued to the floor, was ashamed to look him 
 in the face. 
 
 "You know who I am?" stammered the visitor. 
 
 Darwin nodded. Quickly he answered: 
 
 "Yes, you are Mr. George Cowper, one of the 
 directors of the Emerson Bank, and you come here 
 on pressing business connected with what has been 
 going on at the bank." 
 
 Cowper started. 
 
 "How did you know?" he demanded in surprise. 
 142
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 Darwin laughed. 
 
 "We lawyers make a habit of making a quick 
 diagnosis. Besides, one doesn't have to be a Sher- 
 lock Holmes to guess that. Your look, your man- 
 ner is enough. You have come here to find out 
 what measures the authorities are about to take 
 against the directors." 
 
 Cowper started; his face grew livid. Trem- 
 blingly he asked : 
 
 "The authorities are going to act ?" 
 
 "Immediately," replied Darwin firmly. "We 
 know everything. Detectives have been watching 
 your every move for weeks. The affairs of the 
 bank are well known. We know that you men have 
 depleted the bank, robbed the depositors. For that 
 crime you will go to the penitentiary !" 
 
 Cowper started from his seat as if he had been 
 shot. Agitatedly he cried: 
 
 "My God ! You wouldn't do that !" he cried. 
 
 Shrugging his shoulders, Darwin replied coldly: 
 
 "It doesn't rest with me, but with the Court. 
 You have violated the Federal banking law. You 
 will be indicted as sure as there's a God in heaven, 
 and I'll help to convict you!" 
 
 143
 
 THB GAMBLERS 
 
 The wretched man cowered before him. 
 
 "Have mercy ! Think of our position our fam- 
 ilies!" 
 
 Darwin turned fiercely on him. 
 
 "Mercy! Why should I consider you? Have 
 you and your associates considered the unfortunate 
 people who foolishly entrusted their money to your 
 care? They may lose all they possess all they 
 owned in the world. You'll lose only your liberty, 
 which you could not value much, seeing you jeopar- 
 dized it so readily." 
 
 "I do prize it, Mr. Darwin; I do, indeed!" cried 
 the unhappy man. "I could not face this disgrace. 
 I am soon to be married. It would be the end of 
 everything. If she gives me up I shall shoot my- 
 self. We did wrong. I see it now. I did not real- 
 ize it before. Emerson asked me to sign one of 
 the notes as dummy collateral for the loan, 
 and " 
 
 Quickly Darwin picked him up. At last he was 
 on the track. He had tangible proofs at last 
 
 "Ah, yes, the notes !" he exclaimed. "How many 
 notes were there ?" 
 
 "Five notes of $400,000 each." 
 144
 
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 The lawyer repeated after him. 
 
 "Five notes of $400,000 each?" 
 
 "Yes, sir." 
 
 "Who signed these notes?" 
 
 "Wilbur Emerson, Mr. Emerson, Sr., Mr. 
 Tooker, Mr. Raymond and myself." 
 
 Bending nearer and staring closely at his almost 
 crazed visitor, Darwin questioned him, trying by 
 hypnotic suggestion to entrap him with damaging 
 admissions. 
 
 "These notes were put in the vaults to take the 
 place of the money taken by you, amounting 
 to ?" 
 
 "Two million dollars, yes, sir." 
 
 "For the purpose of putting through the 
 merger ?" 
 
 "Yes, sir." 
 
 Darwin relapsed into silence. Only by a nervous 
 tapping of his finger nails on the polished surface 
 of the desk did he betray his inward exultation. 
 Looking up, he said carelessly: 
 
 "Where are those notes now?" 
 
 "In the vault, sir." 
 
 "How do you know?" 
 
 145
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 "I saw them this afternoon." 
 
 "How did you come to see them? Were you in 
 the vaults?" 
 
 "Yes, sir. Wilbur Emerson knows the bank is 
 about to be investigated. He's badly frightened. 
 He is straining every nerve to find money to take 
 up the notes. We have failed to raise a dollar. 
 To-day he and I were in the vaults looking over 
 the securities. I saw the notes. They are in a 
 blue envelope." 
 
 Darwin looked fixedly at him. In a milder, per- 
 suasive tone he said suggestively: 
 
 "Mr. Cowper, I feel sorry for you. I do indeed. 
 I'm inclined to think you are not so much to blame 
 as the others. If I asked you to do me a favor, in 
 return for which I promise to drop all proceedings 
 against you personally, would you do it?" 
 
 Cowper jumped eagerly from his chair. 
 
 "My God, sir, I would, indeed! What is it?" 
 
 Darwin came right to the point. 
 
 "Mr. Cowper, I want those notes. I want to 
 have them in my possession by to-morrow night. 
 The bank is closed now ; the vaults are locked. But 
 you can get them first thing in the morning. Make 
 
 146
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 duplicates of them, and put the duplicates back in 
 the blue envelope. Bring the originals to me. Do 
 you understand?" 
 
 Cowper rose, white and trembling. He averted 
 his face, as if ashamed to meet the lawyer's eyes. 
 Tremblingly he said: 
 
 "I don't know what you think of me, Mr. Dar- 
 win. I'm a cur, I know it. But I can't help it. I 
 can't fight any longer. I can't go to prison. I 
 love this girl I'm going to marry. I can't lose her. 
 You understand " 
 
 Darwin opened the door. 
 
 "Yes, I understand. Good-bye, Mr. Cowper. I 
 shall expect you here at 8 o'clock to-morrow night 
 with the notes." 
 
 147
 
 CHAPTER X 
 
 THE gigantic figures of the colossal clock in 
 the Metropolitan Tower were just on the 
 stroke of nine when a red taxicab with a 
 solitary passenger sped across Madison Square 
 through the pouring rain and dashed furiously along 
 the Great White Way in the direction of uptown. 
 Recklessly driven vehicles are not rare enough in 
 Manhattan to excite comment, but there was some- 
 thing so extraordinary in the speed of this particu- 
 lar cab that every one turned to look after it. It was 
 a bad night, wet and stormy, and Broadway was 
 comparatively free from traffic. But for this fact, 
 such a break-neck pace would have been impossible. 
 So fast was the gait that sharp corners were turned 
 practically on two wheels, collisions were avoided by 
 only hair-breadth margins, pedestrians were splashed 
 with mud thrown by the furiously revolving wheels. 
 Either the driver or his fare was in a terrible hurry, 
 or it was a matter of life or death. No matter, the 
 driver pushed his machine to the limit, now grazing 
 
 148
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 a fruit huckster's cart, now just missing a street 
 car, now perilously near knocking down a dear old 
 lady. Traffic policemen whistled and held up their 
 hands in warning ; at Forty-second Street the driver 
 was forced to a halt and threatened with arrest for 
 speeding. But, once out of the policeman's sight, 
 he pulled her wide open once more and soon was 
 traveling as rapidly as ever. He dashed furiously 
 through Long Acre Square, sped like the wind 
 across Columbus Circle, and at Seventy-second 
 Street turned sharply to the left. Churning due 
 west, he again veered to the right, when he came 
 to Riverside Drive, and following the avenue until 
 
 he came to No. , stopped his smoking, panting 
 
 machine at the curb. 
 
 The door of the cab opened and James Darwin 
 stepped out. He smiled as he passed a bill to the 
 driver. 
 
 "That was worth double fare, Jack. You needn't 
 come for me in the morning. I'm off for Washing- 
 ton to-night." 
 
 The man touched his cap. 
 
 "Very good, sir." 
 
 The district attorney was in particularly good 
 149
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 humor that evening. Things certainly continued 
 to go his way. Mr. Cowper had assured him by 
 telephone that he had succeeded in securing the 
 incriminating notes and would bring them to the 
 house that evening. Directly they were in his pos- 
 session, he would go before the grand jury. The 
 net was gradually being drawn closer. Wilbur Em- 
 erson and his get-rich-quick associates would soon 
 be put under arrest. 
 
 Entering the hall, he threw his coat to the maid. 
 Carelessly he asked : 
 
 "Is Mrs. Darwin upstairs?" 
 
 The girl looked at her master in surprise. 
 
 "Mrs. Darwin went out, sir." 
 
 The lawyer turned quickly. 
 
 "Went out? Where to?" 
 
 "Didn't you know, sir? It's Miss Isabel Emer- 
 son's birthday. They have a party to-night. The 
 missis left here half an hour ago. She left a note 
 for you upstairs, sir." 
 
 The lawyer started with surprise. Kathryn had 
 promised she would not go to the party. An angry 
 exclamation sprang to his lips, but he suppressed it. 
 He did not care to have the servants think that 
 
 150
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 he and his wife could not get along. Hurrying to 
 the library he found lying on his desk a note has- 
 tily scribbled in pencil. It ran as follows: 
 
 DEAR JIM : 
 
 I simply couldn't help it. Isabel has just telephoned 
 that I must go. I couldn't refuse. I know you're too 
 busy to come. But couldn't you come late, to bring me 
 home ? Love, KATE. 
 
 Wrath fully, Darwin crushed the note up in his 
 hand. Savagely he muttered : 
 
 "Come late ! Yes, no doubt she preferred that, so 
 she could dance and flirt to her heart's content with 
 that banker crook the man who in a few hours 
 would be behind prison bars." 
 
 He was amazed that she had dared disobey him. 
 Knowing the peculiar conditions, she ought to have 
 seen the indelicacy of accepting the invitation. How 
 would it look before the world to see the wife of a 
 district attorney on social terms with a thief a 
 man whom he was about to prosecute and send to 
 jail ? It was intolerable. He had told her distinctly 
 not to go, and she had willfully disobeyed him. 
 There was only one thing to do. He must go at 
 once to the Emerson home and make her leave. He 
 did not like taking such an extreme step, but he
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 considered it an imperative duty. The home of his 
 foes was certainly no place for his wife. 
 
 Ten minutes later he was seated in another taxi- 
 cab, hurrying again through the drenching rain in 
 the direction of Fifth Avenue. He had not even 
 stopped to dress. As he had no intention of remain- 
 ing at the house a moment longer than was neces- 
 sary to see his wife and insist on her leaving, there 
 was no necessity to change his attire. The chauf- 
 feur having instructions to put on full speed, the 
 machine took a short cut through Central Park, and 
 it was not long before the destination was reached. 
 
 Once more the Emerson home was ablaze with 
 lights and an awning, stretched from the front door 
 to the curb, afforded shelter from the weather to 
 the arriving guests. The long string of waiting 
 carriages threatened a tedious delay, so Darwin, un- 
 able to curb his impatience, stopped his cab at the 
 far corner and walked the rest of the distance. 
 
 Incensed at his wife's inexcusable thoughtless- 
 ness, the lawyer was under a high nervous tension. 
 Running quickly up the steps, he entered the house, 
 passing unobserved in the crush of people at the 
 door, and made his way at once to the fumow, a 
 
 152
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 fine, spacious room on the second floor, richly 
 decorated in red leather, with hunting scenes in- 
 serted in the paneled wainscoting. At the far 
 end was a large buffet filled with decanters and 
 glasses and cigars. People were passing in and 
 out. Through a door leading to the ball room came 
 the strains of dance music. In the distance was 
 heard loud chatter and laughter. 
 
 Several men, none of whom the district attorney 
 knew, were in the smoking room, standing chat- 
 ting in groups. Men servants were walking in and 
 out with trays and glasses. Everybody looked up 
 and stared in surprise as Darwin came in, conspic- 
 uous in his plain business suit among the crowd in 
 full dress. His manner was cold and defiant, and 
 he held his hat and cane in hand, as if determined 
 to make it plain to everyone that he would not stay 
 a moment longer than was necessary. Thomas, the 
 butler, came forward. 
 
 "Kindly tell Mrs. Darwin that I am here," com- 
 manded the district attorney haughtily. 
 
 "Yes, sir. Mrs. Darwin arrived only a few mo- 
 ments ago. She's in the ball room." 
 
 "Give her my message at once." 
 153
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 The butler was about to leave the room, when 
 two men servants entered with a card table. Thomas 
 stopped for a moment to give his subordinates in- 
 structions. 
 
 "Yes, that's right. Put the table there. The gen- 
 tlemen are going to play cards." 
 
 Darwin, almost beside himself with impatience 
 and scarcely able to contain his growing irritation, 
 interrupted testily : 
 
 "Will you kindly deliver my message?" 
 
 "Yes, sir, right away," replied the butler apolo- 
 getically. 
 
 With another glance at the card table to see if 
 everything was all right, he hurried away. As he 
 passed out Mr. Tooker, resplendent in claw ham- 
 mer coat and a showy diamond solitaire in his wide 
 expanse of shirt bosom, strolled leisurely in and 
 joined the two men loitering at the buffet. 
 
 "Hello, boys, what have you got to drink ? Hem 
 I guess I'll take a little brandy. Make it a pony." 
 
 "Playing the ponies, eh, what?" ventured one of 
 the wits in the group, a dandy with a gardenia in 
 his lapel. 
 
 "How's the market, Mr. Tooker?" demanded 
 
 154
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 another, a young foppish man who was anxious to 
 have people think he dabbled in the Street. 
 
 "Rotten!" growled Tooker, as he emptied his 
 glass at a gulp. 
 
 "Nice party this, eh, what?" said the first speaker. 
 
 "Say, that Mrs. Darwin's a peach!" remarked 
 another. 
 
 Some of the men had glanced several times in 
 the direction of the district attorney, who was im- 
 patiently pacing the floor. No one knew who he 
 was, and there was considerable curiosity as to 
 what he could be doing there in a business suit. 
 They whispered among themselves and laughed. 
 Feeling that he was the object of their mirth, Dar- 
 win turned and glared at them. 
 
 "Who's your friend ?" demanded Tooker with a 
 chuckle, nudging his neighbor and jerking his thumb 
 in Darwin's direction. 
 
 Just at that moment the butler returned. Going 
 up to the district attorney, he said: 
 
 "Mrs. Darwin will be here in just a moment, 
 sir " 
 
 "Is she getting her things on?" demanded Dar- 
 win. 
 
 155
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 "I think not, sir; she said she'd come down at 
 the end of this dance." 
 
 "With whom is she dancing?" 
 
 "I don't know sir." 
 
 "Mr. Wilbur Emerson?" suggested the lawyer. 
 
 "I don't know, sir." 
 
 The butler turned away to get the card table 
 ready, and while he was engaged laying out the 
 cards and arranging the chairs, John Emerson en- 
 tered the smoking room. His glance at once fell 
 on Darwin, who, angry and sullen, stood waiting 
 in a corner. Surprised to see the attorney, the old 
 gentleman advanced with extended hand. Cordially 
 he exclaimed : 
 
 "My dear Mr. Darwin, I'm so glad. Won't you 
 join us in a little festive er dance or so? It's 
 Isabel's birthday, and " 
 
 "Thanks, I don't dance," said Darwin coldly. 
 
 "Neither do I," smiled Mr. Emerson, "but I man- 
 age to stumble through a square dance or two dur- 
 ing the evening. Your wife is here." 
 
 "Yes, I know," replied the lawyer coldly. "That 
 is why I am here. I have come to take Mrs. Darwin 
 away." 
 
 156
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 "Take her away?" echoed Mr. Emerson in sur- 
 prise. 
 
 The lawyer tapped the floor nervously with his 
 cane. Pointedly he said: 
 
 "I think, Mr. Emerson, that any explanation, in 
 fact, conversation of any sort between us is ex- 
 tremely difficult, not to say impossible, under the 
 circumstances." 
 
 The old banker looked at his visitor with amaze- 
 ment. He did not understand. What could he 
 mean? He did not like mysteries. 
 
 "Under what circumstances?" he demanded, ele- 
 vating his eyebrows. "What are the circumstances, 
 Mr. Darwin, that makes conversation between us 
 impossible ?" 
 
 The crowd at the buffet, seeing their host engage 
 the queer stranger in apparently friendly chat, filed 
 out of the room, followed by Tooker. The butler, 
 dismissing the other servants, went out, shutting 
 the door quietly behind him. 
 
 "I prefer not to discuss the matter," said Dar- 
 win, shrugging his shoulders. "I have come to 
 take Mrs. Darwin home. Will you have the kind- 
 ness to see that she knows I am here ?" 
 
 157
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 Taken back for the moment by the lawyer's curt- 
 ness of manner, the old banker looked at him in 
 bewilderment. Then, with some show of feeling, 
 he said: 
 
 "I regret exceedingly, Mr. Darwin, that you 
 I'm at a loss what to say. We have known Kath- 
 ryn ever since she and Isabel were schoolgirls to- 
 gether. Come, James, we used to be very good 
 friends. Let me take a friend's privilege and beg 
 an explanation. Isn't it something that can be put 
 right with a few words?" 
 
 "I prefer not to discuss the matter," replied Dar- 
 win coldly. 
 
 Mr. Emerson put out a protesting hand. 
 
 "I'm an older man than you, James. For Kath- 
 ryn's sake, for all our sakes, don't allow a simple 
 misunderstanding to cut her off from her friends. 
 Isabel and she are like sisters." 
 
 "Yes," interrupted Darwin bitterly, "and your 
 son Wilbur is like a brother. It's all very pretty 
 and platonic, I've no doubt." 
 
 The old man made an exclamation. Now he 
 understood. 
 
 "Ah, I see," he said, shaking his head; "some 
 
 158
 
 THH GAMBLERS 
 
 gossip, some silly rumor. Surely you won't con- 
 demn him unheard? Wilbur is the very soul of 
 honor. I'll stake my life on his integrity as a man. 
 And Kathryn I won't believe that she " 
 
 "Kindly leave Mrs. Darwin's name out of this 
 affair," interrupted the lawyer curtly. "She has 
 nothing to do with my determination to put an end 
 to further communication with your family. It's 
 something of a totally different character." 
 
 Mr. Emerson looked at him keenly, as if trying 
 to comprehend the real significance of his words. 
 Slowly he said: 
 
 "The nature of which you evidently seem anxious 
 to acquaint me with." 
 
 Seeing the futility of trying any further to ce- 
 ment the breach, the old gentleman compressed his 
 lips and drew himself up with dignity. Gravely 
 he added: "Just as you please. I I ask your 
 pardon." 
 
 With a courteous bow the veteran banker walked 
 out with dignity. He had hardly disappeared be- 
 fore Kathryn entered the room. She was beauti- 
 fully gowned, her cheeks were red and her eyes 
 fairly sparkled with the exhilaration of the dance.
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 "Hello, James!" she cried as she caught sight of 
 her husband. "Why did you come so early ? What 
 did you say to Mr. Emerson? He was so upset 
 that he said good-bye to me just now I told him 
 I hadn't the slightest intention of going. What 
 have you said to him?" 
 
 "Kathryn," said the lawyer sternly, "I want you 
 to come home at once." 
 
 His wife looked at him in amazement. Could 
 he be in his senses? Opening wide her large, fine 
 eyes, she exclaimed: 
 
 "You're not serious, are you? Why, I've only 
 just arrived. I'm enjoying myself thoroughly. I 
 can't go for at least an hour, so if you don't mind 
 waiting " 
 
 "I do mind," replied Darwin curtly. 
 
 Holding out her engagement card, she cried: 
 
 "Surely you don't expect me to break all these 
 engagements ?" 
 
 "I asked you not to come here to-night. You 
 willfully disregarded my my " 
 
 "Your orders?" she laughed. 
 
 "My request," he said firmly; "and now you 
 must take the consequences." 
 
 160
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 "You gave me no reason/' she protested. "No 
 explanation I didn't think you were in earnest." 
 
 "The fact that it was my wish should be suf- 
 ficient reason," he snapped. 
 
 "Oh, nonsense, James!" 
 
 He advanced angrily. His face was set and de- 
 termined. 
 
 "Kathryn, I " 
 
 "Please drop that tragic expression," she replied 
 with a laugh. "Why not stay yourself? There 
 are lots of pretty girls here who would be simply 
 charmed to dance with the famous prosecuting 
 attorney. No, I'll dance ten numbers with you my- 
 self, and God knows that is penance enough for hav- 
 ing dared to disobey my lord and master's injunc- 
 tion! Is that the right legal term? Oh, come, 
 James, soften up come out of your shell !" 
 
 "You don't take me seriously, eh?" exclaimed 
 Darwin savagely. "That's your latest pose you 
 refuse to take anything seriously." 
 
 It was now her turn to get angry. Endeavoring, 
 however, to restrain herself, she replied calmly: 
 
 "I dare not ! Whether life is a tragedy or comedy 
 to me depends on the way I look at it. I prefer 
 
 161
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 comedy. That's why I chose to come here and 
 revel in wifely disobedience rather than sit at home 
 contemplating my virtuous, submissive self in lonely 
 solitude !" 
 
 He looked at her in silence, wondering how far 
 her resistance would go, astounded at this unac- 
 customed display of spirit. Doggedly he said : 
 
 "Do you wish me to understand that you refuse 
 to come home?" 
 
 "Oh, let me stay, James," she pleaded. 
 
 "It's impossible," he replied firmly. 
 
 "I'll cancel all those engagements," she went on 
 coaxingly, "every one of them, and dance through 
 the whole list with you if you'll stay. Could any 
 wife do more? Furthermore, I'll wear sackcloth 
 and ashes for the remainder of the week, as extra 
 penance." He shook his head, and seeing that she 
 could not bend him, she went on bitterly: "No- 
 adamant, eh? Stern, strong, unbending and un- 
 yielding! Fine qualities for a statue, James, but 
 not for a husband!" 
 
 He winced under her irony. Shifting about un- 
 easily on his feet he muttered : 
 
 "You don't understand. In the light of recent 
 162
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 events you must not be seen here among these peo- 
 ple. It's not expedient. It's not- " 
 
 She knew that he was prevaricating, that the 
 pending prosecution was not the real reason. 
 Quietly she said : 
 
 "There are more than a hundred people here. 
 Which particular person do you object to?" 
 
 "All of them in general," he replied contempt- 
 uously ; then quickly he added : "Your host, Wilbur 
 Emerson in particular." 
 
 "He is not my host," she cried. 
 
 "This is his house. The Emersons, the Cowpers 
 and others associated with him in business are 
 here. I know the whole list; it reads like a bank- 
 ers' convention. I I wish you to leave at once." 
 
 "It will seem so strange," she murmured hesi- 
 tatingly. 
 
 Glancing at his watch he said quickly: 
 
 "I've just time to leave you at the house." 
 
 She looked up at him in surprise. 
 
 "Then you are not coming home with me?" 
 
 "No. I must go to Washington at midnight. In 
 the meantime, I've an important conference to-night 
 and one with the attorney general to-morrow. He's 
 
 163
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 determined to enforce the law, and has retained me 
 to help him. These people are to be rooted out 
 exterminated made an example of. Of course, I 
 need not tell you that it means political advance- 
 ment if I succeed in convicting them perhaps the 
 attorney-generalship. ' ' 
 
 "So !" she cried scornfully, "must you always rise 
 on the downfall of others?" Imploringly she went 
 on: "James, these people are my friends your 
 friends they have helped us in so many ways." 
 
 "I have no friends," he interrupted icily. "Be- 
 sides, whatever old Emerson did for me years ago 
 has been double discounted by his son." 
 
 "How?" she demanded. 
 
 He held out his hand. With suppressed wrath 
 he exclaimed: 
 
 "Let me see your engagement card." 
 
 Slowly she handed it to him, and carefully, delib- 
 erately he read the initials scribbled on the card in 
 pencil. Scoffingly he exclaimed : 
 
 "W. E. W. E. W. E. and so on W. E. 
 Wilbur Emerson. I think that's the answer, Kath- 
 ryn!" 
 
 "Mr Emerson is not here to-night," she protested 
 164
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 quickly. "These are unfilled promises. Why, what 
 nonsense! He is not sufficiently interested in me 
 to even keep his engagements." 
 
 Darwin looked at her searchingly. Quickly he 
 retorted : 
 
 "He was sufficiently interested to make them." 
 
 "No," she answered carelessly, "that's his sister 
 Isabel's writing. She only did it for fun; the man 
 isn't even here." 
 
 He shrugged his shoulders. Savagely he said: 
 
 "It makes no matter. These people are malefac- 
 tors criminals a menace to society." 
 
 "I don't believe it !" she cried angrily. 
 
 "You don't want to believe it," he replied coldly. 
 "I" intend to show you that I am right." 
 
 "Of course you are right," she retorted ironically. 
 "Even if you were not, you have the horrible fac- 
 ulty of being able to prove that I am wrong. That's 
 the penalty I pay for being the wife of a clever law- 
 yer. But, James, can't you let some one else under- 
 take this investigation?" 
 
 "No," he replied firmly. 
 
 "For my sake," she persisted coaxingly, "do this 
 one thing for my sake." 
 
 165
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 He looked at her coldly. 
 
 "What!" he exclaimed angrily; "give up an op- 
 portunity like this the chance of a lifetime! See 
 how little you care whether I succeed or fail ! You 
 ought to be glad my chance has come at last, but 
 you don't care; you've never really cared!" 
 
 Kathryn turned her head away. Indifferently she 
 answered : 
 
 "Yes, once I cared, when I thought you were 
 actuated by a genuine desire to help others by re- 
 forming them. But in the present case you seem 
 to think only of your own advancement." 
 
 "And you you think only of him!" he retorted 
 angrily. 
 
 "James!" 
 
 She was about to make an indignant protest when 
 suddenly Isabel entered the room. Approaching 
 her chum hurriedly she said reproachfully : 
 
 "Kitty Kitty this won't do! We can't let you 
 go like this. Oh, let her stay, Mr. Darwin don't 
 be such a bear." 
 
 Kathryn shook her head. 
 
 "I must go. Good-bye,'* she said. 
 
 "Is it as bad as that?" exclaimed Isabel. "And 
 1 66
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 this is married life. Poor old Kate ! Oh, you men 
 are monsters! I wouldn't marry the best of you." 
 
 "Indeed," replied Darwin, mockingly. 
 
 "No," exclaimed the girl spiritedly; "I'm an old 
 maid and, please God, I intend to stay one till I 
 meet the right man." Pleadingly she added : "Why 
 don't you stay, Mr. Darwin? Impose penance on 
 yourself and dance with me." 
 
 The lawyer bowed and replied coldly : 
 
 "Thank you, it's quite impossible." 
 
 "My brother will be terribly disappointed," she 
 exclaimed. 
 
 "I've no doubt," replied the lawyer, with an iron- 
 ical smile. "Please express to him my deepest re- 
 grets." Turning to his wife he said : "Come, Kate, 
 my appointment is at ten. My train goes at twelve." 
 
 He bowed and went toward the door. Kathryn 
 stood saying good-bye to Isabel. 
 
 "Is this what you call making a stand?" said the 
 latter. "I thought you were going to rebel 
 openly." 
 
 "I did," sighed Kathryn, "but it didn't quite 
 work. I'm not going home because I'm afraid to 
 displease him. I'm going because for your sake. 
 
 167
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 He has threatened your father and brother 
 with " 
 
 Isabel opened wide her eyes. 
 
 "Why, Kate, what do you mean?" she cried anx- 
 iously. 
 
 Darwin, already at the door, looked back im- 
 patiently. 
 
 "Hush! I'll tell you to-morrow. So glad your 
 dance is such a huge success. Good-bye, dear." 
 
 Walking straight out, she followed her husband 
 downstairs. 
 
 168
 
 CHAPTER XI 
 
 ISABEL accompanied her friend downstairs and 
 stood at the front door regretfully watching 
 her depart. It was too absurd to have her 
 go away like that ; the fun had only just begun. She 
 was extremely fond of Kathryn, and it aroused her 
 indignation to think that a husband could treat his 
 wife with such little consideration. She was glad 
 now that she had never married. People might 
 make fun of her for being an old maid, but at least 
 she was her own mistress. She was not shackled to 
 a tyrant who could bully her and make her life mis- 
 erable. However, the unpleasant incident must not 
 be permitted to spoil the party. There were other 
 friends whose amusements must be catered to. 
 
 The cab rattled away, and she was about to re- 
 enter the hall, when she noticed two men who were 
 standing still, watching the house, on the other side 
 of the avenue. At first she took them for chance 
 passers-by, attracted by the lights and music, but 
 
 169
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 their actions were so peculiar that she called the 
 footman and drew his attention to them. 
 
 "Yes, miss," said the man, touching his hat re- 
 spectfully, "I seen them fellers loafing round here 
 for the last hour or so. I don't know who they are. 
 I thought perhaps they were waiting for some of 
 the people in the house. Shall I go and ask them 
 what they want, miss?" 
 
 "No, never mind, Peters," said Isabel. "First I'll 
 speak to my brother about it. He may know who 
 they are." 
 
 "Very good, miss." 
 
 From the distance came the strains of sensuous, 
 dreamy music. The orchestra had struck up an- 
 other waltz. Returning indoors, Isabel ran quickly 
 upstairs to look for her brother. Those strange 
 men were certainly mysterious. Perhaps they were 
 burglars. There had been a lot of robberies lately 
 in the neighborhood. The house was full of silver 
 and other valuables. The stories she had read in 
 the papers had made her so horribly nervous that 
 she actually dreaded night time coming. She was 
 afraid to go about the house, fearing that a masked 
 ruffian might spring at her from some dark corner. 
 
 170
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 In the smoking room she found the butler stack- 
 ing poker chips on the card table. 
 
 "Is Mr. Wilbur home yet, Thomas?" she asked. 
 
 "Yes, miss, a few moments ago. He's dressing.'* 
 
 The man went on with his work of preparing for 
 the poker game. The girl watched him stacking the 
 ivory chips. Presently she said: "Are they going 
 to play cards to-night?" 
 
 "Yes, miss." 
 
 A cloud crossed the girl's face. She did not like 
 the idea of the men being closeted in the smoking 
 room playing cards while she had the work of en- 
 tertaining the ladies in the drawing room. In a 
 disappointed tone she said: 
 
 "Are you sure?" 
 
 "Yes, miss." 
 
 "How many will play ?" 
 
 "My orders were to set for four, miss." 
 
 As the servant spoke the door opened and Wil- 
 bur entered the room. The financier's appearance 
 suggested a hasty toilette. His dress coat was 
 hardly on and his white cravat was awry. His face 
 was pale, his manner nervous and flustered. 
 
 "Hello, sis!" he said as he came in. "What's 
 171
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 the good word? I'm late, eh? I was detained 
 down-town." 
 
 His sister pointed to the card table. Reproach- 
 fully she said: 
 
 "You're not going- to play cards to-night, are 
 you?" 
 
 The banker glanced quickly at the table. 
 
 "Yes, we are," he said grimly. 
 
 "But we women the dancing it will spoil 
 everything," she protested. 
 
 Having arranged the cards to his liking, the but- 
 ler discreetly left the room. Wilbur went to the 
 table and toyed nervously with the chips. 
 
 "Very sorry, sis, but I promised the fellows to 
 have this game. We'll call it off at supper time, 
 and then we'll dance till daybreak. How does that 
 suit you? Who's here?" Without waiting for her 
 answer, he asked quickly: "Is she here?" 
 
 "Who Kathryn? She was here and see what 
 a good sister you've got I put you down for six 
 dances on her card." 
 
 He interrupted her quickly. 
 
 "You say she was here ? Isn't she here still ?" 
 
 "No; her husband came and took her away." 
 172
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 "Took her away? What do you mean?" 
 
 He stood staring at his sister in amazement, not 
 understanding, thinking that she was jesting. 
 
 "Took her away?" he repeated. 
 
 "Yes," said Isabel. "I don't know why. He 
 was very curt and rude, and appeared very angry. 
 He was in this room not five minutes ago." 
 
 The young banker turned pale and clutched at 
 the table for support. 
 
 "Ah! He was, eh?" he exclaimed hoarsely. 
 
 Isabel, concerned, went up to him. 
 
 "What's the matter, Wilbur?" she cried, alarmed. 
 "Are you ill?" 
 
 "No no it's nothing." 
 
 Now he understood. It was clear enough. Mat- 
 ters in the bank were approaching a crisis. The 
 authorities were about to take action. James Dar- 
 win, public prosecuting officer, did not care to have 
 his wife accepting the hospitality of the Emerson 
 family. It was clear as daylight. 
 
 "I'm glad I didn't meet him," he said hastily. 
 "So he took her away, eh? Did he say why?" 
 
 "No. He made no explanations. His manner 
 was peculiar." 
 
 173
 
 THE, GAMBLERS 
 
 Wilbur went to the door and opened it cautiously 
 as if to make sure that no one was listening. Then, 
 turning to his sister, his face set and drawn, he said 
 in a low tone: 
 
 "Well, I might as well tell you, sis. I suppose 
 it will come out sooner or later, but whatever you 
 hear, don't worry. Darwin's the man who's going 
 to make the investigation of our banks. I'd rather 
 it had been anyone else anyone. You know, Bella, 
 I'm not afraid of any man any number of men. 
 I've faced and fought them with every weapon 
 from a jackknife to an army Colt struggled with 
 them mentally and physically, and won out when 
 the odds were against me. But this man Darwin 
 affects me like a snake. I always want to put my 
 foot on his head and crush him. He seems to gain 
 the upper hand at every point, and now he has 
 turned the Federal Government loose on us. When 
 that man gets you in the witness chair he seems to 
 be inspired. He has second sight, or something of 
 the sort. It's positively uncanny he's a fiend at 
 cross-examination; he knows just what he wants 
 you to say, and, by God, he makes you say it. I 
 saw him twist up poor old Johnson, the insurance 
 
 174
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 millionaire, till he made him lie about himself. He's 
 a machine an instrument of torture. His pose is 
 that he hates money, but in reality he only hates 
 the men who make money." 
 
 Isabel nodded in sisterly sympathy. Slowly she 
 said: 
 
 "Kate leads a miserably unhappy life with 
 him. There's not a particle of sympathy between 
 them." 
 
 "I know I know," he replied, pacing the floor 
 nervously. 
 
 Suddenly Isabel bethought herself of the two 
 mysterious men. 
 
 "Oh, by the bye, Wilbur, I forgot to tell you. 
 When I went downstairs just now with Kate I no- 
 ticed two men watching the house from across the 
 way. Peters says they've been there for over an 
 hour. Do you think they're burglars ought we 
 to send for the police ?" 
 
 The young man started nervously. Going quickly 
 to the window he drew aside the curtain. When 
 he turned round again his face was almost livid. 
 
 "It isn't necessary to send for the police," he 
 said hoarsely. "Those men are policemen they're 
 
 175
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 detectives set on by that man Darwin to watch my 
 every move. I didn't know he'd go as far as 
 that." 
 
 Isabel, alarmed, looked more closely at her 
 brother. She didn't know what he meant. She 
 had no knowledge of the bank's affairs. Something 
 was wrong, that was evident. She remembered 
 now that her brother's manner had been upset and 
 nervous for several days. Anxiously she exclaimed : 
 
 "Wilbur, you're hiding something from me 
 something serious has happened!" 
 
 "No, just a little technical interference from 
 Washington, that's all." 
 
 But Isabel was not convinced. 
 
 "Please tell me, Wilbur," she entreated. 
 
 "What in God's name made her marry such a 
 man?" he cried fiercely, forgetting for the moment 
 his greater trouble in sympathizing with the woman 
 he had loved and lost. 
 
 "Why didn't you marry her?" replied his sister. 
 "I've never forgiven you for that, Wilbur." 
 
 "I never knew till it was too late. A man fight- 
 ing for success is a busy animal in these days, Bella. 
 I won success, but I lost her. I'm afraid I have 
 
 176
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 grasped the shadow of life and lost the substance." 
 Laying a hand affectionately on his sister's shoul- 
 der he added: "If anything happens, old girl, you 
 and father are all right that's one comfort." 
 
 "But Wilbur," she protested, "you must tell me 
 what has happened." 
 
 The young man was about to reply when the door 
 leading from the ballroom opened and John Emer- 
 son entered. The aged banker had a serious, wor- 
 ried look on his face. Gossip he had just overheard 
 gave startling corroboration to strange rumors 
 which had reached his ears during the last few days, 
 rumors that reflected on the credit and the solvency 
 of the Emerson Bank. For the last year or so he 
 had given little attention to the management. He 
 had left everything to his son, and apparently the 
 bank was never so prosperous. What, then, could 
 these disquieting rumors mean? It was imperative 
 that he have a talk with Wilbur at once. Turning 
 to his daughter he said : 
 
 "What the whole family here! We must have 
 a representative upstairs. You run along and look 
 after your guests." 
 
 "Don't let him keep you here the whole evening, 
 177
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 father; lots of young ladies are anxious to dance 
 with you." 
 
 "Am I as old as that?" laughed, the veteran 
 banker. 
 
 "No," laughed Isabel, "you're the youngest mem- 
 ber of the family." 
 
 She tripped out of the room, and Mr. Emerson 
 turned to his son. Gravely he said: 
 
 "What about these rumors, Wilbur we're 
 solvent ?" 
 
 "Solvent? Yes but " replied the young man. 
 He hesitated for a moment, and then went 
 on: "If the Federal Government will let us 
 alone for a week three days we'll have a chain 
 of fifteen banks instead of twelve enough to fight 
 the big fellows and beat them at their own game." 
 
 Mr. Emerson shook his head. Dubiously he said : 
 
 "I confess I don't understand these modern finan- 
 cial methods. I'm leaving the matter to you, my 
 boy. I'm nominally 'the president, but you're the 
 head, the moving spirit of the whole concern. I'm 
 afraid I'm too old to follow the game as it is 
 played in these days. Banking was a gentleman's 
 occupation; now it's a fight in the dark." 
 
 178
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 "Yes," answered Wilbur quietly, "and I have had 
 to fight back also in the dark. Father, you are 
 almost in total ignorance as to how matters stand 
 with the bank to-day. You trusted implicitly to 
 me, and I I've taken unfair advantage of you. 
 The note you indorsed at my request was not used 
 for exactly the purposes I outlined." 
 
 "I trust you, my boy," said Mr. Emerson warmly. 
 "Whatever you have done, you have done for the 
 best. I know that." 
 
 The young man averted his face. Hoarsely he 
 went on: 
 
 "But you don't know all! I borrowed our own 
 funds, and the authorities have found it out!" 
 
 Startled, the old banker looked keenly at his son. 
 These damaging rumors were true, then. With 
 emotion he exclaimed : 
 
 "My God ! Boy, that's a prison offense!" 
 
 "It will all be paid back," said Wilbur quickly, 
 "every penny. We have the money." 
 
 The banker looked at his son fixedly. Gravely 
 he said : 
 
 "Then pay it at once. It must never be said that 
 an Emerson is a defaulter." 
 
 179
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 "Yes, I would have done so to-day," explained 
 Wilbur hurriedly, "but the Government experts 
 took possession of the banks this afternoon just be- 
 fore the closing hour. The notes on which we 
 borrowed the money are still unpaid !" 
 
 Stunned by the shock of this unexpected news, 
 Mr. Emerson collapsed into a seat. This, then, 
 was the fruit of the new bank policy! Ah, he 
 blamed himself now for having been so weak as to 
 yield to the importunities of his son and the other 
 directors. If he had remained firm and retained 
 the controlling hand, this misfortune, this disgrace, 
 could not have come about. He did not know what 
 to say, what to advise. All he could do was to 
 murmur feebly: 
 
 "My son, my son, this is terrible!" 
 
 Wilbur placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. 
 Reassuringly he said: 
 
 "Don't worry, father. It'll come out all right; 
 you'll see. I've got " 
 
 His words were interrupted by the entrance of 
 Tooker and Raymond, who came in, followed by 
 the butler. Wilbur greeted them. 
 
 "Ah, Tooker Raymond how are you?" 
 1 80
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 Tooker approached Mr. Emerson. Patting him 
 on the back with offensive familiarity, he said: 
 
 "Good evening, Mr. Emerson ; I didn't know you 
 played cards." 
 
 "He doesn't," interrupted Wilbur quickly, "and 
 he is not going to play to-night." 
 
 Mr. Emerson looked slowly from one to the 
 other, trying to gauge the significance of their 
 words. What did it mean, this poker game played 
 by directors of a bank at such an inopportune mo- 
 ment, at a time not only when the bank was under 
 the fire of criticism, but when the other guests were 
 already wondering at their absence ? This evidently 
 was no ordinary poker game. These men were 
 about to play for other stakes than money. As 
 head of the bank it was his duty to remain and 
 take part. Firmly, decisively, he asserted himself. 
 With quiet dignity he said : 
 
 "Yes, you gentlemen are directors and stockhold- 
 ers in the bank of which I am president, and I I 
 shall take a hand in the game." 
 
 "This is no time for games," growled Raymond, 
 chewing viciously at his cigar. "Rumors are spread- 
 ing thick and fast about us all over town." 
 
 181
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 "Just the time for a little friendly game," inter- 
 rupted Wilbur nervously. "Never let your enemies 
 see you're too worried to enjoy yourself." 
 
 "Enemies can't see us here," grinned Tooker. 
 
 Wilbur approached his fellow director quickly. 
 In an undertone so that his father might not hear, 
 he said: 
 
 "They can, and they do; the searchlight of in- 
 vestigation is turned on us, and every movement we 
 make is watched." 
 
 Tooker shrugged his shoulders and, taking a seat 
 at the card table, beckoned to the butler. 
 
 "Shall we sit down?" he said. "Might as well 
 begin. Thomas, bring me some soda and whisky." 
 
 While the servant went to get the refreshments 
 asked for, Wilbur turned to Raymond. 
 
 "Where's Cowper? Have you seen him to-day?" 
 
 Raymond shook his head. 
 
 "No, I haven't seen him." 
 
 "He was at our Fifth Avenue branch early this 
 morning," volunteered Tooker. 
 
 Wilbur paced the floor nervously. Hesitatingly, 
 he said : 
 
 "I don't know why, but I'm afraid of Cowper." 
 182
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 "Afraid of him? How?" demanded Mr. Em- 
 erson. 
 
 "He's been acting queerly these last few days," 
 explained Wilbur. "I don't think he's quite one of 
 us. I'm not sure that he can stand the gaff." 
 
 "What's he done?" demanded Raymond. 
 
 "I don't know," said Wilbur. "It's just a a 
 feeling, that's all." 
 
 "Oh, George is all right!' exclaimed Raymond 
 pompously. 
 
 Tooker, a born gambler, ready to stake anything, 
 risk anything in a game of chance, was becoming 
 impatient at the delay. 
 
 "Can't we begin without him?" he asked. 
 
 "Not very well," replied Wilbur. "We are all 
 interested, and " 
 
 "A little less soda, Thomas," protested Tooker, 
 "and a trifle more alcohol. I'm too fat as it is, 
 and one pint of mineral slops does more to tighten 
 a fat man's vest than a gallon of whisky." 
 
 "It may tighten his vest," retorted Raymond, 
 'but it doesn't loosen his tongue. Vichy for me." 
 
 "I see," grinned Tooker. "You take your poison 
 straight. I like a little antidote in mine. Don't 
 
 183
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 forget the Scotch, Thomas." Starting to count 
 his chips, he added: "Well, are we going to wait 
 for him?" 
 
 The butler went to draw the blinds. 
 
 "We must," said Wilbur. Quickly he called back 
 to the butler: "Don't pull that blind down, 
 Thomas." 
 
 "Why not?" demanded Raymond. 
 
 Wilbur bent over so the butler could not hear. 
 In a low tone he said: 
 
 "Because we're watched " 
 
 "Watched!" exclaimed Mr. Emerson. 
 
 Wilbur nodded. 
 
 "There have been two Secret Service men over 
 there all day." 
 
 "Secret Service men Government agents!" ex- 
 claimed the old gentleman in dismay. 
 
 "What does this mean, Emerson?" asked Ray- 
 mond. 
 
 "I'll explain when Cowper comes," said Wilbur 
 evasively. "In the meantime," he added, with a 
 feeble attempt at jocularity, "let. us eat, drink and 
 be merry." 
 
 Raymond called the butler. 
 184
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 "You'd better bring me a little Clysmic er 
 no White Rock er no make it Apollinaris." 
 
 "Don't get reckless and mix those drinks," 
 growled Tooker. "Clysmic White Rock and 
 Apollinaris Gee! what a pousse-cafe." 
 
 "Is it your intention to be personal, sir?" ex- 
 claimed Raymond angrily. 
 
 "Personal?" chuckled Tooker. "Why, I regard 
 the ostentatious way in which you have been order- 
 ing those drinks as a subtle sneer at my weakness 
 for high-balls." He slapped his fellow director 
 on the back and laughed. Then, seriously, he 
 added : "I'm only talking to keep up my courage. 
 God Almighty! If half what I hear is true, I'm 
 scared to death. Come on, Emerson, let us hear the 
 worst." 
 
 "Yes," exclaimed Raymond, impatiently. "Can't 
 you tell us? Why keep us on the griddle?" 
 
 Everybody looked at Wilbur. It was plainly his 
 duty not to keep them in suspense. But the young 
 banker maintained an obstinate and dogged silence. 
 It was impossible to guess, from the expression of 
 his face, if the danger was real and imminent, or if 
 there was still a possibility of matters being adjusted 
 
 185
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 without publicity and scandal. The true gambler 
 schools himself never to betray his hand. No mat- 
 ter how the cards are going, no matter if he has 
 just drawn a card which means ruin complete and 
 irrevocable, his face must remain calm and in- 
 scrutable. With a gesture of his hand, Wilbur 
 pointed to the table and took his seat. On his right 
 was his father, next came Raymond. Tooker sat 
 on his left, with an empty chair beyond for Cowper. 
 Picking up the chips, he gave each man a stack. 
 Then, deliberately, impressively, he took the new 
 deck of cards in his hand. The game was about to 
 begin. 
 
 Suddenly the door opened, and Cowper hur- 
 riedly entered, nervous and haggard looking. 
 
 186
 
 CHAPTER XII 
 
 COWPER advanced into the room, and with 
 a sort of quick, lurching gait, slid into the 
 seat left vacant at the table. Fingering his 
 chips nervously and without looking up, he said 
 awkwardly : 
 
 "I beg your pardon. I hope I haven't kept the 
 game waiting. Good evening, Mr. Emerson." 
 
 Still avoiding Wilbur's gaze, which was steadily 
 fixed upon his face, the newcomer shook hands with 
 Mr. Emerson, Sr. 
 
 looker put down his glass. With a growl he 
 said: 
 
 "Wilbur wouldn't start the game till you came. 
 Can't you ever be on time?" 
 
 "I'm very sorry," said Cowper hastily. "Impor- 
 tant business downtown detained me till nearly nine 
 o'clock. I'm really very sorry. Is this my place?" 
 
 Wilbur, who, while shuffling the cards, still fixed 
 the newcomer with a persistent stare, nodded. 
 
 187
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 "Yes, that's your place, Cowper." Turning to 
 the butler he said in a low tone: "Thomas, you 
 can pull down the blinds and go." 
 
 The man pulled down the blinds and went out, 
 closing the door behind him. Raymond lit another 
 Jiuge cigar. Throwing away the match, he growled : 
 
 "Well, now we're all here, let's go ahead. To 
 keep up the pleasant fiction, what game are we 
 playing?" 
 
 "Yes; what are we playing for?" chimed in 
 Tooker. 
 
 All looked at Wilbur. They knew that the sit- 
 uation was desperate, and that this make-believe of 
 a game of cards was only to mask a secret directors' 
 meeting. Wilbur's face was set and determined. 
 His associates must know the truth. There was 
 nothing to hold back. Slowly and gravely he said : 
 
 "Our liberty! That's what we are playing for. 
 Gentlemen, the hand of the Federal Government 
 is upon us. We've gambled and we've lost. Un- 
 less we can delay the Federal experts' examination 
 for twenty- four hours by that time I expect to 
 have sufficient money to buy up my father's 
 
 notes " 
 
 1 88
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 "Why not mine, and Tooker's, and your own?" 
 interrupted Raymond. 
 
 "Oh, let him go on," exclaimed Tooker. 
 
 "My father," explained Wilbur, hastily, "did not 
 know what use we were going to make of his in- 
 dorsements." 
 
 "I told you," growled Raymond, "that borrow- 
 ing over and above our capital, on our own notes, 
 was a dangerous proceeding damn dangerous I 
 always " 
 
 "Could we get it elsewhere?" interrupted Wilbur 
 hotly. 
 
 "God knows Wilbur tried hard enough!" said 
 Mr. Emerson. 
 
 "I certainly did," exclaimed Tooker. 
 
 "And I," said Cowper hesitatingly. 
 
 Raymond shrugged his shoulders and, jamming 
 his cigar into the corner of his mouth, grunted with 
 an injured air: 
 
 "I was against branching out from the start." 
 
 "Oh, bosh!" retorted Tooker; "you're over 
 twenty-one. You went in with your eyes 
 open." 
 
 Wilbur raised his hand. 
 189
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 "Gentlemen, please, no bickering. That's all a 
 question of the past. We're dealing with the pres- 
 ent and the future. The point I want to make is 
 that we five men have broken the law. The big 
 financial crowd that controls everything has urged 
 the Government to take steps against us and, as 
 matters stand a long term in prison stares us in 
 the face, unless a miracle happens." 
 
 "Miracles don't happen," growled Raymond. 
 
 "Never did," chuckled Tooker, "except in the 
 good book." 
 
 "Miracles do happen," insisted Wilbur firmly. "I 
 shall have sufficient money to-morrow morning to 
 buy up those notes." 
 
 His father looked at him in amazement. 
 
 "How is that possible, my boy?" he exclaimed. 
 "The notes are in the vaults, and if the Govern- 
 ment experts are in possession " 
 
 Wilbur shook his head. Grimly he said : 
 
 "No, I took the notes out of the vaults late this 
 afternoon, before they closed up." 
 
 "Thank God for that !" exclaimed Raymond, with 
 a sigh of relief. 
 
 "Where are they?" demanded Tooker. 
 190
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 Putting his hand over his coat inside pocket, Wil- 
 bur said : 
 
 "Here." Continuing, he said: "Without these 
 notes there will not be sufficient evidence against 
 us. Our institution may go under, but the crim- 
 inal proceedings will fall through." 
 
 "Let me see the notes," said Raymond. 
 
 Mr. Emerson rose, trembling from emotion. 
 Shaking his head, he said with feeling: 
 
 "Gentlemen, I feel this very keenly. This dis- 
 grace is hard for me to bear. I left everything to 
 you. I don't know what to advise." 
 
 "That's all right, dad," interrupted Wilbur, put- 
 ting his arm affectionately round his father's shoul- 
 der. "We'll take the responsibility, eh, Tooker 
 and you, Raymond Cowper you're all pledged 
 to protect him, no matter what comes, eh?" 
 
 "I shall return every penny of profit I have ever 
 made," went on the old man. "Let that be under- 
 stood." 
 
 "We won't discuss that now," said Wilbur hur- 
 riedly. 
 
 Raymond chewed his cigar in wrathful silence. 
 Suddenly he blurted out: 
 
 191
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 "Nice scrape, this! You know I trusted you, 
 Wilbur I thought you knew what you were 
 doing." 
 
 Wilbur looked him straight in the face. With 
 quiet dignity he said : 
 
 "And I'm going to prove worthy of that trust. 
 I'd rather go to prison for ten years than have any 
 of you suffer through me. I acknowledge my 
 guilt. All around me men were massing up mil- 
 lions, and were using those millions to drive us 
 and other small concerns to the wall. Didn't they 
 keep us out of the Clearing House? I saw a 
 chance to put ourselves in a position to protect our- 
 selves. I submitted this idea to you and you all 
 took chances. You were hot for it, Cowper, and 
 so were you, Raymond you all were all ex- 
 cept my father. He didn't realize he didn't even 
 know what the move was and by God he shan't 
 suffer! If I can help it, none of you shall 
 suffer." 
 
 Mr. Emerson grasped his son's hand. Kindly he 
 said: 
 
 "I'm not reproaching you, Wilbur I'm only 
 bewildered the magnitude of the whole scheme, as 
 
 192
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 you outlined it, dazzled me but I confess I 
 didn't understand it." 
 
 "The records of those notes what of them?" 
 asked looker. 
 
 Wilbur gave a smile of satisfaction. 
 
 "Other names have been substituted. Boys, I 
 took no measures. They'll never be able to trace 
 them take them home and destroy them." 
 
 Taking from his pocket a long, blue envelope he 
 threw it on the table. Exultingly he cried : 
 
 "Now, Mr. Darwin, let's see who'll win this 
 fight!" 
 
 "Darwin?" exclaimed Raymond; "what has he 
 to do with it ?" 
 
 "The attorney general has turned the case over 
 to him," said Wilbur quickly. 
 
 "The devil!" exclaimed Raymond. 
 
 "Them's my sentiments to a dot!" chimed in 
 Tooker. 
 
 Opening the envelope, Raymond picked out the 
 note signed with his name. As he glanced at it 
 something in its appearance caused him to inspect 
 it closer. With an exclamation of surprise, he ejac- 
 ulated : 
 
 193
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 "This isn't the note I signed, and that isn't my 
 signature. Mr. Emerson, is that yours? Wilbur, 
 what's the meaning of this?" 
 
 Wilbur started from his seat and snatched up 
 the notes. 
 
 "What's that !" he exclaimed. "I didn't examine 
 them closely. They were in the usual place in the 
 vaults." With a gesture of dismay, he cried : "My 
 God, they are only copies!" 
 
 For a moment there followed a dead silence as 
 each man hastily examined the paper bearing his 
 name. The quiet was so intense one could have 
 heard a pin drop. Then, all at once, there went up 
 a general chorus of dismay. Wilbur, utterly 
 crushed by this new blow, sank back in his seat. 
 
 "Where are the originals?" he exclaimed. "Who 
 can have taken them ?" Examining the note closely 
 he went on: "The handwriting on these copies is 
 
 very familiar very familiar " Looking at 
 
 Cowper suspiciously, he added: "Do you rec- 
 ognize it, Mr. Cowper?" 
 
 The director shuffled uneasily with his feet. 
 
 "No why why should I?" he said evasively. 
 
 Wilbur looked steadily at him, trying to read the 
 194
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 truth in the drawn, haggard face of the director, 
 many of whose actions recently needed explaining. 
 For some days he had suspected that Cowper was 
 not all he pretended to be. He had never liked the 
 man. His college record was bad. Once give a 
 dog a bad name, it not only sticks to him, but 
 seems to mould his character. There was nothing 
 honorable or wholesome about Cowper. He was 
 underhanded and tricky. He was a man who would 
 not hesitate to sacrifice his nearest and dearest, if 
 only he was able to save his own skin. His inability 
 to raise a loan, his mysterious visits downtown, his 
 many questions regarding the bank's affairs, all this 
 had aroused suspicion in Wilbur's mind that, per- 
 haps, he had gone over to the enemy. Still fixing 
 Cowper with his steady gaze, he said pointedly : 
 
 "This is some of Darwin's work. I know his 
 methods. He has found the weak spot in our ar- 
 mor. They've secured the originals and substituted 
 these copies, eh, Cowper?" 
 
 "I it looks like it I suppose so," stammered 
 Cowper, trying to appear unconcerned. 
 
 "It is so," said Wilbur decisively; "I'm convinced 
 of it." 
 
 195
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 "It certainly looks as if your move has been an- 
 ticipated," said Cowper. 
 
 "Yes," said Wilbur pointedly. "Some one has 
 betrayed us!" 
 
 The other men smoked on in silence, each tax- 
 ing his brain to find some solution to the mystery. 
 Wilbur, meantime, never took his eyes from 
 Cowper. 
 
 "If you had only taken my advice!" whined 
 Raymond; "if you'd only have listened to me, you'd 
 have given the matter more thought if " 
 
 "If if if " growled Tooker. 
 
 "What's the good of that kind of talk, Ray- 
 mond?" exclaimed Wilbur impatiently. "We're in 
 a hole. There's no use figuring how we got in. 
 The question is: How are we to get out?" 
 
 "That's it," chuckled Tooker. "Where do we. 
 get off?" 
 
 "My notes are there, too, are they not?" asked 
 Mr. Emerson quickly. 
 
 "Yes," said Wilbur in a low tone, "that's the 
 worst part of it." 
 
 "It's too bad, Mr. Emerson," said Tooker, with 
 a feeble attempt at sympathy. 
 
 196
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 "After all," said the old banker with a smile, "I 
 don't see that I'm in any worse position than the 
 rest of you." 
 
 "No," interrupted Wilbur quickly, "but your case 
 is different. These men are speculators, like myself. 
 They knew the chances they were taking you 
 didn't." 
 
 "Neither did I," exclaimed Raymond. "That is 
 not not thoroughly " 
 
 "Oh, stuff!" retorted Tooker rudely. 
 
 Mr. Emerson held up his hand. 
 
 "The fault is my own, gentlemen," he said with 
 dignity. 'Please don't allow my individual mis- 
 fortune to add to yours. Let each man pay for his 
 own folly at the current market price." 
 
 "No," exclaimed Wilbur. "Some of us may 
 yet escape. I have thought out a way. Why should 
 five of us go to prison? I see a way out of it for 
 four of us. Let one of us assume the entire respon- 
 sibility. All the Government asks is a victim. The 
 politicians at Washington will be satisfied if they 
 can show reformers, informers and muckrakers that 
 they do send a rich man to prison now and then. 
 Let one take the responsibility and save the others." 
 
 197
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 "Yes, but how ?" demanded Raymond, cautiously, 
 afraid to approve any plan that might imperil him- 
 self. 
 
 "It's a gamble, and I'm on!" grinned Tooker. 
 "Well, which one is is the best qualified?" 
 
 "They'd never believe that I " said Raymond 
 
 quickly. 
 
 "We'll draw lots," suggested Tooker. 
 
 "Anything you say," said Wilbur. 
 
 "The lowest card in the pack," suggested Ray- 
 mond. 
 
 "The first Jack," cried Tooker. 
 
 "Come, what shall it be?" inquired Wilbur im- 
 patiently. 
 
 "It makes no difference," said Tooker. 
 
 "How can it be done?" objected Raymond; "in- 
 vestigation will show that all of us are equally re- 
 sponsible." 
 
 Quickly Wilbur interrupted: 
 
 "Not if I " He stopped short and more 
 
 quietly he added: "But we'll decide that after- 
 wards. Come, do you agree, Tooker?" 
 
 "I'll take a chance," replied the director, with a 
 wry face. 
 
 198
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 "Raymond ?" 
 
 "Yes," he drawled slowly. More quickly he 
 added : "But I don't want to be the victim." 
 
 "Neither do I," said Tooker, "but if I lose I'll 
 I'll make good life's a gamble, anyhow." 
 
 "Cowper?" called out Wilbur. 
 
 Cowper nodded assent. 
 
 "I agree," said Mr. Emerson quietly. 
 
 "Go ahead," growled Tooker; "the first Jack 
 deals I mean loses " 
 
 "The first Jack," said Wilbur firmly. "Is that 
 understood? The man who gets it will assume 
 sole responsibility." 
 
 i QQ
 
 CHAPTER XIII 
 
 THE nervous tension grew more acute every 
 moment. In the air was a sense of im- 
 pending danger that sobered everyone. 
 Even the irrepressible looker was impressed by 
 the solemnity of the proceedings, while Raymond 
 sat motionless, a comical picture of abject cow- 
 ardice. Cowper sat apart, his eyes .averted. Mr. 
 Emerson, patient and resigned, waited to know his 
 fate. 
 
 Wilbur, his face set and determined, alone real- 
 ized the true significance of this dramatic situation. 
 He was fighting now, not to save himself, but to 
 save his father. Some one must bear the blame, 
 some one must take the punishment that was very 
 evident. These men Tooker, Raymond, Cowper, 
 were all cowards. He could expect little help from 
 them. They had been willing to divide the profits, 
 but when it came to sharing the risks they were 
 less enthusiastic. Yet, after all, he could not blame 
 anybody but himself. He had been the leader in 
 the reorganization ; he must pay the price. But his 
 
 200
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 father must be spared at all costs. Grimly he said : 
 
 "Shuffle the cards, looker." 
 
 The director picked up the deck and began to 
 shuffle carefully. All watched him in breathless 
 silence. 
 
 When he had mixed the cards thoroughly, Wilbur 
 made a gesture and said, in a low tone : 
 
 "Deal them." 
 
 Tooker looked tip, a comical expression on his 
 face. The fear that he might deal himself the fatal 
 card was so apparent that, under any other circum- 
 stances, every one would have laughed outright. 
 But each man was too much absorbed in his own 
 troubles to take notice. Tooker started to give 
 cards, then stopped and laid the pack down. With 
 a forced laugh he said: 
 
 "Gee, my hands are trembling! Damned if I 
 don't think I'm nervous! Here, you deal them!" 
 
 Quickly Wilbur picked up the deck and, ignor- 
 ing his father, swiftly dealt four cards, face up- 
 wards. 
 
 "Eight, four, queen, nine!" cried Raymond, as 
 the cards were turned over. 
 
 "One moment!" interrupted Mr. Emersom, put- 
 201
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 ting out his hand in protest. "Where's my card, 
 Wilbur?" 
 
 "You're not in this game, father," said Wilbur. 
 
 "I beg your pardon," persisted the old man, "I 
 am one of you!" 
 
 Wilbur shook his head decisively. 
 
 "No, no; we can't allow it." 
 
 "But I insist," said Mr. Emerson firmly. "I have 
 shared the profits. I will share the losses. At 
 least, I shall preserve my self-respect. A card, 
 please." 
 
 Wilbur hesitated. 
 
 "But " 
 
 "I insist," repeated Mr. Emerson. "To leave me 
 out would be an injustice to the others and an in- 
 sult to me." 
 
 Wilbur hastily gathered up the cards and passed 
 them to Tooker. Quickly he said : 
 
 "You deal them, Tooker." 
 
 With a grimace, the director took the pack and 
 slowly, deliberately began to give a card to each 
 man, starting with himself. As he faced each card, 
 amid the breathless suspense of the others, he an- 
 nounced loudly: 
 
 202
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 "Tooker, deuce; Cowper, king; Raymond, 
 four " 
 
 He stopped and gave vent to a sigh of relief. 
 Neither himself, nor Cowper, nor Raymond was 
 the victim. With a complacent chuckle he ex- 
 claimed: "Where are all the Jacks?" Dealing 
 more quickly he uncovered two more. "Mr. Em- 
 erson, Jack; Wilbur, ten " 
 
 "My God!" exclaimed Raymond in a low tone. 
 "Mr. Emerson has got it Jack of spades!" 
 
 Wilbur sprang to his feet and grabbed his fa- 
 ther's card before the old banker saw it. With af- 
 fected anger, he exclaimed: 
 
 "What's the matter with you, Tooker? Don't 
 you know how to deal straight? That's my card! 
 Can't you deal one at a time?" Throwing down 
 the ten of hearts, he added : "That's his card ten 
 of hearts." 
 
 "Nonsense!" protested Raymond. "It was all 
 right." 
 
 "It was not all right," retorted Wilbur. "Do you 
 suppose I don't know what I'm saying?" Throw- 
 ing the cards on the floor, he cried: "The game 
 is closed !" 
 
 203
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 Going to the sideboard, so that his associates 
 might not see how white his face had suddenly 
 turned, he poured out a glass of sherry with trem- 
 bling hand. He was the victim. Well, what of 
 it? That was only right. He had got the bank 
 into all this trouble. It was only just that he pay 
 the price. But who among them had played the 
 traitor? Who had abstracted the genuine notes 
 and substituted false ones? What had become 
 of the genuine notes the only tangible evidence 
 against them ? Only one could have done the dirty 
 trick, only one was capable of acting this despicable 
 role of Judas, and that was Cowper. His actions, 
 his look, his manner, betrayed him. He was the 
 guilty one. 
 
 For a few moments Wilbur stood silently apart, 
 thinking what to do. How could he handle the 
 cur accuse him to his face, force him to admit his 
 guilt, make him confess what he had done with the 
 notes? Yes, that he could do, but he must await 
 his opportunity. He must get him alone, in a cor- 
 ner, or he might escape. Raising the glass of wine 
 to his lips, his eyes still fixed on Cowper's face, he 
 cried with forced carelessness: 
 
 204
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 "The medicine is mine, boys! Now, let's talk 
 about something else for a few minutes. Mr. 
 Tooker, I apologize for my disrespectful attitude 
 just now, but I look on myself as a sort of an 
 expert at cards, and I'm stupidly sensitive about it 
 cheap vanity on my part. Have a drink, old 
 man?" 
 
 "That's all right, Wilbur," said Raymond, deeply 
 moved. The man was not so hardened, not so 
 utterly egotistical as not to be touched by this devo- 
 tion, this self-sacrifice of a son to protect his father. 
 
 "Say when," laughed Wilbur, filling his glass. 
 
 "I don't drink spirits," said Raymond, "but I 
 think I will take one now to settle my nerves. What 
 will you have, Tooker?" 
 
 "Nothing yes a little White Rock." 
 
 "Good God!" exclaimed Raymond, in mock 
 despair. "What's happened to you? Such an or- 
 der is unheard of." 
 
 "I want to keep my head clear," growled Tooker. 
 "I'm sorry, old man." 
 
 "What will you have, Cowper?" said Wilbur 
 carelessly. Holding out a glass, he added : "Come, 
 
 I want you all to drink to my my success " 
 
 205
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 Cowper advanced, white and trembling. Hoarsely 
 he said: 
 
 "A little rye straight." 
 
 Nervously he snatched the glass handed to him 
 and swallowed it at a gulp. Wilbur turned to the 
 others. Quietly he said: 
 
 "Now, I want to be alone, boys; I must think 
 this out. Nine o'clock to-morrow morning we will 
 meet here to discuss what course to pursue. By 
 that time I shall have hit on a plan that will fix the 
 entire responsibility on one person." 
 
 Mr. Emerson turned to his son. With consider- 
 able feeling he said: 
 
 "Wilbur, my boy, I I feel that I am shirking 
 my duty." 
 
 "Nonsense, dad. Everything will be all right," 
 said Wilbur quickly. "If I only had the notes we 
 endorsed, it would be an easy matter." 
 
 While he was speaking, Cowper quickly left his 
 seat and glided noiselessly in the direction of the 
 door. Wilbur saw him and stopped him with a 
 gesture. 
 
 "Oh, don't go, Cowper, old man ; I want to speak 
 to you." 
 
 206
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 Cowper halted, nervous and ill at ease. 
 
 "I have an engagement," he stammered. 
 
 "I won't keep you a moment," said Wilbur firmly, 
 looker shook Wilbur's hand. With an attempt at 
 sympathy he said : 
 
 "I'm sorry it's you, but I'm glad it's not me." 
 
 "It was your own idea," sniffed Raymond. 
 
 "Really," protested Mr. Emerson. "I can't bring 
 myself to approve of this " 
 
 "Come, come, gentlemen!" exclaimed Wilbur, 
 "the fortune of war. Don't worry about me, please. 
 Good night, Mr. Tooker; don't forget nine o'clock 
 sharp. Good night, Mr. Raymond." 
 
 "Good night," said the directors. 
 
 Tooker turned round at the door. Gripping Wil- 
 bur's hand warmly he said with feeling: 
 
 "Good night, old man; say, that was no mis- 
 deal. I saw what you did. You're a noble fel- 
 low " 
 
 Wilbur grasped his father's hand. 
 
 "Dad, will you tell Isabel I shan't see her again 
 to-night ? Make any excuse, and good night. You 
 can go to sleep knowing that everything will be 
 all right." 
 
 207
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 Mr. Emerson shook his head. Sadly he said: 
 
 "No, my boy, I shan't sleep until I know that 
 you're all right." 
 
 "Good night," said Wilbur cheerily. 
 
 The old banker silently pressed his son's hand 
 and left the room. Cowper, who was standing by, 
 impatiently waiting his opportunity to get away, 
 tried to follow, but before he could make a move 
 Wilbur had closed the door and locked it. 
 
 "Really, Wilbur, old man," he protested, "I must 
 be going." 
 
 Wilbur merely looked at him. 
 
 "No not yet, George," he said slowly. "Sit 
 down a minute. I want to talk to you." 
 
 Scenting trouble, the director tried to bluff it out. 
 
 "Why did you lock that door?" he demanded. 
 
 "1 don't want to be interrupted, that's why," re- 
 joined Wilbur curtly. 
 
 "Can't I see you in the morning?" said Cowper, 
 still edging nervously towards the exit. 
 
 "Yes, but I've one or two questions I want to 
 ask you to-night." 
 
 "Well, please be brief." 
 
 Wilbur looked at him closely. 
 208
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 "I'll be as brief as possible, George." 
 
 There was a pause, during which neither man 
 spoke. Each stood looking at the other. Finally 
 Wilbur said: 
 
 "George, do you love your mother?" 
 
 Cowper looked up in surprise. 
 
 "What do you mean?" he demanded. 
 
 "Silly question, isn't it?" said Wilbur. "Every- 
 one loves his mother. Well, mine died when I was 
 a boy, and John Emerson took her place in my 
 heart. I love him like a mother and a father rolled 
 into one. You see what kind of a man he is never 
 murmurs when he found that his faith in me had 
 resulted in his being threatened with prison. I'd 
 go to hell for him, George Cowper and I'll send 
 the man there that betrayed him!" 
 
 Cowper averted his face. Nervously he said: 
 
 "I quite approve of your attitude, but what has 
 that to do with me?" 
 
 Wilbur advanced until he looked him straight in 
 the face. 
 
 "To-morrow," he continued, "those notes would 
 have been redeemed. I have the money every dol- 
 lar. I begged on my knees from one end of Wall 
 
 209
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 Street to the other. I groveled in the mud till I got 
 it, but I got it and the victory was won but now 
 now can't you supply the rest?" 
 
 "I ?" stammered Cowper, quailing before the 
 
 coming storm. 
 
 Wilbur's eyes flashed with mingled rage and 
 scorn as he cried : 
 
 "A traitor, a damned traitor, has robbed us of 
 the chance of redeeming ourselves!" Suddenly 
 changing his tone, he said contemptuously : "What 
 was the price, George? Come be a man own 
 up. What was the price?" 
 
 Cowper rose from his seat. 
 
 "I've had enough of this," he said with affected 
 anger. 
 
 "What was the price?" repeated Wilbur, his 
 face white with rage. "I want to know, George, 
 and you can't leave this room till I do!" 
 
 Advancing, his fist raised, he looked as though 
 he would strike the wretched man to the floor. 
 Cowper cowered before him and instinctively put 
 his hand on his hip pocket. 
 
 "Don't touch me!" he cried threateningly. "I 
 
 warn you I'm armed and I shall defend myself " 
 
 210
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 "Oh, so you carry a gun, eh?" said Wilbur 
 scornfully. 
 
 "I certainly do," said Cowper, "and " 
 
 "Well, I don't," cried Wilbur, "and I don't ap- 
 prove of it in others." 
 
 With a sudden, quick movement he seized the di- 
 rector round the body and pinned his arms close 
 to his sides. Then, still holding him in a vise-like 
 grip, he slipped a hand in his pocket and drew out 
 a revolver. Pointing the dangerous, glittering 
 weapon at its late owner, he said grimly : 
 
 "A bad habit, this, George. It gives a man a false 
 sense of honor." 
 
 "What!'' gasped Cowper, terror-stricken. "You 
 mean you'll use it?" 
 
 "Why not ?" was the deliberate reply. "It's your 
 property. You'll be held responsible if anybody's 
 injured. Come where are those notes? What 
 have you done with them?" 
 
 Cowper, in despair, crouched lower on the chair. 
 In agonized voice he muttered : 
 
 "I swear I haven't got them." 
 
 "What did you do with them?" demanded Wil- 
 bur sternly. 
 
 211
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 "Oh, Wilbur," pleaded the wretched man, "don't 
 be angry don't I couldn't help it I Emerson, 
 I give you my word I wouldn't have done it if " 
 
 With a gesture of contempt, Wilbur threw the 
 revolver on the table. 
 
 "Here," he said, "stick that in your pocket. Tell 
 me about it and mind you, George, one lie and 
 I'll take that pistol away from you again and use 
 it. Out with it now !" 
 
 Utterly cowed, on the verge of collapse from ab- 
 ject fear and humiliation, the man stammered in 
 broken sentences: 
 
 "I was promised my freedom if I turned State's 
 
 evidence they kept at me till I promised to help 
 
 to. 
 
 them." Growing more and more hysterical, he 
 went on: "The fear the fear of this investiga- 
 tion has been hanging over me like a pall it dead- 
 ened my sense of what I owe my partners. You 
 know, I'm engaged to be married, and and I'm 
 very fond of Gladys. She she loves me, and 
 
 I " he stopped and burst into tears, sobbing. 
 
 "She has no idea what I've done. We're going to 
 
 be married next month " 
 
 Wilbur's face relaxed. Much as he despised the 
 212
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 man who had not hesitated to sell his companions, 
 he was willing to concede that perhaps he had been 
 a bit harsh. The fellow seemed sorry and contrite 
 enough. We can all make mistakes, he thought to 
 himself. Besides, in this case there was a reason. 
 He was going to be married. He wanted to shield 
 the girl he loved. Ah, he could sympathize with 
 him there. What would he himself not have done 
 for the girl he loved ? More gently he said : 
 
 "Is that so? Going to be married, eh?" 
 
 Cowper completely broke down. 
 
 "Never mind, old man, don't give way I 
 understand you thought of her I suppose 
 and not of us. Well, some men are built that way 
 I don't think you'd have done it if you had real- 
 ized " 
 
 "I wouldn't I wouldn't," said Cowper fervently. 
 "God's truth, I wouldn't." 
 
 "All right, old man," said Wilbur more kindly 
 "I'm sorry I was brutal, but just tell me what 
 happened? Let me know what we're up against. 
 Give us a chance, too." 
 
 "Yes, I will," said Cowper eagerly, glad to be 
 given any opportunity to redeem himself. 
 
 213
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 "Who made the deal with you?" demanded 
 Wilbur. 
 
 "One of Mr. Darwin's agents." 
 
 "Yes," said Wilbur bitterly, "that's the way he 
 works strikes at the weakest link in the chain. 
 Have you seen Darwin personally?" 
 
 "Yes once." 
 
 "When did you give him the notes ?" 
 
 "I was to see him this evening at his house, but 
 he was out. I left them there for him with my 
 with what he asked me for." 
 
 "Oh, something besides the notes ? What was it ?" 
 
 "I've said enough I've told you." 
 
 "I want to know all," insisted Wilbur. 
 
 "A statement an affidavit giving a detailed 
 account of all the most important transactions." 
 
 "Did that detailed account involve my father?" 
 demanded Wilbur quickly. 
 
 Cowper hesitated. 
 
 "Come," said Wilbur impatiently. "I want to 
 know the worst." 
 
 Cowper bowed his head. 
 
 "Yes oh, I'm so sorry so sorry!" 
 
 "Oh, God!" cried Wilbur in agony. 
 214
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 Pacing the floor, he clasped his hands in mute 
 despair. 
 
 "Cowper, why did you do it? I could have for- 
 given you the other, but that that's infamous! 
 Didn't you know that father left everything with 
 me? Couldn't you have spared him?" 
 
 "I wish to God I had!" cried Cowper. "I shall 
 never be happy again. It's too late now I didn't 
 realize I thought that Mr. Emerson, being an old 
 friend of Mr. Darwin's, would not be brought 
 prominently into the case." 
 
 "You don't know Darwin," answered Wilbur bit- 
 terly. "He'll make political capital out of it. He'll 
 say in his magazine articles: 'I don't spare 
 my own dearest friends when they sin against the 
 State. That's the kind of righteousness this coun- 
 try needs statesmen upright and holy, like me!' 
 Oh! I'd have given my right hand if you hadn't 
 done that." 
 
 "I wish I hadn't I wish I hadn't!" cried the 
 wretched man. 
 
 Utterly baffled, at a loss to know what to do to 
 save the situation, Wilbur relapsed into silence. He 
 was thinking hard. For a few moments neither 
 
 215
 
 THH GAMBLERS 
 
 man stirred. Perhaps something might yet be 
 done. If so, it must be done quickly. Those notes 
 must be recovered at any price. Turning sud- 
 denly on Cowper, he asked hastily : 
 
 "What time did you leave it there?" 
 
 "About eight o'clock to-night. The servant told 
 me he had gone or was going to Washington; 
 that he was not expected home till to-morrow." 
 
 "Not expected till to-morrow?" cried Wilbur. 
 "Then he hasn't received it." Eagerly he went on : 
 "George, do you think you could get it back? 
 Couldn't you make some excuse to go there and 
 ask for it? It's up to you to put this thing right!" 
 
 Cowper shook his head and looked helplessly 
 at his interlocutor. 
 
 "How can I how ? Suppose ?' ' 
 
 Wilbur looked at him for a moment in silence. 
 Then slowly he said : 
 
 "No, you're not the kind of man to do that sort 
 of thing." Then suddenly he went on: "Couldn't 
 I Cowper couldn't I on some pretext or other 
 get that sworn statement? I can assume the re- 
 sponsibility for the notes myself. What sort of a 
 
 package is it? I may be asked to describe it " 
 
 216
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 "It's a blue envelope, ordinary legal-size." 
 
 "To whom did you give it?" 
 
 "A servant a woman. She put it on his desk 
 in the library." 
 
 "In the library!" exclaimed Wilbur eagerly. 
 Looking at his watch, he went on : "It's now eleven 
 o'clock. Cowper, can I trust you? Will you re- 
 main silent?" 
 
 "Yes oh, you can believe me!" 
 
 "Very well. Then remain here till I come back." 
 
 "Yes. What are you going to do?" 
 
 Picking the revolver up from the table, Wilbur 
 slipped it in his pocket. Determinedly he said: 
 
 "I'm going to get that sworn statement either 
 that, or " 
 
 "Or what?" cried Cowper. 
 
 "How can I tell?" replied Wilbur, with a signif- 
 icant shrug of his shoulders. 
 
 Opening the door leading to the stairs, he took a 
 long automobile duster and cap from a hook, and 
 hastily put them on. 
 
 "Are you going there now?" demanded Cowper, 
 awed by the very audacity of the project. 
 
 "Right now," rejoined Wilbur calmly, as he put 
 217
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 on his coat. "You go back and join the others. If 
 I'm missed, make some excuse. Say anything. I'll 
 get those notes or " 
 
 "Or what?" repeated Cowper. 
 
 "I don't know," answered Wilbur. 
 
 The next minute he was gone. 
 
 218
 
 CHAPTER XIV 
 
 RIVERSIDE DRIVE this wild, tempestuous 
 night was entirely deserted. Not a pedes- 
 trian, not even a solitary vehicle was to 
 be seen. The westerly storm, which had been bois- 
 terous all day, had increased in violence until now 
 it blew with the force of a half gale. The rain was 
 coming down in sheets, and the wind, sweeping 
 across the broad Hudson, where it had an unob- 
 structed path, burst on the handsome residences 
 facing the Drive with all the fury of a cyclone, rat- 
 tling the window sashes and moaning dismally 
 down the chimneys. 
 
 The Darwin home, situated at the corner and so 
 particularly exposed to the weather, caught the full 
 brunt of the hurricane. The house fairly shook 
 before the successive blasts. and the din made by 
 the angry elements was so unnerving that the in- 
 mates had been intimidated from going to bed. 
 Eleven o'clock, Kathryn's usual retiring hour, had 
 struck long ago, yet she was still up. The storm 
 
 219
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 had made her nervous, and instead of retiring to 
 her boudoir, as was her custom, she sat in the big 
 bay window of the library watching the downpour. 
 The avenue, flooded by the deluge and strewn with 
 branches torn from the trees by the tempest's fury, 
 looked like a howling wilderness. The weather had 
 driven every one indoors. Not a voice, not a 
 sound was heard to relieve the stillness nothing 
 but the monotonous drip, drip of water and the 
 mournful shrieking of the wind. 
 
 Mr. Darwin had left for Washington an hour 
 before, and Kathryn was all alone in that big house, 
 with one maid. She wished she could shake off that 
 feeling of nervousness, but it was impossible. Of 
 course, urgent business had taken her husband 
 away, but she could not help nourishing a feeling of 
 resentment that he should leave her thus unpro- 
 tected. There had been a great many burglaries 
 lately. Suppose the house had been watched and 
 it was known that she was alone! She was glad 
 when, every now and then, she caught sight of a 
 solitary policeman trudging along on his beat, bent 
 almost double as he forced his way against the 
 wind. It made her feel more comfortable. Of 
 
 220
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 course, it was silly to be nervous. Had she not the 
 telephone with which to summon assistance in case 
 of danger? Yet, no matter how much she assured 
 herself, she still felt horribly depressed and out of 
 sorts. 
 
 Firstly, she was irritated against her husband. 
 Since the weather had turned so bad, it was just 
 as well that she returned early from the Emer- 
 sons, but Jim's behavior at her friends' house was 
 quite inexcusable. He would have to explain that. 
 When he returned from Washington she would 
 have a thorough understanding with him. These 
 constant bickerings and disputes could not go on. 
 He was making her life perfectly miserable. 
 
 Sometimes she asked if she had not made a 
 mistake, if she had not sacrificed herself in marry- 
 ing a man who was brilliant rather than sympa- 
 thetic, and thrown away the happiness that she 
 might have had as the wife of another. She won- 
 dered why she had not met Wilbur Emerson at the 
 dance. Isabel had said he would be there. It was 
 months since she had seen him, and nearly three 
 years had passed since that night when he had 
 clasped her in his arms and asked her to be his 
 
 221
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 wife. Still she remembered that kiss, yet in these 
 three years she had ever been a faithful, dutiful 
 wife to Jim. He certainly had no cause to com- 
 plain. She had tried to dismiss Wilbur entirely 
 from her mind, to forget him completely, but 
 sometimes she found it impossible. The memory 
 of that embrace would never fade while life lasted. 
 
 The chimes of a neighboring church clock struck 
 half -past eleven. It was still pouring, and the wind 
 howled as if all the demons in the infernal regions 
 had been let loose. It was certainly time for bed. 
 Kathryn yawned and rose from her seat. She was 
 about to call her maid, when suddenly the telephone 
 rang. Lifting the instrument up from the desk, 
 littered with a mass of legal papers, she spoke into 
 the sender: 
 
 "Hello? Oh, is that you, Isabel? Yes, it's Kate 
 I'm so glad you called me up. I'm terribly lonely. 
 Company of your own? I should say so, but don't 
 begrudge me five minutes two minutes! Well, a 
 minute, then. Yes, I'm going to have it out with 
 you. I won't go on like this. No, I've made up 
 my mind. Oh, it's worse than that! Everything I 
 do is wrong everything I don't do is wrong the 
 
 222
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 whole world is wrong, and he's the only one that 
 is right. Isn't that a comfy hubby to have around ? 
 it puts one on such good terms with them- 
 selves " 
 
 She stopped suddenly and listened. A ring at 
 the front door downstairs had attracted her atten- 
 tion. Who could it be at such an hour and in such 
 weather? Putting the receiver to her ear again, 
 she went on: 
 
 "Oh, don't ring off. Can you come to lunch to- 
 morrow? Going with your brother? Well, take 
 me with you. I don't care what Mr. Darwin says. 
 Yes. Oh, a quarrel more or less doesn't mat- 
 ter " 
 
 The door of the library opened and Jane ap- 
 peared. Without relinquishing the receiver, Kate 
 looked up questioningly. The maid had a worried 
 look and stood waiting for her mistress to stop 
 talking. Kathryn hastened to cut the telephone 
 chat short. 
 
 "Well, I'll let you go now. Good night! Hallo! 
 hallo! I'm coming over to-morrow." With a 
 careless laugh she added: "Oh, I don't care I'm 
 reckless now. Good night!" 
 
 223
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 She hung up the receiver and looked up. 
 
 "Well, what is it, Jane?" 
 
 "Some one's called," said the girl. "A man to 
 see Mr. Darwin." 
 
 "So late?" exclaimed her mistress. "Didn't you 
 tell him Mr. Darwin was out?" 
 
 "Yes, ma'am then he asked if he could see 
 you " 
 
 "See me !" echoed Kathryn in amazement. "Did 
 he give you a card? Who is he?" 
 
 "No, ma'am; he looks like a chauffeur." 
 
 "Say that Mr. Darwin will be at his office late 
 to-morrrow, and ask him to leave a message." 
 
 Jane was about to retire when Kathryn picked 
 up from the desk a long, legal-size blue envelope. 
 Holding it up so that the girl could see, she said : 
 
 "Is this the package which came late this after- 
 noon for Mr. Darwin?" 
 
 "Yes, ma'am." 
 
 "Who left it?" 
 
 "A man with gray hair. He seemed very nerv- 
 ous and in a hurry. He said it was very impor- 
 tant, and that Mr. Darwin was to get it as soon as 
 he came in." 
 
 224
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 "Why didn't you give it to your master when 
 he got home?" 
 
 "I forgot it, ma'am. When Mr. Darwin came in 
 he seemed so upset at your being out that I was 
 afraid to tell him anything, and then when he re- 
 turned with you the package slipped my mind. I 
 hope it's not too late, ma'am." 
 
 "No, no. That's all right. Jane. I'll give it 
 to Mr. Darwin to-morrow when he returns from 
 Washington. Meantime I'll lock it up in the safe. 
 It may be important. Tell the person downstairs 
 that Mr. Darwin is in Washington." 
 
 "Yes, ma'am." 
 
 The maid left the room and closed the door. 
 Kathryn rose with a yawn and glanced at the 
 clock. A quarter to twelve? It was high time 
 she was in bed. Who ever heard of people calling 
 at that hour? Possibly it was one of the men at- 
 tached to her husband's office. There had been a 
 lot of mysterious goings and comings lately, no 
 doubt in connection with the Emerson Bank in- 
 vestigation. 
 
 It was horrid of Jim to take so active a part in 
 the prosecution proceedings. Of course, she said 
 
 225
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 to herself, the law must take its course. He couldn't 
 let friendship interfere with his duty, but there were 
 different ways of interpreting one's duty. The way 
 that her husband went at it showed personal ani- 
 mus. He hated Wilbur Emerson, and would take 
 the keenest delight in trapping him in some tech- 
 nical violation of the law. 
 
 With a sigh she crossed the room, and for a 
 moment stood in front of the mirror, taking off 
 her jewels. She unfastened the string of fine pearls 
 that adorned her delicate neck, took off the gold 
 bracelet that encircled her beautiful arm, and drew 
 off one by one the magnificent rings that blazed on 
 her white, tapering fingers. She had not many jew- 
 els, but the few she did possess had considerable 
 value, and she neglected no precaution to ensure 
 their safety. Each night, on retiring, she placed 
 them in a safe cleverly concealed in a handsome 
 walnut cabinet, situated in the centre of the book- 
 shelves behind the desk. She was just turning the 
 combination preliminary to opening the safe when, 
 all at once, Jane reappeared. 
 
 Kathryn stopped short and looked up inquir- 
 ingly. 
 
 226
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 "Well, Jane, what did he say?" 
 
 "He wouldn't give any message, ma'am. He 
 says he wants to see Mr. Darwin on very important 
 business." 
 
 "Where is he now?" 
 
 Kathryn did not much like the idea of this late, 
 mysterious visitor. 
 
 "Where is he now?" she repeated nervously. 
 
 "I left him downstairs in the hall, ma'am." 
 
 "Alone, in the hall?" 
 
 Her mistress's nervousness communicated itself 
 to the maid. Apprehensively she said: 
 
 "I don't much like his looks, ma'am. He acts 
 queer. I'm afraid to go down again." 
 
 Kathryn was about to chide her for being so 
 foolish when suddenly they heard the front door 
 close with a bang. Both women started. 
 
 "What was that?" exclaimed Kathryn. 
 
 "It sounded like the front door closing. Maybe 
 he got impatient and went away. I'll go and 
 see." 
 
 She left the room, and Kathryn hurriedly opened 
 the safe. Pulling out a drawer, she put away her 
 jewels and then, returning to the desk, picked up 
 
 227
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 the long 1 , legal-size blue envelope, which she also 
 put in the safe. This done, she closed the door and 
 gave the knob a twist. She had hardly finished 
 when Jane reappeared, white and trembling. 
 
 "He must have gone," she said, with a scared 
 look in her eyes. 
 
 "Gone!" ejaculated Kathryn. "That's strange! 
 Are you sure that he that he did go ?" 
 
 The maid did not answer. She stood perfectly 
 still, listening intently in the direction of the stairs. 
 Then, quickly, she went to the window and craned 
 her neck, trying to get a glimpse of the stoop. 
 
 In spite of her efforts to remain calm, Kathryn 
 felt herself growing more nervous every minute. 
 Here they were, two w r eak, defenseless women, alone 
 in a house full of valuables. Suppose this strange 
 visitor was a thief, a burglar, who had merely in- 
 vented an excuse in order to gain admittance to 
 the house. Perhaps he had only banged the door 
 as a feint. Maybe, he was hiding somewhere in 
 the darkness downstairs. All this ran quickly 
 through her mind while Jane stood at the window, 
 pale and trembling. 
 
 "Are you quite sure that he went ?" said Kathryn. 
 228
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 Instead of answering, the girl pointed silently 
 to the window. 
 
 "What's the matter?" demanded her mistress. 
 
 In a terrified whisper the girl said: 
 
 "There are two strange men out in the street!" 
 
 "Isn't that the proper place for strange men?" 
 laughed Kathryn, trying to make light of it. 
 
 "Yes," said Jane, "but they are looking in at 
 the windows." 
 
 "Nonsense, Jane," said Kathryn, who was be- 
 ginning to feel creepy herself. "You're getting 
 nervous. Lock up and go to bed." 
 
 The girl came back into the rooms and tried to 
 smile. With a sheepish look, she cried: 
 
 "Yes, ma'am, I drank three cups of tea to-night, 
 but that doesn't account for the suspicious way 
 those men acted. I'm quite sure they were look- 
 ing in." 
 
 "Were you looking out?" 
 
 "Yes, ma'am." 
 
 "Well, perhaps that explains it." 
 
 "Perhaps," replied Jane ingenuously, not under- 
 standing the jest. 
 
 "If you go on, Jane," laughed her mistress, 
 229
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 "you'll succeed in making me as nervous as you 
 are. You know that sort of thing is very catching. 
 I thought it better to put the blue envelope which 
 came for Mr. Darwin in the safe. If he asks for 
 it to-morrow you can tell him." 
 
 "Yes, ma'am." 
 
 Kathryn glanced at the clock. 
 
 "Gracious! Five minutes to twelve. I suppose 
 cook is in bed." 
 
 "Sound asleep an hour ago, ma'am. My, but 
 she can sleep! How she does it I don't know." 
 
 "It's a lack of imagination," smiled her mistress. 
 "Well, I envy her. You'd better go yourself, Jane. 
 Good night. I'll put the lights out." 
 
 "Thank you, ma'am. Good night, ma'am." 
 
 Putting out two side lights, the maid left the 
 room. 
 
 Kathryn stood for a few moments listening. She 
 heard the girl downstairs shutting doors. Then 
 presently, as Jane came up, passed by on her way 
 to bed, she inquired: 
 
 "Is everything all right?" 
 
 "Yes, ma'am, everything's locked up." 
 
 "Well, good night, Jane." 
 230
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 "Good night, ma'am." 
 
 Kathryn came into the library and, shutting the 
 door, turned out the lights, leaving the room in 
 complete darkness, except for the ruddy glow given 
 out by the dying embers in the grate. Then, going 
 to the door communicating with her own bedroom, 
 she opened it. At that moment she fancied she 
 heard a creak on the landing outside. For a sec- 
 ond her heart leaped up into her throat and then 
 began thumping furiously. Quickly she turned on 
 the electric switch, and opening cautiously the door 
 leading to the landing, looked out. Seeing nothing, 
 she stood still for a few moments, listening intently. 
 There was not a sound. All was quiet. Convinced 
 she was mistaken, she shut the door and wtent into 
 her own room, closing the door after her. 
 
 231
 
 CHAPTER XV 
 
 THE library, now plunged in utter darkness, 
 took on a new and terrifying aspect. The 
 faint glimmer of the expiring hearth em- 
 bers only served to intensify the almost opaque 
 blackness, causing each object, each piece of furni- 
 ture, each curio to appear of colossal proportions 
 and fantastic shape. The room was full of bizarre 
 forms and dancing shadows. The bronze bust of 
 Lincoln stood out in awesome relief, a gaunt, cyn- 
 ical mask in which at moments the eyes seemed to 
 flash as though it covered a living head. The stal- 
 wart figure in medieval armor, with visor closed, 
 appeared to actually move, as if about to descend 
 from his pedestal with threatening and murderous 
 intent. Not a sound was to be heard but the mourn- 
 ful dirge of the wind and the savage beating of 
 the rain against the window panes. 
 
 Suddenly a flash of white light leaped through 
 the room. Had a woman been there it would have 
 startled her badly. A man with a mind trained to 
 
 232
 
 THH GAMBLERS 
 
 seek cause from effect might have concluded that 
 it was caused by a passing automobile's searchlight 
 and troubled himself no further. But in this case 
 the man's cold reasoning would have been wrong 
 and the woman's instinct right. The light came 
 again, and the true cause was enough to create 
 alarm in the boldest. It flashed up and down, pene- 
 trating into every corner, under the chairs, on top 
 of the desk, under the bookshelves, until finally it 
 rested on the closed door of Kathryn's bedchamber. 
 A man was behind the small pocket electric 
 searchlight. He advanced carefully, cautiously, 
 noiselessly into the room. He was a tall man of 
 athletic build, and he wore a long, gray auto coat; 
 a cap, with goggles was pulled so far down over 
 his face that it was impossible to see his features. 
 He stopped and listened intently. There was not a 
 sound. The entire household was asleep. Then 
 cautiously, stealthily, he advanced to the desk and 
 swept with his lantern the mass of papers with 
 which it was littered. Quickly he rummaged among 
 the papers, as if seeking something. Not finding 
 what he wanted, he gave a muffled exclamation of 
 disappointment. At that instant his foot caught in 
 
 233
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 the rug and, losing his balance, he stumbled heavily 
 against a chair. 
 
 The door of the bedchamber opened and Kathryn 
 appeared, still fully dressed. She had been reading 
 some letters before starting to get ready for bed, 
 when suddenly she heard the noise. Nervous and 
 trying to peer through the darkness, she called 
 out: 
 
 "Who's there? Is that you, Jane?" 
 
 There was no answer. Now thoroughly alarmed, 
 Kathryn did a thing which, under the peculiar cir- 
 cumstances, a woman should never do. She turned 
 on the electric switch. Instantly the library was 
 flooded with light, and there in the centre of the 
 room, making no attempt to get away, was the noc- 
 turnal intruder. 
 
 Involuntarily Kathryn gave a scream. She was 
 too frightened to run. Her feet seemed glued to 
 the spot, her tongue clove to her palate. At last, 
 after all these years of nervous apprehension, she 
 was face to face with a burglar. The man ad- 
 vanced toward her. Threateningly he said: 
 
 "Hush! Don't make a noise, or it will be the 
 worse for you !" 
 
 234
 
 "SHE WAS FACE TO FACE WITH A BURGLAR." 
 
 Page 234.
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 "What do you want?" she said, her teeth chat- 
 tering with sheer terror. 
 
 "Your jewelry and money!" he replied sternly. 
 "Come, now you look like a sensible woman. No 
 outcry please I want no violence if I can avoid 
 
 "There's no money and very little jewelry 
 here," stammered Kathryn. 
 
 She turned to flee. He halted her with a warning 
 gesture and she noticed that in his hand he held a 
 pistol. 
 
 "Don't move !" he commanded. "Stay where you 
 are!" 
 
 Despite the fact that he was a burglar and in 
 control of the situation, she resented his domineer- 
 ing tone. 
 
 "Why do you want me to stay here?" she de- 
 manded haughtily. "I don't care what you take. 
 Don't you see I'm afraid of you?" 
 
 He went to the door leading to the landing 
 through which he had entered and locked it. 
 
 "You need not be afraid," he chuckled, "but don't 
 move from this room." Pointing to a chair by the 
 fireplace he added: "Sit down, please." 
 
 235
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 Powerless to resist, Kathryn sat down and 
 watched him. He was surely a singular burglar. 
 She could not see his face, but she noticed that his 
 hands were white and well manicured and there 
 was something familiar about his voice. Could it 
 be the butler whom they had discharged some 
 months ago? It was about the same figure. In- 
 voluntarily she pressed the button of the electric 
 bell which was near the fireplace. His alert eye 
 saw the action, and like a flash he was upon her. 
 
 "You rang that bell!" he exclaimed fiercely. 
 "Where does it connect?" 
 
 Too frightened for utterance, she made no an- 
 swer. 
 
 "With the servants' room, I suppose," he went 
 on. Sternly he commanded : "Now, do as I tell you !" 
 
 Revolver in hand, he tiptoed over to the locked 
 door and listened. Then turning and addressing 
 his victim, he said: 
 
 "Some one is coming! Unless you tell them to 
 go, that it's all right, I'll " 
 
 He leveled his revolver at the door. 
 
 "It's a woman !" cried Kathryn in terror. "You 
 wouldn't kill her?" 
 
 236
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 "Tell her to go, or " he commanded. 
 
 Forgetting for the moment her own danger, the 
 mistress pleaded earnestly for the life of her maid 
 servant. 
 
 "No no !" she cried. "She's done no harm she 
 she's only obeying orders! Why don't you kill 
 me? I rang for her she doesn't know!" 
 
 "Hush!" he commanded sternly. 
 
 There was a knock on the door. Jane, aroused 
 from her sleep by her mistress's ring, was outside 
 trying to open. In a low whisper he said : 
 
 "Tell her it's all right it was a mistake that 
 she may go." 
 
 By way of enforcing his order, he again leveled 
 the pistol. Quickly Kathryn called out: 
 
 "It's all right, Jane, it was a mistake." 
 
 "Tell her to go," he whispered. 
 
 "You may go, Jane." 
 
 "Very well, ma'am," said the girl. 
 
 He stood behind the door, listening as the maid's 
 footsteps died away in the distance. Then, turning 
 suddenly on his trembling companion, he said 
 fiercely : 
 
 "Where does your husband keep his valuables 
 237
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 his check book, money and and articles he consid- 
 ers of importance or value?" 
 
 "In his office downtown!" she gasped. 
 
 "Yes," he retorted quickly, "but it may happen 
 that he keeps them here, too. He'd keep his 
 money and important correspondence together. 
 Where is it? Come!" he said determinedly, "I 
 must know." Then, lowering his voice, he added 
 more gently: "I'm sorry to appear brutal, but " 
 
 Kathryn started. Looking at the man more 
 closely, she exclaimed : 
 
 "That voice! Your voice reminds me " 
 
 "What is in here?" demanded the intruder, in- 
 terrupting her gruffly. 
 
 "Nothing of of value. If I give you a pearl 
 necklace worth a great deal of money it's really 
 all the jewelry I have will you be satisfied and go 
 without doing us any harm?" 
 
 "Let's see it," he muttered. 
 
 "It's a present. I hate to part with it, but " 
 
 She rose, and going to the safe, began to work 
 on the combination, while he stood watching. Pres- 
 ently the steel doors opened, and pulling out the 
 little drawer Kathryn lifted up the pearl necklace. 
 238
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 "It's worth a lot of money," she said. "Take 
 that, and spare my life." 
 
 But the burglar scarcely noticed the jewels. His 
 gaze was riveted on the long, blue envelope which 
 she had placed away in the safe earlier in the 
 evening. 
 
 "What is in that money?" he demanded. 
 
 She shook her head. 
 
 "No, only papers belonging to my husband. It 
 was left here this afternoon. It's of no value. 
 Won't you please take the pearls and go?" 
 
 Almost on the verge of a nervous collapse, she 
 staggered to her feet. Almost hysterically she re- 
 peated : 
 
 "My strength is exhausted. Take the jewels and 
 go!" 
 
 The intruder stooped quickly and grasped the 
 blue envelope. Overjoyed at having found at last 
 what he had been looking for, he turned to the 
 frightened woman. Dropping his rough tones and 
 removing his cap, he said gently: 
 
 "I am sorry deeply sorry to have dis- 
 tressed " 
 
 Kathryn looked up, gave him a quick glance, and 
 
 239
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 fell back with a cry of amazement, in which indig- 
 nation was mingled with relief. 
 
 "Wilbur Emerson! It's Wilbur Emerson! My 
 God, it's Wilbur Emerson!" 
 
 For a moment it was all she could say. It was 
 so astounding that momentarily she was bereft of 
 reason. He remained silent, standing still, just 
 looking at her, holding the coveted blue envelope 
 tight in his hand. Finally, she began to awaken 
 to a realization of the humiliation to which he had 
 subjected her. Haughtily she said : 
 
 "What are you doing in my husband's house at 
 this hour of the night, like a thief? You are a 
 thief!" 
 
 "Yes," he answered bitterly, "I am a thief. Send 
 for the police!" 
 
 "What good would that do ?" she answered with 
 a shrug of her beautiful bare shoulders. "You 
 didn't come here for money. You have some other 
 motive. A man with the millions you are supposed 
 to be worth does not break into houses for what 
 jewelry he can find. What does it mean, Mr. Em- 
 erson? What does it mean? Is it a brutal, prac- 
 tical joke? Surely there is some explanation " 
 
 240
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 "Oh, yes," he said quickly, "there is some expla- 
 nation, but none that I can give or that you would 
 accept. It is the last frantic effort of a desperate 
 man to head off his enemies, to reestablish him- 
 self and his business associates in the eyes of the 
 world." 
 
 She gazed at him in utter astonishment, not un- 
 derstanding. Indignantly, and with a shade of re- 
 proach in her voice, she said: 
 
 "What has this to do with the fact that you have 
 entered this house like a thief in the night, and 
 forcibly! Oh, I believed in you, Wilbur! I al- 
 ways believed in you, in spite of what my husband 
 has said. Can't you explain? There must be a 
 reason." 
 
 He nodded. 
 
 "Yes, there is a reason, but none admitted by any 
 law social or moral. Judge for yourself." Ea- 
 gerly he went on: "A group of friends who have 
 entrusted their fortunes to me have been driven 
 to the wall by the bigger interests. At a critical 
 moment during the panic this gigantic Money Trust 
 cut us off from all assistance made every effort to 
 force us to the wall. The direct object of these big 
 
 241
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 moneyed interests is to ruin us. We needed money 
 to tide over, and had no one to turn to. They 
 didn't care whether thousands of our depositors 
 suffered, so long as they ruined us. They wanted 
 it all for themselves. It was then that we over- 
 borrowed our capital in the hopes of making enough 
 to save our thousands of poor devils who have 
 invested their money with us. This act broke a 
 technical law. The big interests, who were watch- 
 ing us closely, found it out and set the Government 
 machinery to work and the Government has 
 turned us over to the tender mercy of your husband 
 Mr. James Darwin. The destruction of these 
 notes will save my father and my friends from a 
 long term of imprisonment!" 
 
 "Your father in prison ?" she cried. 
 
 "Yes, prison! The evidence which is in this en- 
 velope was sent to your husband this evening by 
 one of our most trusted officials. He allowed him- 
 self to be bribed by Mr. Darwin into betraying his 
 friends. You see, the reformer doesn't hesitate to 
 corrupt a man in order to prove that corruption 
 exists " 
 
 A softer light came into her eyes. Her bosom 
 242
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 rose and fell with suppressed emotion. More kindly 
 she said : 
 
 "And it was to save your father and your friends 
 that you came to to " 
 
 "My father is as innocent as a child," he inter- 
 rupted quickly. "He trusted in me implicitly, and 
 I I am responsible for his present predicament. 
 By God! if he goes to prison, I I can't bear to 
 think of it. You see to what it has driven me." 
 
 Quietly, firmly, she took from him the envelope 
 which he still held in his hand. Slowly she asked : 
 
 "Would the destruction of these notes save you 
 personally?" 
 
 "It might," he said thoughtfully. "I don't 
 know. I'm a marked man my success has been 
 phenomenal and I have a great many enemies. I've 
 done wrong, Kathryn, I acknowledge it and I 
 ask no forgiveness. All I beg and implore is that 
 the innocent may not suffer with the guilty." 
 
 Kathryn nodded. Meditatively, she said: 
 
 "The innocent often suffer with the guilty. Mr. 
 Darwin says it is better that the innocent should 
 suffer than that the guilty should escape." 
 
 "Well," exclaimed Wilbur quickly, "my father 
 243
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 shan't suffer for my sins! I've made up my mind 
 to that." 
 
 He advanced toward her with open hand, as if 
 expecting that she would return to him the blue 
 envelope which she held. But, instead, she drew 
 back a few steps and looked at him reproachfully. 
 Gravely she said : 
 
 "You mean that you have made up your mind 
 to add the crime of stealing to your folly in coming 
 here to-night?" 
 
 His eyes still fixed on the envelope, he nodded. 
 She went on: 
 
 "If I refuse to allow you to take this, you will 
 take it by force is that what you mean?" 
 
 "Give it to me, Kate," he said coaxingly. 
 
 "Please, don't call me by that name," she replied 
 haughtily. 
 
 He looked at her reproachfully. Gently he said : 
 
 "There's nothing in a lifelong friendship, eh? 
 I thought you and I were good friends. Have you 
 forgotten the past ? Darwin won you, but he never 
 loved you as I did. I believe you loved me once." 
 
 She looked away. More gently she said: 
 
 "Please don't refer to that now. You loved the 
 244
 
 THB GAMBLERS 
 
 excitement of making money of building up for- 
 tunes for yourself and others. Success had more 
 attractions for you than a woman's love." 
 
 He shook his head. 
 
 "I loved you, Kate, and you know it. You re- 
 fused me. You thought Darwin would do more 
 for you. Perhaps if I had married you, I shouldn't 
 be in this plight now. And your husband doesn't 
 he love success doesn't he sacrifice every one, even 
 you, to gain it?" 
 
 "Please don't!" she cried. 
 
 But he refused to be silenced. Angrily he went 
 on: 
 
 "Don't you think he won victory enough over 
 me when he got you? You know the kind of man 
 he is not justice, but vengeance punishment per- 
 sonified. Are you going to place our lives in his 
 hands?" 
 
 "Your lives ?" she echoed. 
 
 "A man like my father doesn't survive a term 
 in prison, and I wouldn't live to see him sentenced. 
 Spare us, Kate!" 
 
 She turned away so that he should not see the 
 tears in her eyes. Her sympathies were with him 
 
 245
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 and his father, but what could she do? Gently she 
 said: 
 
 "Betray my husband? No, I can't Wilbur, 
 these public matters are entrusted to him. It is his 
 sworn duty. His work is great and noble. He 
 represents the people. How can you ask any 
 woman to coldly, deliberately sacrifice her hus- 
 band's honor?" 
 
 "It is not his honor!" cried Wilbur bitterly; "it's 
 his ambition! Father is old; he hasn't long to live 
 and Kate I love you! I have never loved you 
 more than when you stand there now a living wall 
 between me and the object of my visit here to- 
 night. Can you do this thing to a man who loves 
 you?" 
 
 She drew herself up haughtily. 
 
 "You have no right to speak of love ! It it's an 
 insult!" 
 
 "No man's love is an insult," he interrupted. "I 
 don't ask you to return that love. I'm only asking 
 you to to help me, for my father's sake." 
 
 "What is it you want me to do?" she demanded. 
 
 "Give me those notes, and say nothing to Mr. 
 Darwin of my visit here." 
 
 246
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 "I can't, Wilbur ! I can't !" she cried. "My God, 
 I can't! How can I look my husband in the face 
 again if I deliberately rob him of the results of his 
 honest work?" 
 
 "Honest work!" cried Wilbur scornfully. "Dis- 
 honest work ! He wormed and tricked those things 
 out of one of our directors by promises of free- 
 dom. He bribed a man to betray his partners. Is 
 the man who bribes any better than the man who 
 is bribed? I'm afraid that you'll discover that your 
 god has feet of clay." 
 
 "I'll ask Mr. Darwin to to " 
 
 "He'll laugh at you!" 
 
 "Perhaps he will relent." Wringing her hands 
 distractedly, she went on : "It's hard to be placed in 
 this position. I want to help you and I dare not. I 
 don't know what to do. Just think, if he asks me 
 to-morrow if these things have been sent to him. I 
 would lie and go on lying. Oh! the dishonesty of 
 the whole thing! Why do you compel me to do 
 this? You are forcing me. I can feel myself giv- 
 ing way against my will. If I did this thing I 
 should tell him I know I should I'm never able 
 to keep a secret from him. He has a way of com- 
 
 247
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 pelling one to say all they know, and " Hoarse- 
 ly, almost hysterically, she added: "I'm afraid 
 that's the whole truth of it I'm afraid I'm afraid 
 of him, Wilbur." 
 
 He looked at her fixedly, as he replied slowly : 
 
 "The woman who loves a man isn't afraid of 
 him. I see, it will make you unhappy to do this, 
 and so we must pay the full penalty!" His voice 
 still pleading, he went on: "Kate, won't it make 
 you just a little bit unhappy when your husband, in 
 his hour of triumph, tells you that he has just sent 
 five men to prison one of them an innocent old 
 man whose whole life has been a model of gentle- 
 ness and virtue? Come, be a woman forget that 
 you're a wife ! Your duty to your husband ? Yes 
 fine great noble! But your duty as a woman 
 a human being doesn't that come first? Isn't the 
 instinct of mercy stronger than the mere desire to 
 be right?" 
 
 "I don't know! I don't know!" she cried dis- 
 tractedly. 
 
 Wilbur's face hardened. The lines about his 
 mouth tightened. Why should he stand there wast- 
 ing time, trying to argue with a woman? The 
 
 248
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 proofs the damning proofs of his criminality were 
 there in her hands. He had but to seize and destroy 
 them and all danger would be averted. Moving 
 closer, he said determinedly: 
 
 "Can't move you, eh? Now, listen to me I 
 practically risked my life in coming here to-night, 
 and I don't intend to go without " 
 
 As he advanced, Kathryn retreated. 
 
 "You mean you are going to use force?" she 
 exclaimed apprehensively. 
 
 He continued to advance threateningly. 
 
 "Yes, if you compel me!" he replied, with grim 
 determination. 
 
 Kathryn, terror stricken, took refuge behind a 
 chair. 
 
 "No, no not that, Wilbur!" she cried plead- 
 ingly. "Don't don't it isn't in you to do that!" 
 
 He still advanced on her, but as he was about to 
 seize hold of her he weakened. 
 
 "You're right!" he gasped; "there's a limit 
 to my villainy I give it up I've done my best. 
 You're witness to that I've done my best. Poor 
 father, your last chance has gone! I'm sorry, 
 Kate I'm sorry to have distressed you so. You're 
 
 249
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 a good woman, and you say that the innocent should 
 suffer with the guilty. Well, perhaps you're right- 
 but it's hard, isn't it? You'll admit that" 
 
 "Yes, I admit that," she said sympathetically. 
 "Give me till to-morrow. I'll think over what's 
 best to be done. I want to do what is right, but 
 I don't want to be cruel." 
 
 Eagerly he grasped at this straw she held out. 
 
 "You said to-morrow?" he cried. "Don't raise 
 my hopes unless " 
 
 She interrupted him. 
 
 "Did you say that Mr. Darwin bribed one of your 
 partners to betray you?" 
 
 "Yes Cowper. He brought your husband those 
 notes." 
 
 She was silent for a moment, as if meditating. 
 Then she said: 
 
 "It seems to me that that was not exactly hon- 
 orable." 
 
 He shrugged his shoulders. Bitterly he said : 
 
 "I suppose all is fair in love and politics. Your 
 husband is playing the game as the reformer un- 
 derstands it." Holding out his hand he said : "I'm 
 going now. You'll forgive me, won't you?" 
 
 250
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 She put her hand in his. 
 
 "I wish I knew what to do," she said. "I wish 
 I knew what was best what was right." 
 
 He turned as he reached the door. 
 
 "Good-bye," he said. "I'm going to make one 
 last appeal to your husband to-morrow to spare my 
 father. Don't tell him of this this folly of to- 
 night, till after I have seen him, please." 
 
 She nodded affirmatively. 
 
 "Promise me," he said. 
 
 "I promise not only that, but when I do tell 
 him I'll ask him to I did ask him not to take this 
 case, but he refused. I can't promise you that he'll 
 listen to me, but I'll try I'll try " 
 
 "Oh, if you only succeed!" 
 
 "If you had these notes, would would it save 
 you personally?" 
 
 "No. It makes no difference to me personally. 
 The crime was mine. I engineered the deal, and 
 I must face the music ; but it will save my father 
 and the others." 
 
 Kathryn looked at him. Gently she said: 
 
 "I see. You love your father very much, don't 
 you?" 
 
 251
 
 THB GAMBLERS 
 
 "I think so. I don't know I suppose it's love, 
 but it isn't that altogether it's self-reproach. It's 
 all my doing, Kate mine alone. He was content 
 and happy. He had enough to live on and was sat- 
 isfied but he gave way to my ambition, my desire 
 to emulate the big moneyed men to lead to be 
 the great central figure." 
 
 Kathryn suddenly felt faint. The night's excite- 
 ment had been too much for her. She staggered 
 as if falling, and Wilbur hastened to assist her. 
 "This is too bad. You must be tired out." 
 "Yes," she murmured. "I must go to my 
 room. You can find your way out. Please turn 
 off the light as you go." 
 
 "Yes, I will. Good night, and God bless you!" 
 "Good night, Mr. Emerson. I'll do my best." 
 She opened the door of her chamber and disap- 
 peared. 
 
 Wilbur buttoned up his coat, took his cap and 
 turned the electric switch. Then, noiselessly, he 
 unlocked the door leading to the landing and cau- 
 tiously opened it. To his amazement he found the 
 hall outside brilliantly illuminated and a man stand- 
 ing there, as if on guard. 
 
 252
 
 CHAPTER XVI 
 
 WILBUR retreated into the library. The 
 stranger, a square- jawed man with thick 
 soles redolent of the detective bureau, 
 followed him in. 
 
 "What are you doing there?" demanded Wilbur 
 uneasily. 
 
 "I'm acting under orders, sir," replied the man. 
 
 "Whose orders?" 
 
 "The district attorney's." 
 
 Wilbur started. Quickly he said: v ^ 
 
 "You are " 
 
 "Detective Hicks of the Central Office, sir." 
 
 "You're the man who was watching my house 
 to-night from across the street?" 
 
 "Yes, Mr. Emerson." 
 
 "You followed me here?" 
 
 "Yes, sir." 
 
 "What's your object ?" 
 
 "Mr. Darwin will tell you that when he conies." 
 253
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 Involuntarily Wilbur made an exclamation of 
 astonishment. 
 
 "Mr. Darwin? I thought he was in Washington 
 by this time. Does he know I am here?" 
 
 "Yes, sir. He's now on his way home from the 
 Pennsylvania depot. Our messenger caught him 
 as he was getting on the train." 
 
 Hurriedly Wilbur started for the door. 
 
 "I'm afraid I can't wait here for Mr. Darwin." 
 
 The detective barred the way. Resolutely he said : 
 
 "I'm afraid you must, sir. His orders were to 
 keep you here until he came " 
 
 "Keep me here by force?" cried Wilbur deri- 
 sively. "That would be too good a joke." 
 
 The detective remained calm, but masterful. Re- 
 spectfully he said: 
 
 "My orders are to keep you here, sir. I have 
 another man on watch downstairs. Mr. Darwin 
 won't be long. He ought to have been here five 
 minutes ago." 
 
 Putting his hand in his pocket and drawing out 
 a roll of banknotes, Wilbur said carelessly: 
 
 "I suppose it's no use my suggesting that my 
 offering to to " 
 
 254
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 The detective shook his head. Laconically he 
 replied : 
 
 "No, sir, I wouldn't do that if I were you." 
 
 "Name your own figure!" exclaimed Wilbur ea- 
 gerly. Seeing that the man was incorruptible and 
 that no amount of money would tempt him, he de- 
 sisted. Carelessly he said: 
 
 "Never mind never mind. I'll make the best 
 of it." 
 
 Suddenly they heard a door bang downstairs. 
 
 "There's Mr. Darwin now!" said the detec- 
 tive. 
 
 A moment later the district attorney entered the 
 room. He had run upstairs without even stopping 
 to remove his coat and hat. In his hand he held a 
 traveling bag. As he entered the room he stopped 
 and looked squarely at Wilbur. He said nothing, 
 but there was a stern, determined expression in his 
 face that boded no good for any man who had the 
 temerity to enter his house without his knowledge 
 and consent. Slowly he removed his hat and coat 
 and threw them with the bag on to a chair. Then, 
 going to his desk, he turned to the detective and 
 asked : 
 
 255
 
 THH GAMBLERS 
 
 "Where is Mrs. Darwin?" 
 
 "In her room, sir." 
 
 "Does she know I've returned?" 
 
 "No, sir." 
 
 Going quickly to his wife's bedchamber, Darwin 
 stopped at the threshold and listened. Hearing 
 nothing, he tried to open the door, but it was locked. 
 Walking back to the desk he cast a keen, suspicious 
 look at his nocturnal visitor. Sternly he demanded : 
 
 "Now, Mr. Emerson, what are you doing in my 
 house at this hour?" 
 
 "I came to see you." 
 
 "To see me at midnight?" exclaimed Darwin 
 incredulously. Ironically he added: "What time 
 was it when you paid me -this honor?" 
 
 "I can't remember the exact hour " 
 
 Darwin turned to Hicks. 
 
 "Exactly thirty-five minutes past eleven, sir," 
 said the detective promptly. 
 
 "They told you I was not here?" said Darwin 
 slowly. 
 
 "Yes." 
 
 "It's now one o'clock." 
 
 "I waited for you." 
 
 256
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 "Waited nearly two hours?" 
 
 "Yes." 
 
 "Did Mrs. Darwin tell you that I had gone to 
 Washington ?" 
 
 "No." 
 
 "What did she tell you?" exclaimed Darwin im- 
 patiently. It was only by the exercise of the great- 
 est self-control that he contained himself. "Come, 
 don't try and lie like a gentleman don't waste 
 your time trying to save a woman's reputation 
 and above all, don't spare my feelings!" Fiercely, 
 almost savagely, he added: "I want the facts, and 
 believe me, I'm going to get them!" 
 
 "You can have all the facts," replied Wilbur 
 frankly. "There's nothing I wish to hide, but I 
 object to being questioned, cross-examined, as it 
 were, in the presence of that man. I'm not in 
 court not yet. Send him away and I'll I'll tell 
 you the whole truth!" 
 
 The district attorney looked at him searchingly 
 for a moment. Then, suspiciously, he said: 
 
 "I want a witness." 
 
 "I'll put it in writing if you like." 
 
 "Very well. I'll hear what you have to say." 
 
 257
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 Turning to the detective he said: "Wait down- 
 stairs. Don't come till I call." 
 
 "Very good, sir," replied the man as he went out, 
 closing the door quietly behind him. 
 
 Darwin pointed to a seat, and took a seat him- 
 self at the desk. 
 
 "Well, sir, I'm waiting," said the district attor- 
 ney coldly. 
 
 "Mr. Darwin," began Wilbur, "I know what's 
 in your mind in regard to my visit. I know what 
 has always been in your mind in regard to me. But 
 man to man, before God, you are wrong in both 
 instances." 
 
 "Never mind what you suspect I think," snapped 
 Darwin. "Let us have the facts. What was your 
 object in coming here?" 
 
 "I came to steal." 
 
 "Oh!" exclaimed Darwin. "So robbery was 
 your motive?" 
 
 "Yes, let me explain." 
 
 - The attorney laughed incredulously. Facetiously 
 he said : 
 
 "And instead of avoiding detection and arrest 
 you stayed around two hours?" 
 
 258
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 Wilbur nodded. 
 
 "Yes, but " 
 
 "Would you swear to that in a court of 
 law?" 
 
 "Yes." 
 
 "Then you're a bigger fool than I thought you 
 were, and I marvel at your business success." 
 Leaning forward, his teeth clinched, hate flashing 
 from his eyes, he went on: "Emerson, I'm going 
 to be frank and indelicate, but I want the truth. I 
 hate evil and evildoers. I hate them! You love 
 my wife yes, you do!" 
 
 "I admire and respect her," protested Wilbur. 
 
 T 
 
 "She would have married you," went on the at- 
 torney bitterly, "if your love of money had not 
 turned your head but that is some time ago. The 
 situation has changed. You have made money 
 you can rest on your laurels which means you 
 can indulge your passion. You loved her and she 
 she loved you and you are here in my house 
 after midnight the deduction is inevitable. 
 You " 
 
 Wilbur sprang to his feet. Indignantly he cried : 
 259
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 "Don't say it! Don't say it! Besides, it's a 
 damnable lie! She doesn't love me!" 
 
 "She did love you!" persisted Darwin. "She 
 told me so years ago in a charming outburst of 
 schoolgirl confidence told me the whole 
 story " 
 
 "Which you are blackguard enough to betray!" 
 
 Ignoring the interruption the lawyer went on : 
 
 "You came here to rob the house yes and you 
 have robbed it my wife is " 
 
 "Leave her name out of the affair!" exclaimed 
 Wilbur hotly. 
 
 "How can I?" demanded Darwin cynically. 
 
 Wilbur sprang forward with an angry gest- 
 ure. 
 
 "By God, if you mention it again, I'll " Re- 
 straining himself with an effort, he went on: "I 
 want to tell the truth, damn you, but you won't 
 give me a chance, so anxious you are to fasten guilt 
 on that innocent little woman! You live in an at- 
 mosphere of suspicion your trade is to convict, 
 and you see nothing but guilt all around you I 
 told you I came here to steal " 
 
 "And I dismiss your explanation as absurd and 
 260
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 trivial," retorted the attorney. "Come, try 
 again " 
 
 Wilbur looked at him for a moment in silence. 
 Then slowly he said: 
 
 "First of all, I want you to give your your 
 word of honor as a man, though I have precious 
 little faith in it that you will not use any of the 
 facts I may give you as evidence against us my- 
 self or my associates in the Federal Courts." 
 
 "Oh, yes granted." 
 
 "You promise?" 
 
 "I promise. Go on!" 
 
 Stepping quickly to the door, Wilbur listened in- 
 tently. Putting his hand on the knob and giving 
 it a quick twist, he suddenly opened the door and 
 exclaimed : 
 
 "Let's have a witness to that there's one right 
 here!" 
 
 Putting out his hand he pulled in Hicks, who 
 had a notebook in hand. Addressing the detective, 
 he said: 
 
 "While you are taking notes, I wish you to note 
 the fact that Mr. Darwin solemnly promises not 
 to use any of the statements I am about to make 
 
 261
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 to him as evidence in the case of the United States 
 Government against the Emerson Banking Com- 
 pany." 
 
 Darwin nodded approval. 
 
 "That's all!" said Wilbur curtly. "Now, keep 
 away from that door." 
 
 The man went out, closing the door behind him. 
 Darwin looked on in silence. 
 
 "Well?" he demanded at last. 
 
 Wilbur folded his arms and looked his rival full 
 in the face. Contemptuously he said: 
 
 "The deal you made with George Cowper is 
 known to us." 
 
 "Indeed!" exclaimed the attorney. 
 
 "You had an appointment this afternoon." 
 
 "Well " 
 
 "He kept the appointment. You were detained 
 downtown, so did not get what he brought you. 
 The evidence he was to supply you with, for which 
 you bribed him with promises of personal immunity, 
 was left here by him, according to promise." 
 
 "Well " 
 
 "I heard it was here at fifteen minutes before 
 ten at half-past eleven I was hiding in this house." 
 
 262
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 "Speak a little louder, please," suggested the at- 
 torney. 
 
 "No," retorted Wilbur, "this is for your ear 
 alone." 
 
 Darwin laughed cynically. Carelessly he said : 
 
 "That man outside knows all about you and your 
 affairs. The moment you came in this house he 
 telephoned for instructions." 
 
 "Yes, but he doesn't know that I came here to 
 recover the notes that George Cowper left here for 
 you." 
 
 "You acknowledge," cried Darwin exultantly, 
 "that these notes will convict you and your asso- 
 ciates?" 
 
 Wilbur nodded. Quickly he replied: 
 
 "I acknowledge that they will convict me. My 
 associates are entirely ignorant of the uses to which 
 their signatures were put." 
 
 A look of anxiety suddenly crossed the attorney's 
 face. 
 
 "Where are the notes?" he demanded. 
 
 "I don't know," answered Wilbur carelessly; "I 
 haven't them Mrs. Darwin " 
 
 "Ah, yes, let's come to that !" said Darwin, look- 
 263
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 ing up quickly. "What part did she play in this 
 this affair?" 
 
 "She found me here in the ac'. of searching your 
 desk." 
 
 "Oh!" 
 
 "She thought I was an ordinary burglar, and of- 
 fered me her jewelry on condition I would go, but 
 afterwards she recognized my voice and " 
 
 "And what?" 
 
 "She refused to allow me to take away what I 
 had come for. I argued, pleaded, threatened to use 
 force, but it was useless. She was firm in her fidel- 
 ity to your interests." 
 
 Darwin shrugged his shoulders. With an ironical 
 smile he said: 
 
 "Firm in her fidelity to my interests, eh? A 
 very nice-sounding phrase! Instead of handing a 
 burglar over to the police, she entertained him for 
 two hours. Quite probable ! She was always most 
 sympathetic. How do you propose to prove this 
 farrago of nonsense?" 
 
 "Mrs. Darwin will tell you it is the truth," replied 
 Wilbur. 
 
 "And if it is the truth," snapped Darwin, "you 
 264
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 expect me to suppress the important fact that 
 you came here to steal documentary evidence that 
 would be damaging to yourself and your part- 
 ners?" 
 
 "I have your promise." 
 
 "Yes, you have my promise," said Darwin, look- 
 ing sternly at his vis-a-vis. "It's a damn pretty 
 story, if it's true. If she corroborates the story in 
 all its essentials, I may be disposed to accept ; but I 
 have a cursed inner conviction that you're lying! 
 You're a picturesque sort of a scoundrel just 
 the sort of a fellow that has no compunction in 
 breaking up a home, and boasting of it after- 
 wards." 
 
 "The truth of my story is easily proven," replied 
 Wilbur with quiet dignity. "Cowper will tell you 
 that he left the notes here; the servant received the 
 blue envelope containing them. Mrs. Darwin saw 
 me trying to steal them." 
 
 "Thanks!" interrupted Darwin sarcastically. "I 
 know how to piece the evidence together. But the 
 other side of the picture is also convincing, and far 
 more circumstantial. Your early association, your 
 love for each other; her anger at my having taken 
 
 265
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 this case against you. Why, she refused to leave 
 your house to-night." 
 
 "She loves my sister that's why," replied 
 Wilbur. 
 
 "You were there." 
 
 "Yes, but I didn't see her. Your spies will tell 
 you I was playing cards. Cowper will tell you 
 he's at my house now waiting for me." 
 
 Darwin looked toward his wife's room. Pacing 
 nervously up and down the room, he said : 
 
 "Well, we'll see what she has to say. Your 
 stories should agree. Threateningly he added : "If 
 they don't " 
 
 "They will," interrupted Wilbur. 
 
 "If they don't, I shall know precisely what to 
 think and how to act." 
 
 Drawing himself up, Wilbur looked his old enemy 
 straight in the face. Quietly he asked : 
 
 "Mr. Darwin, when you try a case in court, you 
 ask the juror if he has a preconceived opinion of 
 the prisoner's guilt ?" 
 
 "Yes." 
 
 "And if the juror say he has, you ask him if he 
 can clear his mind of that suspicion?" 
 
 266
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 "Yes." 
 
 "If he says he cannot, you reject him as incom- 
 petent." 
 
 "Well?" 
 
 "I ask you if you can clear your mind of the pre- 
 conceived opinion you have formed as to our 
 guilt." 
 
 "I am the judge in this case," replied Darwin 
 coldly. 
 
 "Nevertheless, I ask you to clear your mind of 
 unjust, unholy suspicions." 
 
 "Unholy!" cried Darwin, with a scornful laugh. 
 "The devil quotes Scripture." Dismissing the 
 banker with a gesture, he added : "Go, now, and 
 wait downstairs till I send for you." 
 
 Leaving the desk, he crossed the floor, and going 
 to the door of his wife's room, knocked lightly on 
 the panels. For a moment he stood and listened, 
 as if expecting an answer. Not receiving any, he 
 pressed the electric bell at the fireplace. Then, 
 crossing to the door leading to the landing, opened 
 it and called out: 
 
 "Hicks!" 
 
 The detective came in and waited as if for in- 
 267
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 structions. The district attorney made a gesture 
 in the direction of the banker. 
 
 "Mr. Emerson will wait downstairs till I have 
 decided just what I am going to do." 
 
 "Yes, sir," replied the officer. 
 
 At that moment Jane appeared, sleepy-eyed and 
 hastily dressed in a wrapper. 
 
 "Did you ring, sir?" she asked. 
 
 "Yes ; tell Mrs. Darwin I wish to see her. Simply 
 say I am here; you understand?" 
 
 "Yes, sir." 
 
 The girl went to her mistress's room, opened the 
 door and entered. Darwin turned to the detective. 
 Sternly he said: 
 
 "Mr. Emerson will use no effort to leave this 
 house." 
 
 "Yes, sir." 
 
 The attorney looked at Wilbur. 
 
 "You understand?" 
 
 Wilbur bowed. 
 
 "I understand." 
 
 With a last lingering glance in the direction of 
 Kathryn's door, he left the room. As he disap- 
 peared Jane came in. 
 
 268
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 "She's coming right out, sir," she said. 
 
 "What did you say?" demanded her master. 
 
 "That you wanted to see her. sir." 
 
 "Was she asleep?" 
 
 "No, sir." 
 
 "Did you see Mr. Em ?" 
 
 His question was suddenly interrupted by the 
 entrance of his wife. 
 
 "That's all, Jane," he said quickly. "Wait down- 
 stairs till you are wanted." 
 
 "Yes, sir." 
 
 269
 
 CHAPTER XVII 
 
 DARWIN closed the door and, returning to 
 his seat at the desk, waited for his wife 
 to appear. He was prepared to hear pa- 
 tiently what she had to say. His trained, legal 
 mind realized the injustice of condemning un- 
 heard. The circumstances were outrageous, the 
 proofs overwhelming, but still it was possible that 
 the presence of this man in his house at midnight 
 for two long hours might be satisfactorily ex- 
 plained. Patiently, judiciously he would listen to 
 whatever explanations Kathryn had to make. 
 
 But while he tried to take comfort in this line of 
 reasoning and control his nerves, his calm exterior 
 gave little hint of the fury that was raging within. 
 What a poor fool he had been, how blind, how cred- 
 ulous! No doubt this intrigue, these clandestine 
 meetings had been going on for months, and he had 
 suspected nothing. He had returned too soon and 
 disturbed a lovers' tete-a-tete. Quickly in his mind 
 he reviewed his relations with his wife since their 
 
 270
 
 THB GAMBLERS 
 
 marriage her coldness, her indifference, her 
 strange aloofness. The truth was out now. She 
 loved another man, and this man was the criminal 
 whom he was about to send to the penitentiary. 
 Everything was plain to him. This scoundrel 
 Emerson, not content with robbing the depositors 
 of his bank, had not hesitated to rob him of his 
 own wife. This, of course, meant the end of 
 everything. No explanations could contradict the 
 evidence of his own eyes. The culprits were caught 
 flagrante delicto. 
 
 The door of his wife's boudoir opened and Kath- 
 ryn appeared. She was still fully dressed; her 
 manner apprehensive, nervous and uneasy. Darwin 
 eyed her in stern silence. Timidly she said: 
 
 "Jane told me you had arrived. You've changed 
 your plans? I thought you had gone." 
 
 "I delayed my departure," he answered with 
 studied calmness. "I'm not going till early to- 
 morrow." 
 
 "Well, why don't you go to bed and get some 
 rest?" 
 
 "I don't feel sleepy," he replied, carelessly. Wav- 
 ing his hand to a seat, he went on: "I'm sorry 
 
 271
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 to disturb you, but I Sit down, Kathryn, I want 
 to talk to you, and as you weren't asleep, it doesn't 
 matter, does it? I'm anxious worried. Of late 
 we've been getting on badly together, Kathryn 
 very badly! I don't know where we are drifting. 
 We don't seem to have a single thought in com- 
 mon. That scene at Emerson's to-night was almost 
 disgraceful." 
 
 She interrupted him hotly. 
 
 "It was disgraceful, and I said so at the time. 
 You, a friend of old Mr. Emerson, not only un- 
 dertake this case against him, but to publicly brand 
 them as criminals at the very moment that I am 
 accepting their hospitality, and then to drag me 
 away from them as if they were the vilest kind- 
 She stopped and looked at him as if expecting him 
 to say something, but he maintained an obstinate, 
 sphinx-like silence that intimidated her more than 
 ever. Nervously she went on: "I'm afraid we 
 shall never agree on that point. It has kept me 
 awake thinking of it." 
 
 At last he broke his long silence. 
 
 "So you haven't been to sleep ?" he said, sharply. 
 
 "No," she stammered. 
 
 272
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 "This matter troubled you so?" 
 
 "Yes." 
 
 "Was it my actions troubled you, or the fact that 
 your dear friends are in danger?" 
 
 She did not answer, but sat watching the flick- 
 ering embers in the grate. His gaze still fixed in- 
 tently on her and slightly raising his voice, he 
 went on: 
 
 "So you spent the rest of the evening and nearly 
 all night thinking over it?" 
 
 "Yes." 
 
 "It must have been rather dull lonely no one 
 to talk to." 
 
 "I'm used to that," was her bitter rejoinder. 
 
 He took no notice of her retort but, changing 
 his tone, asked : 
 
 "Did any one call during my absence or ring 
 up? I was expecting a letter." 
 
 Kathryn started, and not so imperceptibly that 
 he did not notice it. Hurriedly, she replied: 
 
 "Oh, yes yes a letter came marked 'impor- 
 tant' so I put it in my room for safety." 
 
 "Ah, so you have it?" he said, quickly. 
 
 "Yes." 
 
 273
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 "You don't know what it contained?" 
 
 "Just a some papers, I I think I know it 
 was very important. Shall I get it?" 
 
 "Not yet. What else did you do?" 
 
 "What do you mean by : 'What else did I do?' " 
 
 She looked up quickly, tossing her head back 
 indignantly, almost defiantly. What right had he 
 to sit there and catechise her in that calm, provok- 
 ing way ? There was a short, awkward silence, and 
 then she said, crossly: 
 
 "It's very late and I'm very sleepy and 
 tired " 
 
 "I thought you couldn't sleep?" exclaimed Dar- 
 win, a sarcastic smile hovering about the corners 
 of his mouth. 
 
 Kate rose and, turning her back on him, made 
 a pretence of looking in the mirror, over the man- 
 tel, to pull her combs out: 
 
 "It's terribly late. If you don't mind I'd like 
 to go to bed." 
 
 She was moving slowly in the direction of her 
 room, when he halted her with the remark: 
 
 "Oh, by the way, did any one call while I was 
 away ?" 
 
 274
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 "No no one " 
 
 He looked at her fixedly, searchingly, and her 
 eyes fell under his penetrating gaze. Coldly he said : 
 
 "No one, did you say? Are you quite sure?" 
 
 For a moment she hesitated. Why need he 
 know? The next instant she was sorry. It was 
 not right. He was her husband. Her first duty 
 was to him. It was not loyal to hide anything from 
 him. Besides, nothing had occurred of which she 
 need be ashamed. Quickly she said: 
 
 "Oh, yes I forgot some one called to see you." 
 
 "Some one?" inquired Darwin. 
 
 "A gentleman." 
 
 "So late? Who was it?" 
 
 "Wilbur Emerson." 
 
 The attorney elevated his eyebrows as if greatly 
 surprised. 
 
 "Wilbur Emerson!" he exclaimed in apparent 
 astonishment. "What did he want?" 
 
 "He didn't say that is he said something 
 about wanting to see you on very urgent busi- 
 ness." 
 
 "Well, I suppose you sent word by the servant 
 that I \vas out of town and he went away? 
 
 275
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 "No. I I saw him," she said, hesitatingly. 
 
 "Oh!" exclaimed Darwin, ironically, "then it 
 wasn't such a dull, lonely evening after all?" 
 
 "No." 
 
 "How long did he stay?" 
 
 "Quite some time. He's so worried about his 
 father, and " 
 
 "So he remained quite some time confiding his 
 troubles to you?" 
 
 Kathryn made an appealing gesture. 
 
 "You see, James, I didn't want to tell you. He 
 asked me not to mention the fact that he came 
 under such peculiar circumstances." 
 
 "What peculiar circumstances?" 
 
 "I promised that I wouldn't mention it to you 
 and I I want to keep my promise. James, I'm 
 so sorry for Mr. Emerson's father. Can't you help 
 him?" 
 
 "Why should he come and tell you all this at 
 midnight?" 
 
 "He's anxious worried I suppose. Perhaps he 
 didn't think it was so late. He didn't come to see 
 me; he came to see you." 
 
 "But, finding I was not here, he saw you." 
 276
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 "Yes, I suppose that that is what hap- 
 pened." 
 
 Darwin looked at her in silence for a moment. 
 With studied politeness, he said coldly: 
 
 "Am I sufficiently in your confidence to enable 
 you to tell me what he said?" 
 
 "I told you. He wants you to help his father 
 to spare him." 
 
 "Oh so he came here to-night to ask me to spare 
 his father?" 
 
 "That was one of the reasons." 
 
 "What were the others?" 
 
 She hesitated for a second as if not quite sure 
 what to do. Then, quickly, she said: 
 
 "I can't tell you now." 
 
 "Oh you can't tell me!" he exclaimed. 
 
 She held out her hands, appealingly, trying to 
 make him see the matter in her light. 
 
 "James, if a woman, a very dear friend had 
 asked you to not to not to betray her confidence 
 not to tell me something that she didn't want 
 me to know and you had promised her on your 
 honor not to would you break that promise, 
 merely because I asked you?" 
 
 277
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 His manner remained unsympathetic, uncompro- 
 mising. 
 
 "I should never make such a promise," he replied, 
 in hard, relentless tones. 
 
 "But if you did would you break it?" she in- 
 sisted. 
 
 "If it was my duty to tell you yes. If you 
 ought to know yes." 
 
 "Ah I see," she said, slowly. 
 
 "Ought I to know this this secret?" he went on. 
 
 "Yes, I I think you ought yes." 
 
 "Well, what is it?" 
 
 "But, you see, I promised not to." 
 
 He shrugged his shoulders. Ironically he re- 
 plied : 
 
 "Oh! I ought to know, but your promise not to 
 betray your very dear friend's confidence prevents 
 you from speaking ! It must be a very strong sense 
 of obligation to a friend that prevents you from 
 taking your husband into your confidence." See- 
 ing that she still hesitated, he added, bitterly: "I 
 see the tie that binds you to Mr. Emerson is 
 stronger than the tie that binds you to me." 
 
 Impulsively, she made a few steps toward him. 
 278
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 His manner was so reserved, so chilling, that he 
 repelled her, but she did not wish him to think her 
 unkind, or unloyal : 
 
 "Oh, James James!" she exclaimed, "you are 
 my husband." 
 
 "Precisely," he said, bitterly. 
 
 "Isabel and I," she went on, "were class- 
 mates. Old Mr. Emerson has been like a father to 
 me." 
 
 "And Wilbur what has he been to you?" he 
 demanded, turning with a sudden fierceness that 
 startled her. 
 
 Ignoring the implied insult in his question, she 
 answered calmly: 
 
 "Isn't it natural that my sympathies should be 
 with these people in their present trouble ? I prom- 
 ised Mr. Emerson that I would say nothing that 
 would hurt his case. But you compel me to you 
 hear that, James ? You are forcing me to do what 
 I feel is dishonorable." 
 
 "Dishonorable?" 
 
 "Yes. To deliberately break a promise is dis- 
 honorable." 
 
 "Dishonorable to him, perhaps," laughed Darwin, 
 279
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 "but honorable to yourself and me." Impatiently, 
 he cried: "Come the truth " 
 
 Kathryn was silent. She was trying to think, to 
 gain time. In her heart raged a tumult of con- 
 fused, conflicting emotions, resentment against the 
 man who, so punctilious, cold and merciless, was 
 not to be swerved from what he termed public duty, 
 and anxiety to do What was right both by her hus- 
 band and her friends. After all, she meditated, 
 it was not exactly fair to conceal the true facts 
 from her husband. He ought to be made ac- 
 quainted with the real reason for Wilbur Emer- 
 son's call, even if only in justice to herself, for he 
 appeared now to be laboring under an entirely erro- 
 neous impression. In justice to herself she ought 
 to let him understand the situation as it was. Fi- 
 nally she said: 
 
 "Perhaps you are right, James. When I came 
 into this room to-night I saw what I thought was 
 a common burglar searching among the papers 
 on your desk. It was Mr. Wilbur Emerson. He 
 confessed to me that he had come to to prevent 
 some important communication falling into your 
 hands." 
 
 280
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 "Why didn't you call for help ring for the ser- 
 vants?" demanded Darwin, interrupting her. 
 
 "I did. The cook had gone to bed. I rang for 
 Jane." 
 
 "Oh, you did? Well, let's see what Jane says 
 about it." Pressing a button at his desk, he went 
 on: "Burglary, eh? Another of his accomplish- 
 ments and this is the man for whom you ask sym- 
 pathy ! Upon my word, I think you women admire 
 deviltry." 
 
 "You don't trust me?" said Kathryn reproach- 
 fully. 
 
 "Not where you and he are concerned !" retorted 
 Darwin quickly. 
 
 "You don't trust me, James?" she repeated with 
 rising intonation. 
 
 "No, I do not," he replied, savagely. "I hate 
 this man, Wilbur Emerson! I can't get it out of 
 my mind that deep down in your heart you you 
 think more of him than you do of me. You re- 
 member telling me that he was your first love, I 
 suppose ?" 
 
 "I wanted you to know. I thought it was only 
 fair to tell you." 
 
 281
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 "Well, do you wonder that I jump at conclusions 
 where you and he are concerned?" 
 
 "No," she answered, disdainfully. "I wonder 
 at nothing I only wonder that I care what you say 
 or do." 
 
 He was about to make an angry retort when 
 there came a knock at the door and Jane appeared. 
 Quickly her mistress said: 
 
 "Jane, when I rang the bell to-night " 
 
 Darwin interrupted her. 
 
 "Allow me." Turning to the maid, he said : 
 "Did you answer the bell at the time Mr. Emerson 
 was here?" 
 
 "Yes, sir." 
 
 "Did you see Mr. Emerson?" 
 
 "No, sir." 
 
 "Who was in the room besides Mrs. Dar- 
 win?" 
 
 "I didn't see." 
 
 "Didn't see!" exclaimed the attorney, in blank 
 astonishment. 
 
 "I I didn't come into the room, sir," explained 
 the girl. 
 
 "Why not?" he demanded. 
 282
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 "I I- 
 
 She stopped and glanced sheepishly at her mis- 
 tress, who motioned her to proceed. 
 
 "Please answer his question, Jane." 
 
 "I I couldn't, sir." 
 
 "Why not?" 
 
 "The door was locked, sir." 
 
 "Yes," interrupted Kathryn, hastily. "Quite 
 true. It was locked, but Mr. Emerson " 
 
 Ignoring- his wife's interruption, the attorney 
 went on questioning the girl. 
 
 "Did you try to open the door?" 
 
 "Yes, sir. I knocked but Mrs. Darwin said 
 it was all right that I could go." 
 
 "She told you that it was all right that you 
 could go and you went?" 
 
 "Yes, sir." Fearing that she had been trapped 
 into saying something compromising to her mis- 
 tress, the girl looked apprehensively at Kathryn. 
 "I hope, Madam, that I that nothing that I've 
 said " 
 
 "That's all," interrupted Darwin, curtly. 
 
 The maid turned angrily on him. Even humble 
 hirelings have nerves, and the extraordinary events 
 
 283
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 of the evening had been enough to exasperate the 
 equanimity of a saint. 
 
 "Yes, sir!" she exclaimed, hotly. "The man 
 downstairs said I'd probably be called on to give 
 evidence in court. You'll pardon me, sir, but I 
 won't do it. No, sir! From this very minute I 
 know nothing and wild horses couldn't drag a 
 word out of me!" 
 
 Having relieved herself by this outburst, she 
 bounced indignantly out of the room. Darwin 
 looked at his wife. 
 
 "And you ask me to spare ?" he laughed, 
 
 cynically. 
 
 "Let me explain, James. Mr. Emerson threat- 
 ened " 
 
 "No! no!" he interrupted, angrily, with a wave 
 of his hand. "No more explanations ! no more lies ! 
 The whole story is a pure invention agreed upon 
 by you two in the event of my finding out that your 
 lover was here " 
 
 Pale with anger, Kathryn drew herself up to her 
 full height. Tears came to her eyes and her bosom 
 heaved convulsively with the pent-up emotion she 
 was trying to control. She was hurt in everything 
 
 284
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 a woman holds dearest. There are some accusa- 
 tions so atrocious, so vile as to be unworthy of 
 notice. This was one of them. In uttering those 
 brutal words her husband had wantonly trampled 
 on what she held most sacred her honor, her self- 
 respect. That she would never forget or forgive. 
 This was the very end of everything between them. 
 He could go his way; she would go hers. Yet, 
 even now, she was unwilling to have him believe 
 her capable of wrongdoing. 
 
 "My lover! No, good God! No, James, when 
 I asked him not to take the letter that had been 
 left for you he he acted honorably " 
 
 Darwin left his seat and began to pace the floor. 
 
 "Honorably!" he exclaimed, with a sneer. 
 "Why, even according to your own story the man's 
 a scoundrel and what a story! a common thief 
 comes here to steal; you make no outcry, no effort 
 to have him arrested. And when your servant 
 comes to the door and finds it locked, you tell her 
 it's all right that she can go and you expect me 
 to sit down and calmly swallow this tissue of im- 
 probabilities. He acted honorably, did he?" 
 
 "It's true true before God, it's true!" Once 
 285
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 more she forgot her dignity and implored him : 
 "James spare him!" 
 
 "Spare him, eh?" he echoed, cynically. "I guess 
 not." 
 
 Going quickly to the door, he opened it and called 
 out, loudly: 
 
 "Hicks, bring that fellow up here!" 
 
 Kathryn, almost distracted, ran after him, trying 
 to placate his anger, ready to agree to anything if 
 only an unpleasant scene could be avoided. 
 
 "I'll get the package," she cried, beseechingly. 
 "I'll show you that I'm telling the truth." 
 
 He paid no attention to her, but waited, grim and 
 determined looking, for the coming of Wilbur. 
 Kathryn, almost hysterical, blinded by her tears, 
 staggered in the direction of her bedroom, sobbing: 
 
 "He won't believe me! He won't believe me!" 
 
 Darwin looked after her, a cynical smile of in- 
 credulity on his lips. All this hysteria, all these 
 tears, were lost on him. In spite of her denials, he 
 felt instinctively that his wife did not love him. 
 Their marriage had been a sham, a hollow mockery. 
 She loved this thief whom she was trying so hard 
 to shield. 
 
 286
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 "Curse him!" he muttered to himself in an un- 
 dertone. "He has robbed me of my wife, but he 
 shall pay for it!" 
 
 Suddenly a smile flashed across the gloom of his 
 face. An idea had occurred to him. What more 
 subtle or more fitting punishment than that Kathryn 
 should prefer a charge of burglary against him 
 the man she loved? The facts were there. She 
 could not evade them. With a bitter laugh, he 
 struck the desk vehemently and exclaimed with an 
 oath: 
 
 "I'll do it I'll do it! By God, I will!" 
 
 As he spoke, the door opened and Wilbur en- 
 tered, followed by Hicks. Another Central Office 
 man remained discreetly in the rear. The attorney 
 glared at Wilbur, who was now virtually a pris- 
 oner, and was about to address him when Kathryn 
 re-entered from her boudoir. In her hand was the 
 blue envelope, which she kept concealed. She was 
 about to speak, when Darwin silenced her with a 
 look. Turning to the prisoner, he said, sternly : 
 
 "Mr. Emerson, by your own confession you en- 
 tered this house to-night with the object of stealing 
 
 certain correspondence addressed to me " 
 
 287
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 Wilbur protested. With a start of indignant sur- 
 prise, he exclaimed: 
 
 "You gave me your word of honor that my con- 
 fession shouldn't be used against me!" 
 
 "Word of honor to a thief doesn't obtain," 
 sneered Darwin. "Apart from that, Mrs. Darwin 
 has informed me that she is about to make a charge 
 of burglary against you." Kathryn made a quick 
 gesture of indignant protest. But her husband, 
 taking no heed, proceeded: "She is the only wit- 
 ness. If you are sent to prison as a common thief 
 you will have the satisfaction of knowing that she 
 sent you there." Turning to his wife, he added, 
 savagely: "And you shall have the satisfaction of 
 sending him there." 
 
 Overwhelmed, not knowing what to do, power- 
 less to interfere or intercede, Kathryn staggered to 
 a chair. The room seemed to go round. Her hus- 
 band's hard, unsympathetic voice sounded a great 
 distance away. Wilbur bowed his head and said 
 nothing. Darwin continued : 
 
 "All this apart from the fact that the Federal 
 case against you and your father will be pressed to 
 the uttermost to the uttermost! The charge of 
 
 288
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 from doing what I consider my duty. The letter 
 is my property. Is it not addressed to me? How 
 dare you withhold it? Do you wish me to include 
 you in the same class as that unprincipled rogue 
 who has just left here?" 
 
 "I have not got it," she repeated. 
 
 With a savage exclamation, he seized her hands 
 and, while she struggled, felt for the envelope. To 
 his amazement, it was not there. Clever as he 
 thought himself, he had been outwitted. 
 
 "Where is it?" he thundered, raising his hand 
 with a threatening gesture. 
 
 She thought he was about to strike her, but she 
 did not care. She was so wrought up, so outraged 
 in her feelings that she w'ould have welcomed any- 
 thing so that the inevitable breach between them 
 might be hastened. Breathless from the unequal 
 struggle, her face white as death, her hair all di- 
 shevelled, still defiant, she looked like some beau- 
 tiful goddess in anger. 
 
 Darwin looked at her in shamefaced fashion. He 
 was sorry now that he had gone to such extremes. 
 The package was not there. Perhaps she had found 
 a way to pass it to him. Quickly he said : 
 
 293
 
 THH GAMBLERS 
 
 "If you've given it to him they'll find it on him 
 when they search him at the police station. Now, 
 please dress as quickly as possible and come with 
 me." 
 
 She stood still, making no attempt to obey his or- 
 ders. Her face was white, her expression deter- 
 mined. He looked up. 
 
 "Did you hear What I said?" he repeated. "Go 
 and get dressed." 
 
 "I shall dress as quickly as possible," she replied, 
 calmly. "But I am not going with you!" 
 
 The attorney looked at her in surprise. 
 
 "Where are you going?" 'he demanded. 
 
 "Anywhere away from you!" 
 
 "You're going to leave me?" he asked, uneasily. 
 
 "Yes leave you!" she said, determinedly. 
 
 Darwin advanced towards her, with hands out- 
 stretched. In more conciliatory manner, he said: 
 
 "Kathryn, now that this man is behind the bars, 
 I am willing to in time, I may forgive 
 
 "Forgive!" she cried, scornfully. "What is 
 there to forgive? my sympathizing with my 
 friends in their misfortune? Forgive you'll for- 
 give, will you? Ah, I'm sick of your canting 
 
 294
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 hypocrisy! You boast that you hate evil and evil- 
 doers, and you are more evil than the very worst 
 of the wretches you persecute, for you create pit- 
 falls for them to stumble into ! You'll forgive, in- 
 deed! If I am a bad woman will your forgiveness 
 make me a good woman? If I am what you think 
 I am, I don't deserve your forgiveness; if I'm not, 
 I don't need it; in either case, I don't want it." 
 "Will you appear against this man?" 
 "Help you gratify your vengeance?" she cried. 
 "No no no!" 
 
 Darwin regarded her in silence for a moment. 
 Then he said, sternly: 
 
 "Your refusal is an admission of your guilt!" 
 "All right!" she cried, in ringing tones of de- 
 fiance, "then I'm guilty and I glory in my guilt, 
 for at least it will unlock the doors of this prison 
 and set me free free from all this impossible self- 
 righteousness, this pose of holiness free from a 
 man whose sole purpose in life is to avenge to 
 punish to inflict pain on the poor fallen wretches 
 who, when they struggle to rise out of the depths 
 of their misfortune, are hurled back by the aveng- 
 ing hand of James Darwin ! You have pronounced 
 
 2 95
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 me guilty so be it I've lost my good name, my 
 respectability, my honor, but the compensation is 
 that I have lost you!" 
 
 The next instant she was in her room and had 
 locked the door in his face. 
 
 296
 
 CHAPTER XVIII 
 
 IT was a sorry looking lot of men who were 
 gathered together the next morning in the 
 library of the Emerson residence. 
 Tooker, Raymond and Cowper had remained up 
 most of the night, waiting for Wilbur's return, 
 and as the hours wore on and he did not come, 
 they became more and more anxious and appre^ 
 hensive, fearing that the worst had happened and 
 that any moment detectives might arrive with war- 
 rants for their arrest. Cowper, who had seen Wil- 
 bur last, could tell them nothing. His statements 
 were vague and confusing. Wilbur, he said, had 
 suddenly conceived an idea that he knew where 
 the missing notes were. He had gone to get them, 
 to make a last, desperate attempt to ward off the 
 threatened blow. Where he had gone or with 
 what probability of success, he did not know. They 
 must have patience and wait for his return. 
 The party was at an end. The last guest drove 
 297
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 away, the butler extinguished the lights. Isabel 
 and her father excused themselves and went to 
 bed, but still the three men sat there, smoking in 
 silence, waiting to know their fate. One o'clock, 
 two o'clock, three o'clock struck, and still Wilbur 
 did not come. The situation grew more critical, 
 more serious every minute, and that both Tooker 
 and Raymond fully realized the gravity of their 
 predicament was plainly evidenced by their fre- 
 quent journeys to the buffet. While they drank 
 freely and often to drown uncomfortable prickings 
 of conscience and the growing sense of dread, Cow- 
 per sat apart, his head buried in his hands, marvel- 
 ling within himself how he could have fallen so 
 low as to play the despicable role of Judas. If 
 the kindly Mr. Emerson to whom he was in- 
 debted for many favors were disgraced, if Wil- 
 bur and these men, his associates and friends, went 
 to prison, he would be the cause. The very thought 
 was maddening. He could not endure it. If re- 
 pentance had come too late, if the harm done could 
 not be undone, there was only one thing for him 
 to do blow his brains out. 
 
 At half-past three Tooker and Raymond de- 
 298
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 clared they would not wait any longer. It was 
 evident that something had happened to Wilbur. 
 Probably he would come and communicate with 
 them before the bank opened in the morning. It 
 was useless to sit up. They would go home, take 
 a nap, change their clothes and come back at nine 
 o'clock. Cowper thought this a good suggestion, 
 and a few minutes later all three men left the 
 house together. 
 
 The next morning the Emerson household was 
 astir early. Mr. Emerson usually breakfasted at 
 eight o'clock, but to-day he was up and about be- 
 fore seven. The old gentleman had slept badly. 
 What he had heard the previous evening was a 
 terrible shock a startling revelation of the condi- 
 tion of affairs at the bank as well as a blow to 
 his pride. He blamed himself for giving his son 
 so much authority. While he still had his health, 
 he should, have retained full control. Not that he 
 entertained any serious apprehension that matters 
 could not be adjusted in a manner satisfactory to 
 the banking department. His son had not really 
 done wrong. At most, he was guilty of a tech- 
 nical violation of the banking laws. The reputation 
 
 299
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 which the Emerson Bank had enjoyed for years 
 would surely stand for something. He would in- 
 tercede with Mr. Darwin himself. If necessary, he 
 would go to Washington and secure the support 
 of influential friends. But first he must have a 
 private talk with Wilbur. 
 
 "Thomas," he said to the butler, who was pour- 
 ing the coffee, "tell Mr. Wilbur I'd like him to 
 come down to breakfast. Say I want to speak to 
 him." 
 
 The butler, an old and faithful family servant, 
 looked uncomfortable. He was fond of his mas- 
 ter and did not like to upset him. How could 
 he tell him that Mr. Wilbur had not been home 
 all night? While wondering how he could meet 
 the dilemma, he passed the toast. 
 
 "Never mind passing things," exclaimed the old 
 banker, testily. "Didn't you hear what I told you ? 
 Go and ask Mr. Wilbur to come down." 
 
 The butler coughed and shuffled uneasily on his 
 feet. Finally, unable to conceal the truth any 
 longer, he stammered: 
 
 "Yes sir but, I'm sorry, sir, Mr. Wilbur's not 
 there, sir." 
 
 300
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 The old man laid down his cup and looked up 
 in blank astonishment. 
 
 "Not there, Thomas ! You must be mistaken. It 
 is only eight o'clock." 
 
 "Yes, sir, but he's not in his room, sir. The bed 
 is not disturbed. Mr. Wilbur has been away since 
 last night." 
 
 A look of alarm came over the banker's face. 
 What was the meaning of this strange absence? 
 Where could Wilbur be? Was it possible that, 
 fearing trouble, he had gone away, intending to 
 come back when things blew over? Or had he 
 gone to the bank, to prepare for a possible run? 
 Perhaps he would find him there. He would go 
 at once and see. Rising hastily, he said: 
 
 "Give me my hat and cane, Thomas. I'm going 
 out. Don't say anything to Miss Isabel. I'll be 
 back soon." 
 
 He left the house, and the butler, with a shake 
 of the head, expressive of strong disapproval of 
 all these unaccustomed happenings in the usually 
 quiet and staid Emerson home, went on with his 
 work of removing the traces of the previous night's 
 party. 
 
 301
 
 GAMBLERS 
 
 Promptly at nine o'clock the front door bell 
 rang and George Cowper reappeared. Eagerly he 
 asked : 
 
 "Has Mr. Wilbur returned?" 
 
 "No, sir, not yet." 
 
 Going into the library, the director resumed the 
 long, weary vigil, interrupted only a few hours be- 
 fore, and very soon he was joined by Tooker and 
 Raymond. Almost simultaneously they ejaculated: 
 
 "Not here yet no word from him?" 
 
 Cowper gloomily shook his head. 
 
 "No, not a word." 
 
 They sat down and waited, as they had sat the 
 previous night, almost in the same position, wait- 
 ing to hear what Wilbur had done about the notes. 
 While Cowper sat at the window, gloomily look- 
 ing out into the street, Tooker and Raymond were 
 quarreling : 
 
 "You can say what you like," growled Raymond, 
 "I call it a d d suspicious circumstance." 
 
 "I didn't say it wasn't," snapped Tooker. "What 
 I said was this: Wilbur Emerson is a man of his 
 word and if he said he'd be here, he'll be here." 
 
 "But he isn't here, is he?" 
 302
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 "There's a reason for it." 
 
 "Of course, there's a reason," barked Raymond, 
 savagely. "There's a reason for everything, but it 
 may be a reason we won't approve of!" 
 
 "The queer thing," said Tooker, scratching his 
 head, "is that he told us to wait. He must have 
 expected to return." Looking across the room at 
 Covvper, he added : "He told you to wait, didn't 
 he?" 
 
 Cowper nodded. 
 
 "Yes, and he told me to tell you to wait." 
 
 "I give it up it's too much for me," declared 
 Raymond, with an aggrieved air. 
 
 "I don't know what to think," said Cowper. 
 
 "Maybe we shan't see him again. Perhaps he's 
 skipped," suggested Tooker. 
 
 Cowper shook his head. 
 
 "No, Wilbur's not the kind of man to desert 
 us in trouble. If he's not here, it's because he 
 couldn't help it." 
 
 "Were you at the bank this morning?" inquired 
 Raymond, suddenly. 
 
 "Yes, he wasn't there; everything seemed the 
 same as usual." 
 
 303
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 "Of course," said Raymond, "the bank examiner 
 hasn't made the matter public yet. The next move 
 will be to arrest us." 
 
 "That will look worse, won't it ?" said Tooker. 
 
 "Oh, oh, if I'd only known!" said Cowper, 
 wringing his hands. "It's Wilbur's fault all his 
 fault. Why did he insist on our fighting the great 
 big syndicates? He might have known they'd 
 crush us to pieces." Going to the buffet, he poured 
 out a glass of brandy. 
 
 "For Heaven's sake, don't drink any more, Cow- 
 per!" protested Raymond; "that's your fifth this 
 morning." 
 
 "A man's got to keep up his nerve," said Cowper, 
 doggedly. Angrily, he went on: "A prison cell 
 staring him in the face By God, I won't go ! I 
 won't go ! I've done nothing and I'm not going to 
 suffer for other people's ambition." 
 
 "Take it easy, old man," interrupted Tooker, as 
 he coolly lit a cigar. "It isn't as bad as all that. 
 We've only committed the technical crime of bor- 
 rowing over our capital. Lots of 'em do it it's 
 only a Government bluff." 
 
 Cowper, who listened eagerly, interrupted: 
 304
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 "Darwin told me he can send us all up for five 
 years at least five years good God! I couldn't 
 stand it a week!" 
 
 Both men stared at him. 
 
 "Darwin? When did you see Darwin?" cried 
 Raymond. 
 
 Seeing that he had almost betrayed himself, CoW- 
 per stammered: 
 
 "I I met him he I met him " 
 
 Before he could complete the sentence, old Mr. 
 Emerson entered hurriedly. He gave a quick 
 glance round the room, as if expecting to find his 
 son sitting there. Not finding him, an expression 
 of disappointment and worry came over his face. 
 Nervously he said: 
 
 "Good morning, gentlemen. Has anybody seen 
 Wilbur? I've been unable to find any trace of him. 
 He went out at eleven o'clock last night, and has 
 not returned. Where is he? Do any of you 
 know?" 
 
 "We would like to know ourselves, Mr. Emer- 
 son," said Raymond, dryly. "Have you had no 
 word from your son, sir?" 
 
 "None whatever," replied the old gentleman. 
 305
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 "Do you think he's at the bank?" asked looker. : 
 
 "No, I inquired," said Mr. Emerson, "he has not 
 been there." 
 
 "He may be on his way to South America," sug- 
 gested Raymond sourly. 
 
 Tooker gave his fellow director a nudge in the 
 ribs. 
 
 "Hush! Don't talk that way." 
 
 Mr. Emerson shook his head. Sadly he said: 
 
 "No. I fear something far more serious has hap- 
 pened. I I I blame myself very much for this 
 matter. I should not have allowed him to take 
 the reins. I am the older man, and I allowed him 
 to lead me the one mistake of a long business ca- 
 reer. But I had such implicit confidence in his 
 ability. Don't blame the poor boy." 
 
 "I'm not blaming any one, except myself," said 
 Tooker, grimly. "I went in with my eyes open. 
 Wilbur's all right and the proof is, we can pay our 
 depositors one hundred and fifty cents on the dollar. 
 It was expansion that upset everything. It called 
 the attention of the big sharks to us." 
 
 "Where is Wilbur now?" chuckled Raymond. 
 "Expansion looks to me more like contraction!" 
 
 306
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 "Don't get peevish!" growled Tooker. 
 
 Cowper, who had been listening in silence, could 
 contain himself no longer. Abruptly he burst out: 
 
 "I'll tell you where he is. He went to get our 
 notes he found out they were at Darwin's house 
 and he went to get them." 
 
 "Get them how?" exclaimed Tooker, surprised 
 
 "I don't know," replied Cowper, doggedly. 
 
 ''Rubbish!" ejaculated Tooker. 
 
 To steady his nerves, Cowper took another 
 drink. Raymond looked at him with contempt. 
 
 "You'd better stop drinking that stuff," he said. 
 
 Mr. Emerson raised his hand, as if to pacify and 
 conciliate the disputants. Forcing himself to ap- 
 pear calm, he said: 
 
 "Come no news is good news. We shall come 
 out all right, I feel quite sure. Wilbur's motives 
 were good it's the motives that count." 
 
 "That's what I told Darwin," said Cowper. "He 
 says it doesn't make a damn bit of difference 
 about motives the law is the law." 
 
 "Perfectly true trying to shift the blame off 
 his son," growled Raymond. 
 
 "It's the old story," chuckled Tooker, philosoph- 
 307 
 
 \
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 ically, "if we'd succeeded we'd have patted our- 
 selves on the back and called ourselves great busi- 
 ness men but we failed and we're all trying to 
 put the blame on the other fellow." 
 
 "Please please, gentlemen." Mr. Emerson 
 raised his voice. "I am not justifying my son. But 
 I do believe the boy was honest in his intention 
 and was driven to it by the unfair methods of our 
 competitors." 
 
 "I'd give every dollar I have to be out of it!" 
 Cowper cried. "Every dollar every " 
 
 Before he could finish the sentence, the door of 
 the library was thrown roughly open and Wilbur 
 entered. 
 
 308
 
 CHAPTER XIX 
 
 THE young banker still had on the dress coat 
 and automobile duster which he had worn 
 the evening before. His tie was awry and 
 shirt bosom rumpled. His face was pale and 
 showed traces of fatigue. A chorus of exclama- 
 tions greeted him. 
 
 "Well, here you are at last!" 
 
 Mr. Emerson hastened to meet him. 
 
 "Wilbur my boy where have you been?" 
 
 "Gentlemen," said Wilbur, "I'm late very sorry 
 but I was detained." 
 
 "Detained?" echoed Cowper, incredulous. 
 
 "As a matter of fact," went on Wilbur, "I slept 
 last night at the police station, where I had been 
 taker, on a charge of burglary." 
 
 "Burglary!" exclaimed his father, in amazement. 
 
 "Yes," went on his son. "I thought I saw a 
 way out of our difficulties and I called at Darwin's 
 house to try and arrange the affair. I got nothing 
 
 309
 
 THE, GAMBLERS 
 
 for my pains but a most uncomfortable night. 
 This morning Mrs. Darwin refused to make a 
 charge and the case was dismissed. The judge 
 thought it was a practical joke. Fortunately, the 
 newspaper men thought I was arrested for speed- 
 ing and didn't recognize me." 
 
 "Why didn't you send for me, my boy?" ex- 
 claimed his father. 
 
 "Wake you up in the middle of the night?" 
 faughed Wilbur. "No, dad, I've brought quite 
 enough trouble on you and I wanted to keep it out 
 of the papers. Well, I know: this much : Darwin 
 has our notes and a sworn statement of the trans- 
 action involving us all." 
 
 "A sworn statement?" ejaculated Raymond. 
 
 "By whom?" exclaimed Tooker. 
 
 Cowper, almost panic-stricken, quickly attracted 
 Wilbur's attention and by a gesture made a plea 
 for secrecy. 
 
 "It will come out later," said Wilbur, calmly. 
 "In the meantime, if possible, that statement must 
 be contradicted denied withdrawn eh, Cowper ? 
 What do you think? Can it be done?" 
 
 "Yes yes I think so yes," replied Cowper. 
 310
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 Raymond looked up. Quickly he asked : 
 
 "Have you thought of a plan to to ?" 
 
 "I have," said Wilbur. "Oh, last night's expe- 
 rience wasn't entirely wasted. While awaiting my 
 turn to appear before the magistrate this morning, 
 I entered into conversation with a little police court 
 lawyer a smart little fellow with a Russian ac- 
 cent, who wanted to defend me for a ten-dollar 
 bill. I put the whole case to him as a hypothetical 
 question. Inside of ten minutes that little man 
 solved the whole problem. It's so simple. I won- 
 der I didn't think of it myself." 
 
 "Let's have it," chuckled Tooker. 
 
 Wilbur gave a quick, nervous glance round the 
 room, as if to make sure that there were no eaves- 
 droppers. Then he said: 
 
 "You four men must apply for a warrant for 
 my arrest. You must accuse me of making a mis- 
 use of your notes. You gave them to me to raise 
 money and, unknown to you, I borrowed our own 
 funds. In my father's case that is an absolute fact." 
 
 "A very good idea, if you can carry it through," 
 chuckled Raymond, glad to hear of any plan which 
 would exonerate himself.
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 "Yes, I think so," chimed in Cowper, eagerly. 
 
 "I don't quite see " objected Tooker. "It 
 
 doesn't seem right for us to accuse you." 
 
 "Why not?" demanded Raymond. 
 
 "No," said Tooker, positively. "I draw the line 
 at making an accusation against you." 
 
 Mr. Emerson, who until now had listened in 
 silence, raised his hand in protest 
 
 "I refuse, absolutely," he said, firmly. 
 
 "I expected opposition from you, father," said 
 Wilbur, "but " 
 
 "If you are to be punished," went on Mr. 
 Emerson, "let the proper authorities bring it 
 about." 
 
 "It is not a question of my punishment," said 
 Wilbur, quickly, "but of diverting the responsibility 
 from you, and it's the real inward truth. You 
 none of you really knew what you were doing; I 
 was the only one that realized " 
 
 "That's true," said Raymond. 
 
 "Yes yes," exclaimed Cowper. 
 
 "I know," protested Tooker, "but it seems a 
 horrible thing to do deliberately to to accuse you 
 
 our own business associate " 
 
 312
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 "I can't do it, and I won't do it," declared Mr. 
 Emerson, decisively. 
 
 "Nor I," exclaimed Tooker, firmly. 
 
 Wilbur stared at them all in amazement. 
 
 "Good God!" he cried. "What's the matter with 
 you all? You agreed last night we played the 
 game and I lost ! Are you going to rob me of the 
 chance of paying my debts? I owe it to you I 
 owe it to myself to square this account. You 
 know, my life has been one constant gamble the 
 feverish excitement of winning has warped my bet- 
 ter nature." He stopped, and then with some show 
 of better feeling, went on: "My life has been a 
 failure this will make it a success. I don't want 
 to pose as a martyr or any stuff of that sort, but 
 I led you into this move and it's up to me to move 
 you out. Come, act like men not children!" 
 
 Mr. Emerson, pale and anxious, rose and ap- 
 pealed to the other directors. With tremulous 
 voice, he cried: 
 
 "Gentlemen gentlemen, I am his father. I ap- 
 peal to you don't don't let him " 
 
 Gently Wilbur took his father in his arms and 
 embraced him. 
 
 313
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 "Don't, father please there's a good old fel- 
 low don't don't " 
 
 "It's my fault!" said Mr. Emerson, his eyes fill- 
 ing with tears. 
 
 "Now now!" protested his son. "You know 
 better than that. Come, let's get down to brass 
 tacks. I've written a letter to you all, defining my 
 position and yours. Darwin will probably apply 
 for bench warrants for the arrest of all of us to- 
 day, but we must spike his guns by anticipating him ; 
 so the sooner you have me arrested, the better. 
 That undersized Russian-American citizen is a 
 wise little fellow. Give me five minutes to change 
 my clothes and jump into a tub and then- 
 Pointing to his father, he added: "Now the 
 matter's settled. Don't let him talk you over, 
 boys." 
 
 Mr. Emerson took his son by the arm. Coax- 
 ingly, he said: 
 
 "Now, listen, Wilbur. Listen to me, my boy. 
 I'm the oldest; in the nature of things I haven't 
 long to live, and it's my duty " 
 
 "Nonsense, father," laughed Wilbur. "You're 
 taking this too seriously." 
 
 314
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 "No, I'm not," said the old banker, with some 
 emotion. "I you're my own flesh and blood, and 
 I can't I can't see you go! By God, you shan't 
 go to prison! You shan't you " 
 
 "Now, please please please!" cried Wilbur, 
 struggling to get free. 
 
 Embracing his father, he quickly disentangled 
 himself and rushed out of the room. The old 
 banker stood looking after him as if stunned. With 
 a visible effort, he pulled himself together and, 
 turning on his heel, walked out of the room with 
 bowed head, shutting the door quietly behind him. 
 The other directors had looked on in silence and 
 there was a general sigh of relief as Mr. Emerson 
 disappeared. 
 
 "Oh, if only I had Wilbur Emerson's nature!" 
 exclaimed Cowper, admiringly. "Nothing seems 
 to phase him! It doesn't seem possible that one 
 man can be so different to another. He's a man 
 a man and I a and you're not much better 
 either of you." 
 
 "What's the matter, old man?" asked Tooker, 
 looking at his fellow director curiously; "you're 
 losing your nerve." 
 
 315
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 "Never had any," admitted Cowper, shamefac- 
 edly, "but I'm sorry God, I'm sorry! I'd give 
 my life to get them back " 
 
 "Get them back? Get what back?" demanded 
 Tooker. 
 
 "Our notes," said Cowper; "that damned affida- 
 vit " 
 
 "You're maudlin," exclaimed Raymond, con- 
 temptuously. 
 
 Cowper hung his head, dejectedly. 
 
 "Yes, maudlin," he muttered, "that's it maud- 
 lin. The hell I've lived in all this past week is 
 enough to make any one maudlin." 
 
 Tooker looked significantly at Raymond and was 
 about to say something, when suddenly the door 
 opened and Isabel Emerson appeared. Her man- 
 ner was flurried and she looked hastily round, as if 
 seeking some one. 
 
 "Good morning, gentlemen," she said, with an 
 amiable smile. "Is my brother here?" 
 
 Cowper rose and shook hands. 
 
 "No, Miss Emerson. Wilbur just left us." 
 Pointing to the room on the right, he added: "I 
 think he's in his room, attending to his toilet" 
 
 316
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 Quickly Isabel went to the door of her brother's 
 room and knocked. 
 
 "Who's there?" called Wilbur's voice. 
 
 "It's I, Wilbur," she said. "There's some one 
 downstairs to see you. Open the door." 
 
 "I'll be out in five minutes," replied the voice. 
 
 "Five minutes!" exclaimed Isabel in dismay. 
 
 At that moment the butler entered the room: 
 
 "Breakfast is served for Mr. Wilbur, Miss " 
 
 "Very well, Thomas." 
 
 The man servant left the room and Isabel turned 
 to the directors. With a smile, she said: 
 
 "Father told me we are to have the pleasure of 
 
 your company at luncheon so we expect you 
 ._____" 
 
 "Thanks," chuckled Tooker. "I shall be very 
 glad to join you." 
 
 "I just want a little coffee," growled Raymond. 
 "I've had no breakfast." 
 
 Anxious to get rid of them, in order that she 
 could speak to Wilbur without restraint. Isabel 
 pointed to the door leading to the stairs : 
 
 "If you'll go down, gentlemen, I'll join you in 
 the dining-room in a minute." 
 
 317
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 Tooker and Raymond rose. 
 
 "Come along, Cowper," said the former, leading 
 the way. 
 
 But Cowper did not rise. 
 
 "Won't you join the others Mr. Cowper?" 
 said Isabel, timidly. 
 
 "No, thanks," replied Cowper, gloomily, and ap- 
 parently quite oblivious to the fact that his pres- 
 ence was undesirable. 
 
 Tooker and Raymond disappeared and Isabel, 
 growing more and more impatient, again ap- 
 proached Wilbur's door. 
 
 There was no time to be lost. Kathryn was 
 downstairs and had asked to see her brother. Her 
 manner was agitated and strange. She seemed all 
 upset. It must be something very grave to bring her 
 here so early in the morning. Quietly she knocked. 
 
 "Wilbur! Wilbur!" 
 
 No answer. 
 
 She knocked louder. 
 
 Still no answer. Finally she called out. 
 
 "Wilbur, open the door. Kathryn is down- 
 stairs. She wants to see you at once on a most 
 important matter."
 
 THH GAMBLERS 
 
 Cowper, who was listening, started hurriedly to 
 his feet 
 
 "Mrs. Darwin downstairs!" he exclaimed. "I'll 
 tell Wilbur." 
 
 Going quickly to the door, he shook the handle 
 violently. Finally it was opened on the crack, and 
 Wilbur's voice was heard exclaiming impatiently. 
 
 "Whatever is the matter? Can't you let a fel- 
 low dress?" 
 
 Cowper pushed the door open and entered, clos- 
 ing it behind him. 
 
 319
 
 CHAPTER XX 
 
 LEFT alone, Isabel waited impatiently for her 
 brother to appear. Not only was she anx- 
 ious to learn the reason of his strange ab- 
 sence from home overnight, but there was this 
 urgent message to give him from Kathr/n, who 
 was waiting downstairs. 
 
 The events of the last few days had made the 
 banker's daughter terribly nervous, and her anxi- 
 ety was all the worse because she had been kept 
 entirely in the dark as to what was going on. Some 
 peril threatened that was evident. The frequent 
 going and coming of the bank directors, the mys- 
 terious midnight conferences, her father's evident 
 worry, Wilbur's unaccountable actions all these 
 happenings told her that something was wrong. 
 
 That the Darwins were in some way closely con- 
 nected with the matter, whatever it was, she well 
 knew. Wilbur had told her enough for her to un- 
 derstand that something w&s amiss at the bank. 
 
 320
 
 THB GAMBLERS 
 
 That her brother had intentionally done anything 
 wrong she did not for a moment believe. Possibly 
 he had unwittingly committed some technical vio- 
 lation of the banking laws, but she knew that Wil- 
 bur had too high a sense of honor to be deliber- 
 ately dishonest. All her life she had been Wilbur's 
 staunch champion and now, when things looked 
 darkest, her loyalty was still unshaken. 
 
 Of course, she could not properly blame Mr. 
 Darwin for pressing the investigation. It was true 
 that he had known the family for years and that 
 his wife was her best friend, but after all, he must 
 live up to his oath of office. If anything was 
 wrong, if a crime had been committed, it was his 
 duty to present the matter to the Grand Jury, and 
 if indictments followed, to press the case to the 
 limit, regardless of friendships. At the same time, 
 she was well aware of the unfriendly feelings which 
 the district attorney entertained towards her 
 brother, and it rather looked in the actual proceed- 
 ings as if he were actuated by personal prejudice 
 alone. 
 
 How Kathryn should happen to be mixed up in 
 the affair she was quite at a loss to understand, nor 
 
 321
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 could she guess why at this early hour of the morn- 
 ing the wjfe of the district attorney should be 
 downstairs asking for an immediate interview with 
 her brother. She wondered what it all meant. 
 
 Often she had felt very sorry both for Kathryn 
 and her brother. She knew that they cared for 
 each other, yet fate had not willed that their lives 
 should be spent in each other's company. Perhaps 
 if Wilbur had married her, things would have been 
 different. He might have been dissuaded from tak- 
 ing such dangerous financial risks; engrossed in 
 the woman he loved, he would have been a happier, 
 more contented man. Kathryn assuredly would 
 have been a happier woman. It was impossible 
 to conceive how any woman could be contented or 
 happy with a man of James Darwin's cold, un- 
 sympathetic temperament. He might be very bril- 
 liant, very intellectual, but as a cheerful, amiable 
 companion he sadly missed his vocation. 
 
 The tall clock in the corner ticked the minutes 
 away and still Wilbur did not come. She could 
 hear Cowper conversing with him in the other 
 room and it seemed to her that her brother was 
 responding in angry tones. Suddenly there \vaj 
 
 322
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 an exclamation on the landing outside. Isabel 
 turned and saw Kathryn. 
 
 The attorney's wife, becomingly dressed in a 
 clinging Paris green velvet gown, with black picture 
 hat, advanced hastily into the room, closing the 
 door carefully behind her. Nervously she said: 
 
 "I couldn't wait downstairs any longer. My 
 husband has followed me. I hear his voice in the 
 hallway asking for me I don't want him to see me, 
 and I scarcely need to tell you I have no desire to 
 see him I never want to see him again. He's go- 
 ing to bring a divorce suit!" 
 
 Isabel started with surprise. She had no idea 
 things had gone so far. Shaking her head dubi- 
 ously, she exclaimed: 
 
 "Divorce? is it as bad as that?" 
 
 Kathryn nodded. Decisively, she said: 
 
 "Yes, as bad as all that. It couldn't be helped. 
 I am very glad. I couldn't stand it any longer. 
 If he only keeps his word but I'm afraid he 
 won't! Where's your brother?" 
 
 Isabel looked at her friend in silence. Then after 
 a pause, she said quietly : 
 
 "Is is Wilbur the cause?" 
 
 323
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 "The excuse not the cause. It's most impor- 
 tant that I should see him alone. Where is he?" 
 
 "He'll be here in a moment," replied Isabel. 
 "Mr. Cowper has gone for him." 
 
 Kathryn looked up quickly, a puzzled expression 
 on her face. Drawing from her muff the letter con- 
 taining the notes, she said: 
 
 "Mr. Cowper!" she exclaimed. "Oh, yes so it 
 was Mr. Cowper who left this communication for 
 Mr. Darwin." 
 
 "I don't know," said Isabel. 
 
 "Yes," went on Kathryn, carelessly, "I remem- 
 ber, it was Mr. Cowper. I heard Jim ask the girl 
 if Mr. Cowper had left a package for him. Oh, 
 Isabel! I'm distracted distracted I don't know 
 what to do I don't know what I ought to do. 
 This is for Mr. Darwin. I ought to give it to Mr. 
 Darwin, but I I " 
 
 "Is it his?" asked Isabel, quickly. 
 
 "It is addressed to him. It will enable him to 
 send a number of men to prison. I don't want him 
 to have it I want to give it to to some one else." 
 
 "But if it is addressed to Mr. Darwin, how can 
 you, Kate, how can you?" 
 
 324
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 "I don't know. But that's what I'm going to do. 
 It's the first wrong I've ever done my husband 
 the first the very first." 
 
 "You will justify his conduct to you, Kate. Ah, 
 don't do that." 
 
 "I think if you knew, you wouldn't be quite so 
 anxious. Has your brother told you nothing?" 
 
 "No," she exclaimed, anxiously. "Why, is it 
 connected with Wilbur ? Friends of his, perhaps ?" 
 
 "Yes, friends of his." 
 
 "Still, right is right; no argument can alter that." 
 
 "You can argue against truth itself if it strikes 
 at your own door. Supposing it were your brother 
 and your father that Mr. Darwin was so anxious 
 to send to prison. Would you give it to him then ?" 
 
 "It wouldn't alter the fact that it was right to 
 do so." 
 
 "Then you would deliberately send them to 
 prison without making an effort to save them? 
 Would you send them to prison? Answer me 
 that!" 
 
 "Right is right!" 
 
 "Yes, when you're deciding for others, but when 
 you decide for yourself for your father your 
 
 325
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 brother it's different. Your father's an old man, 
 Isabel. All his life has been devoted to the good 
 of others." 
 
 "My father!" cried Isabel, anxiously. 
 
 Kathryn looked around cautiously. 
 
 "Your brother has led him into some big- specu- 
 lation that ended disastrously. Shall we send them 
 to prison? Shall we?" 
 
 "My brother my father you don't really mean 
 that? Oh, Kate Kate!" 
 
 "Yes." 
 
 "Kate!" 
 
 "It's true," went on Kathryn. "Wilbur came to 
 my house last night to get this and my husband 
 found him there and accused me. It will save 
 his father from prison, he says, so I kept it from 
 Mr. Darwin and now right or wrong I intend 
 to keep it from him." 
 
 Isabel threw her arms around her friend's neck 
 and, with emotion, cried: 
 
 "God bless you, Kate. You're very good to us 
 very good to us." 
 
 As she spoke, the door opened and James Dar- 
 win appeared. 
 
 326
 
 CHAPTER XXI 
 
 THE district attorney advanced boldly into 
 the room. His manner was stern and de- 
 fiant. Addressing Isabel, he said politely : 
 
 "I ask your pardon, Miss Emerson, for inter- 
 rupting what seems to be a very interesting con- 
 versation, but I wish to speak to Mrs. Darwin 
 alone." 
 
 Kathryn held up a hand in protest. 
 
 "Please don't go, Isabel," she exclaimed. 
 
 Darwin looked gravely at his wife. Coldly, he 
 said: 
 
 "I wish to see you alone." 
 
 "Is it absolutely necessary?" she demanded, 
 haughtily. 
 
 "Absolutely," he replied. 
 
 Isabel withdrew quietly, without waiting for fur- 
 ther argument, and husband and wife, left alone, 
 faced each other in silence. The attorney was the 
 first to break the ice. With a forced, unnatural 
 
 327
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 calm that was even more irritating than a paroxysm 
 of rage, he said: 
 
 "You left my house early this morning. You've 
 been here ever since. I've come for the letter Mr. 
 Cowper brought to my house last night. As for 
 the rest you can finish the remainder of your life 
 here." More roughly, and raising his voice, he 
 added: "Come, where is it?" 
 
 She drew herself up. 
 
 "I decline to discuss that matter any further," 
 she said, coldly. 
 
 "That's an evasion," he cried. "Where is it? 
 Have you given it to Wilbur Emerson?" 
 
 "No." 
 
 "Positively?" 
 
 "Positively no." 
 
 "Where is it, then?" 
 
 She made no answer, and he went on, his face 
 white with anger: 
 
 "You refuse to tell me? Now, Kathryn, I'll 
 give you one last chance. If you will place that 
 letter in my hands, I will drop the divorce proceed- 
 ings. I'll believe just what you want me to believe 
 in regard to Wilbur Emerson. In fact, I will ac- 
 
 328
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 cept it as proof positive of your innocence. I will 
 merely regard your conduct as the action of a fool- 
 ish woman whose sympathies have been played 
 upon by an emotional scoundrel but who has not 
 sinned " 
 
 "How do you know I have not sinned?" she de- 
 manded, defiantly. 
 
 "I don't know, nor do I say you haven't. I said 
 I will accept the situation as it stands without in- 
 quiring too deeply into it. At least, your willing- 
 ness to help me punish these criminals will be evi- 
 dence of your desire to to break with them." 
 
 "Ah, I see!" she cried, scornfully, "you've 
 thought it over. The disgrace the publicity of di- 
 vorce may hurt you politically, it may impede your 
 advancement ' ' 
 
 Darwin winced under her sarcastic thrusts. Un-. 
 easily, he said: 
 
 "I don't deny that that aspect of the matter is 
 to be considered. Divorce is a nasty business at 
 best, but I will spare you if you do as I ask." 
 
 "You don't believe in my innocence, but you are 
 willing to forgive me not because you care for 
 me, or wish to spare me, but because the candidate 
 
 329
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 for attorney general must not have the blot of di- 
 vorce on his escutcheon." 
 
 "Something of the sort " 
 
 "Well I refuse absolutely." 
 
 "Then I shall commence divorce proceedings at 
 once and, believe me you will not be spared. You 
 can defend yourself in the civil courts about the 
 same time your paramour is being sentenced to a 
 long term of imprisonment in the criminal courts." 
 
 With a gesture of impatience, she replied: 
 
 "There will be no defence. I shall plead guilty." 
 
 "Then you confess?" cried Darwin. 
 
 Slowly, and looking him straight in the face, she 
 answered : 
 
 "James, I want my freedom and I'm willing to 
 pay any price for it." 
 
 The attorney was about to reply when the door 
 of Wilbur's room opened and Cowper appeared. 
 Seeing Darwin there, the director drew back. 
 
 "Oh, I beg your pardon," he stammered. 
 
 He was about to retire when Darwin called him. 
 
 "Just a moment, Mr. Cowper. Don't run away." 
 
 "I " stammered Cowper, nervously. 
 
 "Don't be afraid," said Darwin, reassuringly. 
 330
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 "I please remain here, Mrs. Darwin. This is the 
 gentleman who left the communication at my house 
 yesterday, addressed to me, I believe?" 
 
 Cowper glanced at Kathryn, who shook her head 
 significantly. He was quick to understand the sit- 
 uation. 
 
 "That letter," went on Darwin, "contained the 
 original notes of the bank directors and Mr. Cow- 
 per's own personal admission of the guilt of himself 
 and his associates. Am I right?" 
 
 Cowper looked at the attorney in surprise. 
 
 "Why why, haven't you received it?" he ex- 
 claimed. 
 
 Again Kathryn shook her head. 
 
 "Not yet," said the attorney, determinedly, "but 
 I'm going to. I'm going to get it before I leave 
 this house, Mr. Cowper for I'm convinced that 
 it is here." 
 
 "I wish to God it had never been written !" cried 
 Cowper. Facing the attorney, angrily he went on : 
 "You wormed it out of me ; it wasn't right. No, sir, 
 those gentlemen never intended to wrong any one, 
 Mr. Darwin. You worked on me until I consented 
 to do as you asked. You made me betray them 
 
 331
 
 THB GAMBLERS 
 
 betray them just to save my own cowardly skin. I 
 haven't had a moment's peace nor a wink of sleep 
 since I did it, and I never shall. The hand that 
 wrote it deserves to be cut off. I'll never forgive 
 myself never never !" 
 
 "Oh, yes, you will," smiled Darwin, grimly. 
 "The moment the Grand Jury verdict comes out 
 and your name is not included in the list of 
 indicted men, you'll forget the means that freed 
 you. You'll only know that you are free, and you'll 
 shout for very joy! Liberty is sweet very sweet 
 Mr. Cowper!" 
 
 "Not when a rotten conscience goes with it," re- 
 torted Cowper. "It's blood money." 
 
 "Liberty is life, Mr. Cowper," interrupted 
 Kathryn. 
 
 "Then you you think I was right, Mrs. Dar- 
 win?" said Cowper, eagerly. 
 
 "It's not for me to judge," she replied. "I ex- 
 pect to pay quite a price for my own liberty, Mr. 
 Cowper, but I'm going to pay for it." 
 
 "The price will be exacted to the uttermost far- 
 thing," said Darwin, savagely, "you can depend on 
 that. Am I to understand, Mr. Cowper, that 
 
 332
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 you withdraw the confession you left at my 
 house?" 
 
 "Yes yes!'' exclaimed Cowper. "But I with- 
 draw it that confession is a lie. Where is it?" 
 
 "That is precisely what I intend to find out," 
 said Darwin. "You haven't it, neither has the ser- 
 vant to whom you delivered it. I haven't it, there- 
 fore," turning to his wife, "I'm very much afraid, 
 dear, that it looks like you." Turning to Cowper, 
 he said: "Do you mind telling the man who is 
 waiting outside for me that I wish to see him ? His 
 name is Hicks. He's a secret service officer. You 
 remember him he was at my office when you made 
 your affidavit." 
 
 "Yes I I remember," nodded Cowper. 
 
 He left the room and Darwin crossed quickly 
 over to where his wife stood. Angrily, he 
 shouted : 
 
 "You have it. You're waiting here to see Mr. 
 Wilbur Emerson. He's in that room. I saw him 
 when Cowper came in. By God, you'd rather be- 
 tray your husband risk your honor good name 
 every stitch on your back for the sake of this 
 damned scoundrel who will be in State's prison in- 
 
 333
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 side of twenty- four hours! Answer me, isn't it 
 true?" 
 
 "If it were," she retorted, defiantly, "do you 
 suppose I'd tell you?" 
 
 Darwin looked fixedly at her, trying to hypnotize 
 her, to break her will, as he had done so many 
 times before. That she had the package he felt 
 sure. Equally positive was he that she had come 
 to the Emerson house with the intention of sur- 
 rendering the notes to Wilbur. Had she already 
 done so, or was she watching her opportunity? 
 That was for him to find out. 
 
 Carelessly, as if desirous of putting an end to 
 an interview which had grown distasteful, Kathryn 
 moved away and, going over to the window, stood 
 looking out upon the street. While the attorney, 
 undecided as to what action to take, stood medi- 
 tating, the door from the landing opened and Ser- 
 geant Hicks of the Central Office entered. Quietly, 
 he approached his employer. 
 
 "You wish to speak to me, sir ?" 
 
 Darwin pointed to the balcony which was out- 
 side the window near where his wife was stand- 
 ing. 
 
 334
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 "Yes, sir. Watch this room. I'm almost posi- 
 tive that Mrs. Darwin has Cowper's confession. 
 If she attempts to give it to Emerson make it your 
 business to get it understand? Don't give him 
 time to destroy it!" 
 
 "I understand, sir." 
 
 The detective retired and Darwin resumed his 
 attitude of silent meditation, his eyes meantime 
 closely watching his wife, who still stood where 
 she was looking out of the window. What was 
 she waiting there for? he wondered. No doubt for 
 Wilbur. She had not seen him yet, and was await- 
 ing her opportunity when he left his room to give 
 him the package containing the notes. Well, he was 
 as clever as she was. He would let them fall into 
 the trap. He would leave the room, but Hicks, 
 stationed on the balcony, would be watching. Then, 
 at the first sign of an attempt to transfer the pack- 
 age, the detective would make a signal and he would 
 rush in and catch them in the act. While he was 
 thinking out this plan the bedroom door opened 
 and Wilbur appeared. 
 
 On seeing who was there the young man fell 
 back in astonishment. He had expected to find 
 
 335
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 Mrs. Darwin, because his sister said she was there 
 waiting to see him, but it had never occurred to 
 him that Mr. Darwin was also of the party. Unable 
 to grasp the situation, he looked from one to the 
 other. Finally he addressed the attorney. 
 
 "Do you wish to see me ?" 
 
 "No," replied Darwin. "My wife, I think, has 
 something to say to you." 
 
 Wilbur bowed and the attorney went on : 
 
 "I'm rather afraid your little tete-a-tete was 
 somewhat rudely interrupted last night." 
 
 "Won't you sit down, Mr. Darwin?" said Wil- 
 bur, pointing to a chair. 
 
 "No, thank you, I prefer to stand," said the at- 
 torney curtly. 
 
 Wilbur turned to Kathryn. 
 
 "Do you wish to see me, Mrs. Darwin?" 
 
 Leaving her place at the window and ignoring 
 her husband completely, Kathryn came forward, 
 her face smiling, hands outstretched. Impulsively, 
 she exclaimed : 
 
 "Yes, Wilbur, I wish to discuss our plans for 
 the future. Mr. Darwin is going to bring an action 
 
 for divorce, and " 
 
 336
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 The banker changed color. Starting forward, he 
 exclaimed : 
 
 "Good God! No no Darwin, you don't mean 
 that?" 
 
 "Horrible, isn't it?" retorted the attorney, with a 
 cynical smile. 
 
 "Yes by God, it is!" cried Wilbur indignantly. 
 "Horrible, because it's undeserved vilely wick- 
 edly unjust!" 
 
 The attorney shrugged his shoulders. With a 
 bitter laugh he said : 
 
 "Let's drop this shallow pretence, Emerson. I 
 know your sense of propriety is outraged, but don't 
 overdo it. It occurs to me that I'm rather in the 
 way. You may want to discuss your plans for the 
 future I'll leave you alone together. You'll par- 
 don my absence, I'm sure." 
 
 337
 
 CHAPTER XXII 
 
 KATHRYN and Wilbur faced each other in 
 silence. At last all misunderstandings 
 were cleared up, but was it not too late? 
 What tragedies they had made of their lives! She 
 was about to be subjected to the indignity of a 
 divorce ; he was to undergo trial as a common male- 
 factor. 
 
 Yet, in spite of everything, their love had sur- 
 vived the wreck. The world might blame them, but 
 strong in the knowledge in their own hearts that 
 they were innocent of wrongdoing, they looked for- 
 ward serenely to the future. Why care for the 
 verdict of others when they were secure in each 
 other's love ? Now, perhaps for the first time, Kath- 
 ryn realized the worth of this man from whom she 
 had turned to marry James Darwin. Threatened 
 with disgrace, imprisonment, a fate from which 
 most men would have recoiled with terror, he was 
 willing to go, head erect, to take his punishment. 
 
 338
 
 WHEN YOU ARE FREE I SHALL BE THERE. 
 
 Page 351.
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 He was not willing to let others, especially his old 
 father, suffer when he was principally to blame. 
 This, she murmured softly to herself, was a true 
 hero, a man worthy of any woman's love. 
 
 Neither spoke. Their hearts were too full for 
 utterance. He could hardly believe the words that 
 had escaped her lips. It seemed too good to be 
 true. Kate divorced! Then, if she was free, it 
 was possible that one day he might call her wife. 
 With a smothered cry of exultation he sprang for- 
 ward, as if to take her in his arms, but before he 
 reached her, he stopped short. Much had to be done 
 before he could think of his own happiness. His 
 face flushed as he thought of the reckless manner 
 in which he had compromised her the previous 
 evening. No doubt he alone was responsible for 
 her husband's anger and the threatened divorce 
 suit. With outstretched hand, he exclaimed con- 
 tritely : 
 
 "What can I say, Mrs. Darwin? I'm I've 
 brought this on you! I've brought disgrace and 
 ruin on my father! The worst that could happen 
 has happened Mr. Darwin won't believe us! He 
 won't believe us!" 
 
 339
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 "I don't wish him to believe us !" she said, laying 
 her hand gently on his arm. 
 
 "You don't wish ?" exclaimed Wilbur, as- 
 tounded. 
 
 "No!" she said quietly. "I've left him forever. 
 I'm only too glad that he has some tangible reason 
 for taking the initiative against me. Listen, I 
 have Mr. Cowper's confession and the notes with 
 me." 
 
 Wilbur clasped her two hands in his. 
 
 "Kate! Kate!" he cried. 
 
 "I want to save your father you from prison." 
 
 "You can save him, Kathryn, but you can't save 
 me. We've done wrong one of us must pay the 
 penalty. I've been the leading spirit among them 
 I must be the one to pay the price. Oh, that point 
 is already settled there's no chance for me to 
 escape; but father you've saved him. All I want 
 is Cowper's confession. How selfish I am I can 
 think only of my own happiness I forget the sac- 
 rifice you have made." 
 
 "What sacrifice?" she demanded. 
 
 "Your husband would have believed you last 
 night if you had given him Cowper's letter." 
 
 340
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 "I don't know," she replied; "perhaps I only 
 know that I shall thank God every moment of my 
 life that I didn't. The joy of freedom from that 
 man is worth the petty pi ice of forfeiting the 
 world's good opinion." 
 
 Wilbur looked at her tenderly. 
 
 "How am I going to pay the debt I owe you?" 
 he asked. 
 
 "I'm in your debt, Wilbur. You owe me noth- 
 ing; besides, it's your father " 
 
 "Only my father?" he asked significantly. 
 
 She looked away. Gently she answered : 
 
 "I don't know, I haven't asked myself. I won't 
 let even the shadow of another man come into my 
 mind until I cease to bear his name." 
 
 Wilbur approached her. Tenderly he said: 
 
 "Until and then ?" 
 
 Wilbur approached her, and impulsively he took 
 her hand and carried it to his lips. Gently he mur- 
 mured : 
 
 "Until and then?" 
 
 Tenderly he drew her to him, and for one bliss- 
 ful moment her head rested on his shoulder and 
 he could feel her warm, fragrant breath on his 
 
 34i
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 cheek. Then, firmly, decisively, she drew away, 
 but in her eyes was a light he had never seen. At 
 last the ice of years was broken. He felt that this 
 woman loved him and was ready to share his life 
 with him. 
 
 A hoarse cry of exultation sprang to his lips. 
 Had he dared he would again have clasped her in 
 his arms, but prudence counseled caution. Darwin 
 was not far away; probably he was eavesdropping 
 outside. His spies were everywhere. They must 
 give him no excuse to prejudice her case. It was 
 enough for the present that they understood each 
 other, that at last he was free to look in her eyes 
 and tell her silently that he loved her. Now he did 
 not care what happened. He was ready to undergo 
 any ordeal, prison, death itself now that he knew 
 that she loved him. 
 
 For a moment he was assailed by a great tempta- 
 tion. Why should he be robbed of this happiness, 
 now it was within his grasp? Why should he stay 
 in New York to undergo the disgrace, the humilia- 
 tion of court proceedings and imprisonment, when 
 they could both go away, flee to some other coun- 
 try, and be happy under an assumed name? 
 
 342
 
 THB GAMBLERS 
 
 "Kate," he said hurriedly, "what sacrifice would 
 you be willing to make for the man you loved?" 
 
 She looked at him, as if trying to divine his 
 meaning. 
 
 "What do you mean?" she demanded. 
 
 Quickly he put it before her. 
 
 "Why should I go through the ignominy of this 
 trial incur the risk of a prison term? I have tried 
 to appear brave, to make light of it, but the thought 
 of what it all means appalls me. Why couldn't I 
 escape it all by slipping away? They'd talk about 
 it for a week, then they'd forget. We could go 
 abroad and " 
 
 Kathryn put up her little gloved hand to stop 
 him. Shaking her head, she said : 
 
 "Don't, Wilbur; it is not like you to talk like 
 that. Even if I consented to it, you yourself would 
 not go." 
 
 "Why not?" he demanded. 
 
 Laying her hand gently on his, she went on : 
 
 "Because no happiness can come of wrong-doing. 
 It would be wrong to leave your father and sister 
 to face the storm alone." 
 
 He hung his head shamefacedly. 
 
 343
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 "Forgive me," he murmured. "You are nobler 
 than I." Slowly he went on: "Yes, I must go 
 through with this thing, even if it is only to shield 
 my father and the good name of the Emerson 
 Bank. No one shall say I shirked my duty or 
 refused to take my punishment. I alone will suf- 
 fer. If I can destroy the notes and Cowper's con- 
 fession the others will go free. Did you bring the 
 package?" 
 
 With a cautious glance at the closed door, she 
 replied hurriedly: 
 
 "Yes, the envelope is in my muff. I've been 
 waiting for an opportunity to give it to you. My 
 husband suspects I have it, and he followed me 
 here. He is watching my every move." 
 
 "Give it to me quick!" he said. 
 
 Kathryn's hand went to her muff, when suddenly 
 he stopped her with a whisper. 
 
 "Hush ! There's some one on the balcony. I saw 
 a shadow there Careful careful don't look." 
 
 "Yes," she said in the same tone. "He knew I 
 had that confession he knew I was waiting to give 
 it to you and he left us alone on purpose to catch 
 us. What am I to do?" 
 
 344
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 Wilbur turned and carelessly lighted a cigar. 
 Without looking round, he whispered : 
 
 "Wait a moment don't touch the paper. Go to 
 the mantel and rest your hand with your muff on 
 it for a moment. While you are doing this, drop 
 the package on the mantel shelf. Turn away from 
 the window, so that you can't be seen. Tell me 
 when it's done." 
 
 Kathryn sauntered towards the fireplace, and un- 
 der the pretence of warming her feet, rested her 
 hand covered by the muff on the mantel shelf. 
 Then quickly she let the envelope drop out. This 
 done, she walked carelessly back. 
 
 "It's there," she whispered as she passed him. 
 
 Wilbur walked slowly to the mantel. Quietly 
 he said : 
 
 "Now go towards the table and sit down. I see 
 it there it is God bless you, Kathryn! You've 
 saved an old man from degradation you've saved 
 me from purgatory." Ringing the bell, he added: 
 "I can go to prison singing, now. You know, 
 Kathryn, I feel that what I am going to do is a 
 greater victory than gaining the control of many 
 banks." 
 
 345
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 "It is, Wilbur," she replied earnestly. "For the 
 first time in your life you'll be truly happy." 
 
 The butler answered the ring. 
 
 "Thomas,'' said the banker, "ask Mr. Darwin to 
 come here, and please tell my father and the other 
 gentlemen in the dining room that I'm waiting for 
 them." 
 
 "There are two men downstairs, sir. Mr. Dar- 
 win said they were waiting for you." 
 
 "So they are," replied Wilbur grimly. "Let them 
 wait." 
 
 "Yes, sir." 
 
 Wilbur turned to Kathryn. His voice trem- 
 bling from the emotion he was trying vainly to 
 conceal, he said: 
 
 "Those two men are Central Office detectives. 
 They are going to take me away, Kathryn. It may 
 be a long time before I see you again." 
 
 She looked away, not willing to let him see that 
 her eyes were filled with scalding tears, scarcely 
 able to bring herself to speak. 
 
 "A long time?" she stammered in broken tones. 
 
 "A few years, perhaps." 
 
 "We'll try to bear it, Wilbur." 
 346
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 Before he could say anything more the door was 
 flung open and James Darwin entered, followed by 
 Mr. Emerson, Sr., and all the directors of the 
 Emerson Bank. The district attorney bowed 
 coldly : 
 
 "You sent for me, Mr. Emerson?" 
 
 "Yes, Mr. Darwin. I have something to say to 
 you as district attorney of this county, and I wish 
 to say it in presence of my father and fellow 
 directors. In view of the fact that you are con- 
 cerned in the Federal case against me, you will be 
 interested to know that I have made a full confes- 
 sion to my business associates, and they have de- 
 cided to formulate charges against me for for 
 misappropriation of funds misusing notes en- 
 trusted to me by them." Holding out a paper he 
 added: "You'll find it all in this statement." 
 
 Going to the mantelpiece, he took the blue envel- 
 ope and held it out. Still addressing Darwin, he 
 said : "And here here are the notes. It is ad- 
 dressed to you, Mr. Darwin by Mr. Cowper 
 Cowper, will you see if you intended Mr. Darwin 
 to have this " 
 
 Before the attorney could interfere he had 
 347
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 handed the envelope to Cowper, who quickly 
 opened it. 
 
 "Yes." exclaimed Cowper, "this is " 
 
 "He won't need your statement." said Wilbur 
 positively, "now he has mine." 
 
 "I need both both !" exclaimed Darwin 
 
 hotly. 
 
 "You can tear it up," said Wilbur quickly to 
 Cowper. "Tear it up!" 
 
 "Yes yes !" said Cowper, suiting action to word. 
 
 The next instant the notes, torn into a thousand 
 fragments, were scattered all over the floor. Dar- 
 win and Sergeant Hicks made a motion as if about 
 to pick up the pieces, but, by a quick movement, 
 Wilbur forestalled them. Grasping them up in one 
 handful, he threw the pieces of paper on to the 
 fire. 
 
 "Don't trouble yourself, Mr. Darwin," said Wil- 
 bur coolly. Then, turning to the butler, he added : 
 "Thomas, tell the men I'm ready." 
 
 Mr. Emerson stepped forward. He did not un- 
 derstand what his son's speech meant. He only 
 knew that he had accused himself of an act of 
 which he was not guilty, with the foolish, quixotic 
 
 348
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 idea of sparing his associates. He would not 
 permit it. His voice shaking from emotion, he 
 said: 
 
 "I desire to say that I do not concur my son is 
 not is not to blame Wilbur !" 
 
 "Father! Father!" exclaimed Wilbur. 
 
 Quickly turning to Covvper he whispered : 
 
 "Get him away or he'll spoil everything." 
 
 Gently, persuasively, Cowper coaxed the old 
 banker into allowing himself to be led into the 
 adjoining room. With a sigh of relief Wilbur 
 turned to the others : 
 
 "That will be all, gentlemen!" he said. 
 
 Raymond looked at Tooker. 
 
 "He's kept his word d d handsomely." 
 
 "Yes," growled Tooker, "he makes me feel like 
 a welcher!" 
 
 Not knowing how to express their gratitude, the 
 two cronies pressed Wilbur's hand in silence and 
 left the room. 
 
 Wilbur looked at the district attorney, who with a 
 puzzled expression on his face, was busy examining 
 the paper which had been handed to him. Coldly 
 he said : 
 
 349
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 "I think that's all, Mr. Darwin. I won't detain 
 you any longer." 
 
 The attorney glared at him. He knew that in 
 some way he had been outwitted, but at least he 
 still had in his power the man he hated. Between 
 his teeth he muttered : 
 
 "I don't quite know what to make of you, Em- 
 erson. This apparently puts all the responsibility 
 on you. You've anticipated Federal action and to 
 some extent weakened my hand. But you're not 
 looking for sympathy, are you? You don't expect 
 to get off scot free?" 
 
 "Hardly," smiled Wilbur. 
 
 "I'm glad of that," snapped Darwin, "because 
 you won't !" Turning to his detective, he added : 
 "Hicks, see that your men take him to police head- 
 quarters, and notify me when he's locked up." 
 
 He was about to go, when he noticed his wife 
 standing in the embrasure of the window, where 
 she had -been a silent spectator of the proceedings. 
 Coldly he addressed her: 
 
 "Are you coming, Mrs. Darwin?" 
 
 Kathryn drew herself up haughtily. 
 
 "No," she replied curtly. 
 
 350
 
 THE GAMBLERS 
 
 The attorney bowed to them both and left the 
 room. Wilbur looked at Sergeant Hicks, who stood 
 waiting. 
 
 "Just a moment, sergeant, and I'll be with - 
 
 "Very good, sir." 
 
 The man discreetly **' 
 threshold of the re- 
 
 Wilbur tu- 
 to him ar 
 crying 
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