Evening Star Newspaper, January 14, 1937, Page 11

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GAMBLER By Glenn Reilly. 'A GAINST the wide bay win- dow of the hotel window, with its motheaten artificial palms and lonely pair of dejectedly fiyblown 1lights, the windswept rain alternately beat and drizzled from out the pressing dark infinity of the night. | It was exactly the sort of evening ‘when lonely drum- mers, inevitably stranded in a small town between cities, in the ubiquitous small town hostel- ry sit around and try not to think of the warm com- fort of their far- off tfamily firesides. And on such 8 night, any sort of diversion is welcome, or at least endurable. As for myself. I had exhausted the possibilities of a few out-of-date maga- zines the lobby afforded, and was seriously contemplating a game of solitiare, that ultimate refuge of the lonely. Assuredly there was no in- dication, as Robert Service has it, that “a bunch of the boys were whooping it up.” On the contrary, definitely dull. Several drummers, famillar with each other through years of meeting on crisscrossing routes, were in desultory conversation. Finally some one suggested a game of poker, and the half dozen of us drifted over to the round table in the corner. * ok ok x I NOTICED the little, chubby man sitting half hidden in one of the old leather lounge chairs. He wasn't reading, just sitting there with a sort of vacant smile. I remembered him dimly as a new road salesman for an obscure ladies’ wear house. “Want to be dealt in, partner?” 1 called sociably. The little man got up and came over to the table. _“I'm not much of a gambler” he declined shyly. But I'd like to watch you fellows if you don’t mind.” He leaned against the brown wall- paper and watched the cards go around, and pretty soon he wasn't even noticed any more. The hours ticked by slowly, a couple of them, before I again took any actual notice of the wistful little drummer whe was still propping up the wall and watching the plays with- out a word. All of a sudden it came to me that he was only watching because he dreaded to go up to his Toom. x X x % KNEW that feeling. There is nothing so dispiriting as being bored stiff and then go up to bed early and spend half the night toss- ing on a hard mattress trying to sleep ‘while your thoughts go milling around like steers in a cattle pen. So after the hand I threw down my cards and spoke to the little guy. “Say, friend, it's kind of unexciting, Just standing around watching the other fellows play,” I said. “Isn't there some other game you do play, besides poker? Let's say pinochle or blackjack or something?” He shook his head, just a bit sadly. “This game's too even,” one of the other salesmen offered. “What do you say we roll the dice a while before we quit?” The rest of us agreed, welcoming & diversion and got a pair of cubes from the clerk. ‘When we had all pushed back our ¢hairs and started rolling the dice, I3 Watched the cards go around. the lobby was| the little fellow was right there with us and when the gal- loping dominoes passed to him, he hesitated and took them. “As I said, I'm not much of a gambler,” he apol- ogized and threw a bill on the table. “But maybe just a few rolls won't do any harm.” An excited look came in his eyes and faded as he threw a pair of snake eyes. He made another bet and lost. I could sense his eagerness as he waited for another chance at the dice. AND then, strangely enough, he started in to win steadily. The mound of bills in front of him in- creased and I sew that he was on his way to win all the money in the crowd. I had enough and dropped out. “Gentlemen,” the little man said, “I'll give you a chance to get back your money.” He pushed in all his winnings, then dug down into his pocket and counted out every bill except one. “And there's my last 50 dollars to boot!” We all looked at each other and faded him. A strange excitment gripped him as he rolled . . . and lost the whole pot! His shoulders drooped, the light in | his eyes faded. “I thought you weren't a gambler!” I exclaimed. “If that wasn't a gamble, I never saw one!” He smiled wryly. “It's always been that way,” he| said, “but some day Tl beat them! | When I first had a pair of dice in my hands, I wasn't a drummer, like I am now. I had my own company, and we were doing a swell prosperous business.” He squinted reminiscently. “I never cared much Yor games but when I started playing with some of the boys at the factory on Saturday | afternoons, I sort of got the fever for | playing dice. The funny part of it| was that I never seemed to win. * ok ok % “I‘D GET ahead a little, and then I'd lose twice as much back to the game. Inside of a year- I was play- ing big money, and playing large amounts from the firm’s reserve fund to win back what I had already lost. Eventually, I was so deeply in the hole that I had to sell my home to keep up. And after that, I resolved, in a desperate mood, to put up my business!” We all stared at the mild little guy as he spoke, without rancor, of the sharps who had evidently run a fast and profitable game on him. He didn't seem to realize it, though. He was that type. “Of course, you've guessed by this time that I ultimately lost every- thing I had, and went into debt on top of that. But I never could seem to win. It's funny how an obsession can take hold of a fellow!” He sighed resigne@ly. “I only re- gret losing my business, though,” he continued. “I wouldn’t have to be traipsing all over the country if I| still had it.” “What kind of & business did you have?” I inquired curiously. The little guy smiled regretfully. “One of the best little concerns of its kind in the whole country,” he answered wistfully. ‘“The Non- pareil Dice and Novelty Company.” (Copyright, 1937.) 'WE SELL U. S. GOVERNMENT-INSPECTED MEATS 311 7th St. NW. ™3pedars™™ . STEAK Tender Round STEAK MARKET CO. 3146 M St. N.W. Selected Carton Eggs - - _ 4z 27¢ SMALL DELICIOUS FRESH PAN Shoulders |SCRAPPLE b 18w 10° Lean Smoked H l 6‘: Shoulder Lamb - GHOPS Store Sliced Bacon - - - Shoulder Veal CHOPS FRESH SLICED LINK LIVER | SAUSAGE %'/ze . BO° TENDER BEEF SMOKED ROAST | Shoulders b §5°¢ (s 18¢ - - - -1 24c LEAN _ Ib. 27c BONELESS SR "ROAST | PUDDING 1b. BDe l%./ze Roll Creamery Butter - _ _ . 38¢ sz DRESSING 25¢ cmeace GOFFEE_ ». [ Te it CATSUP _ 10c Preserves 25¢ w2 Grapefruit 4« 15¢ SWEET JV!C'! Tangerines 3 - siss BANANAS <= [9¢ w4 Oranges 2 - 29¢ PEN TILL NINE P.M. SATURDAY, Experienced Adver{i ersPreférTheS r F e A o T 224 IN DISTRICT LICENSED PILOTS 121 Hold Transport Permits, Air Commerce Bureau Reports. 120 Planes Here. ‘The District of Columbia today has 120 airplanes and 224 pilots holding Federal licenses, according to an an- nual survey by the Bureau of Air Commerce, which shows increases in aircraft and pilots throughout the Nation. . On January 1 there were 108 air- craft in the District for which Federal licenses have been issued and 12 air- craft reported to the Government, but not licensed. There were two gliders locally owned. ©Of the 224 licensed pilots in the District, 121 hold transport licenses, the highest type issued; 6 hold lim- ited commercial licenses, 92 private licenses and 5 amateur licenses. There also are three glider pilots licensed. There were 15952 licensed pilots and 7,424 aircraft holding active Fed- eral licenses on January 1, as com= pared with 14,805 pilots and 7,371 air- craft a year ago. The total number of aircraft, li- censed and unlicensed, of which the demrtment had record on January 1 ‘was 9,229, as compared with 9,072 & yest before. 4mong the 15952 licensed pilots ‘wese 7,250 transport pilots, 880 limit- ed commercial flyers, 7,154 private and 668 amateurs. There were 444 liensed woman pilots, including 71 transport, 23 limited commercial, 295 pivate and 55 amateur. SHOT FATAL IN CRASH JACKSONVILLE, Fla., January 14 (P).—The impact from a collision be- tween two bicycles discharged a .22- caliber rifie near here yesterday, kill- ing one of the youthful riders. Clyde Reese Stockes, 14, was mor- tally wounded when his bicycle crashed into apother ridden by Jen- nings King, 15-year-old hunting com. panion. : If Your Watch Is Worth Repalring —it ts worth repairing property. You are sum of expert work- manship and falr prices here. CASTILBERG'S 1004 F St. N.W. Magruder . . . REDUCES VERMOUTHS! STOCK up at these prices—prices that point again to the savings that are always FIRST at Magruder’s! NOILLY PRAT- Formerly 519 $],]9 CASE OF 12____812.15, MARTINI & ROSSI CASE OF 12____$13.80. od Formerly aud?” % DOZ..__. $6.45 $1.35 Phone Drders Delivered Promptly Call District 8250 $149 % DOZ. Importers, Grocers and Wine Merchants Since 1875 18th and M Streets N.W. You’ve Waited for This! The Family Shoe Store’s Semi-Annual Glearance It starts tomorrow morning ‘at 8 o’clock—an event of genuine importance to the families of Washington. We've disregarded'entirely the price advances of present day production and reduced our old prices to an unusual degree. Actual savings are even greater than are presented here. Not a limited stock but thousands of pairs for choosing in nationally known brands and our own high-grade lines for men, women and children. FOR WOMEN BETSY ROSS PED-O-VIGOR ( $9.00 Grades SALE PRICES STATESMAN EDGERTON FORTUNE Choice of Black and Brown Leathers $6.50 and ; POGT BULEER| ;oo Grusie 1 4._85 & $ 5.85 GROVER'S SALE PRICE LIGHT ARCH In this season’s most popular styles. $5.00 Grades BOTH BLACK and BROWN | PRICE ALL THIS SEASON'S POPULAR STYLES—BOTH BLACK and 32.95 BROWN $4.00 Grades EXTRA SPECIAL Several hundred pairs of Women’s Shoes, as- s 85 sorted colors and heels—broken sizes. Formerly 2' priced at $5.00 to $7.50 FOR MEN Nunn-Bush “Foot Fashion” John C. Roberts In black and brown leathers. $5.85 and | 45 @ | | $5.00 and $4.00 Grade 325 FOR GROWING GIRLS AND CHILDREN | OXFORDS in BLACK and BROWN—PATENT STRAPS and STEP-INS $4.00 Grade s 5 $3.00 Grade s "FOR BOYS ROB ROY $4.50 Grade GRIDIRON RED GOOSE SLIPPERS for the entire family at Reduced Prices for This Sale. Scientific Fitting With Aid of X-Ray Mapine $4.00 Grade $3.00 Grade F SEvam In the Family’s Confidence Since 18 ~ |& 27 ncn W % s 288 VR BE W W N N E—— e T R 7 e — T 72 Gbetweon 22655 RN. P28 TA"SE NN, Nextto | ' Be on the lookout for the Red Tag Sign Tops throughout every department! They mean, greater values for you! 4-Piece Set oW Reg. 25¢ V":“‘ Red sduated siZ€S- Tag ?:ned edges. NO" price tip bottoms- Fonds Tissues- 23¢ For Colds, Facials, Soft, Convenient Kotex, Modess **19c¢ Two Popular Brands, Sanitary Napkins ¢amdana Combination, 55¢ bttle 60c ltalion Balm and 25c¢ Listerine Tooth Powder Goods—Basement # Size 23x46 Cannon Towels, 23¢ Heavy Turkish Towels, Contrast Borders Unbleached Muslin__ . 8c 36 Inches Wide. Fine Quality. Reg. 12¢ yd. e Flannelette,82¢c For Baby Clothes, Linings vd. cURTAIN WATERIAL Reg. 15¢ & 19¢ sa. c Values piain ¢ figures. Dots. sel on “—‘“.-,m. cream O Jin Deo! figured Cottage Sets___79¢ Wide choice of pattems. Tailored Curtains Made of Spanish net material. Marwood Sateen____ 2. 19¢ Fast colors—good paterns. Reg. 25¢ yd. Crepe woEws "sLips Value 31 C “m\med bias ept.—Main Fleor 11 cut 0 44 ¢ Wear D 16-0z. Johnson Polish, 59¢ Complete with 20x20 Flannel Cloth. Step-On Garbage Cans, 49¢ Choice of colors—Enameled and designed. Gold Fish - - _ = 10c Commas, Fantails, Shubankies. . Sizes Sandwich Cakes ____ ». 10c Chocolate or Vanilla, Cream Center, 15¢ Reg. Assorted Chocolates ». 15¢ Many Kinds, Caramels, Mints, Nougatines, etc. Chocolate Drops , Just 500 Ibs. Rey. 15c Ib. Women'’s Handkerchiefs, 3¢ 2 Fancy pa"err.\s and solid colors. Linen Hankies Pretty patterns in light or dark background. Assorted Jewelry Values to 20c! 2,000 pieces. Tub FGK'PRO Reg. 15¢ Velse aprons 999 1,?.9% Pday, while sal ity lasts. quantity Wesr De! Paisley Pattern Slippers, 39¢ Brand-New Boudoir Slippers with Cuban Heels Men’s Ties - - - 23¢ 3,000 Handsome Ties of Stripes, Figures Indian Moccasins___ - 24¢ Made of Suedete. Reg. 39¢ Value 'Or Gratest HIRT SAL Values to 31.59 . 41 Made possible .k|“dl;urc|:¢se for 196 st $ only One-of-a ores! Chain-Wide alue! Samples! through our A tremendous ¥ i o doubt, the gre o W"hosut::ged by the combmedouré\um il Stores! And we are prthey’re ol bout it, to0, because - it ' rice that seems petter shirts O'ta B Wt foryou diculously 10 10 7 41 buy men's o e that we have @ hem, at $1.00, i S beautiful pattern . ol ‘hend the careful work: reatest sale right to ¢ when you S€€ the fine quality @ mo=hie: le! Extra Selling Space! oot gglleesg;:‘t's Friday at 9 AM. Special Selling 1,200 Polka Dot RESSES 57c Bought to Sell ot 1.00 Frankly, we are overstocked on the dresses so we are going to take it on the chin and close them out way below cost, you'll agree they’re real values when you see them.

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