the man who could not lose-第1章

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The　Man　Who　Could　Not　Lose

by　Richard　Harding　Davis





The　Carters　had　married　in　haste　and　refused　to　repent　at　leisure。
So　blindly　were　they　in　love；　that　they　considered　their　marriage
their　greatest　asset。　The　rest　of　the　world；　as　represented　by
mutual　friends；　considered　it　the　only　thing　that　could　be　urged
against　either　of　them。　While　single；　each　had　been　popular。　As　a
bachelor；　young　〃Champ〃　Carter　had　filled　his　modest　place
acceptably。　Hostesses　sought　him　for　dinners　and　week…end　parties；
men　of　his　own　years；　for　golf　and　tennis；　and　young　girls　liked
him　because　when　he　talked　to　one　of　them　he　never　talked　of
himself；　or　let　his　eyes　wander　toward　any　other　girl。　He　had　been

brought　up　by　a　rich　father　in　an　expensive　way；　and　the　rich
father　had　then　died　leaving　Champneys　alone　in　the　world；　with　no
money；　and　with　even　a　few　of　his　father's　debts。　These　debts　of
honor　the　son；　ever　since　leaving　Yale；　had　been　paying　off。　It　had
kept　him　very　poor；　for　Carter　had　elected　to　live　by　his　pen；　and；
though　he　wrote　very　carefully　and　slowly；　the　editors　of　the
magazines　had　been　equally　careful　and　slow　in　accepting　what　he
wrote。

With　an　income　so　uncertain　that　the　only　thing　that　could　be　said
of　it　with　certainty　was　that　it　was　too　small　to　support　even
himself；　Carter　should　not　have　thought　of　matrimony。　Nor；　must　it
be　said　to　his　credit；　did　he　think　of　it　until　the　girl　came　along
that　he　wanted　to　marry。

The　trouble　with　Dolly　Ingram　was　her　mother。　Her　mother　was　a
really　terrible　person。　She　was　quite　impossible。　She　was　a　social
leader；　and　of　such　importance　that　visiting　princes　and　society
reporters；　even　among　themselves；　did　not　laugh　at　her。　Her
visiting　list　was　so　small　that　she　did　not　keep　a　social
secretary；　but；　it　was　said；　wrote　her　invitations　herself。
Stylites　on　his　pillar　was　less　exclusive。　Nor　did　he　take　his
exalted　but　lonely　position　with　less　sense　of　humor。　When　Ingram
died　and　left　her　many　millions　to　dispose　of　absolutely　as　she
pleased；　even　to　the　allowance　she　should　give　their　daughter；　he
left　her　with　but　one　ambition　unfulfilled。　That　was　to　marry　her
Dolly　to　an　English　duke。　Hungarian　princes；　French　marquises；
Italian　counts；　German　barons；　Mrs。　Ingram　could　not　see。　Her
son…in…law　must　be　a　duke。　She　had　her　eyes　on　two；　one　somewhat
shopworn；　and　the　other　a　bankrupt；　and　in　training；　she　had　one
just　coming　of　age。　Already　she　saw　her　self　a　sort　of　a　dowager
duchess　by　marriage；　discussing　with　real　dowager　duchesses　the　way
to　bring　up　teething　earls　and　viscounts。　For　three　years　in　Europe
Mrs。Ingram　had　been　drilling　her　daughter　for　the　part　she　intended
her　to　play。　But；　on　returning　to　her　native　land；　Dolly；　who
possessed　all　the　feelings；　thrills；　and　heart…throbs　of　which　her
mother　was　ignorant；　ungratefully　fell　deeply　in　love　with
Champneys　Carter；　and　he　with　her。　It　was　always　a　question　of
controversy　between　them　as　to　which　had　first　fallen　in　love　with
the　other。　As　a　matter　of　history；　honors　were　even。

He　first　saw　her　during　a　thunder　storm；　in　the　paddock　at　the
races；　wearing　a　rain…coat　with　the　collar　turned　up　and　a　Panama
hat　with　the　brim　turned　down。　She　was　talking；　in　terms　of
affectionate　familiarity；　with　Cuthbert's　two…year…　old；　The　Scout。
The　Scout　had　just　lost　a　race　by　a　nose；　and　Dolly　was　holding　the
nose　against　her　cheek　and　comforting　him。　The　two　made　a　charming
picture；　and；　as　Carter　stumbled　upon　it　and　halted；　the　race…horse
lowered　his　eyes　and　seemed　to　say：　〃Wouldn't　YOU　throw　a　race　for
this？〃　And　the　girl　raised　her　eyes　and　seemed　to　say：　〃What　a
nice…looking；　bright…looking　young　man！　Why　don't　I　know　who　you
are？〃

So；　Carter　ran　to　find　Cuthbert；　and　told　him　The　Scout　had　gone
lame。　When；　on　their　return；　Miss　Ingram　refused　to　loosen　her　hold
on　The　Scout's　nose；　Cuthbert　apologetically　mumbled　Carter's　name；
and　in　some　awe　Miss　Ingram's　name；　and　then；　to　his　surprise；　both
young　people　lost　interest　in　The　Scout；　and　wandered　away　together
into　the　rain。

After　an　hour；　when　they　parted　at　the　club　stand；　for　which　Carter
could　not　afford　a　ticket；　he　asked　wistfully：　〃Do　you　often　come
racing？〃　and　Miss　Ingram　said：　〃Do　you　mean；　am　I　coming
to…morrow？〃

〃I　do！〃　said　Carter。

〃Then；　why　didn't　you　say　that？〃　inquired　Miss　Ingram。　〃Otherwise
I　mightn't　have　come。　I　have　the　Holland　House　coach　for　to…morrow；
and；　if　you'll　join　us；　I'll　save　a　place　for　you；　and　you　can　sit
in　our　box。

〃I've　lived　so　long　abroad；〃　she　explained；　〃that　I'm　afraid　of　not
being　simple　and　direct　like　other　American　girls。　Do　you　think
I'll　get　on　here　at　home？　〃

〃If　you　get　on　with　every　one　else　as　well　as　you've　got　on　with
me；〃　said　Carter　morosely；　I　will　shoot　myself。〃

Miss　Ingram　smiled　thoughtfully。　〃At　eleven；　then；〃　she　said；　〃in
front　of　the　Holland　House。〃

Carter　walked　away　with　a　flurried；　heated　suffocation　around　his
heart　and　a　joyous　lightness　in　his　feet。　Of　the　first　man　he　met
he　demanded；　〃Who　was　the　beautiful　girl　in　the　rain…coat？〃　And
when　the　man　told　him；　Carter　left　him　without　speaking。　For　she
was　quite　the　richest　girl　in　America。　But　the　next　day　that　fault
seemed　to　distress　her　so　little　that　Carter；　also；　refused　to
allow　it　to　rest　on　his　conscience；　and　they　were　very　happy。　And
each　saw　that　they　were　happy　because　they　were　together。

The　ridiculous　mother　was　not　present　at　the　races；　but　after
Carter　began　to　call　at　their　house　and　was　invited　to　dinner；　Mrs。
Ingram　received　him　with　her　habitual　rudeness。　As　an　impediment　in
the　success　of　her　ambition　she　never　considered　him。　As　a　boy
friend　of　her　daughter's；　she　classed　him　with　〃her〃　lawyer　and
〃her〃　architect　and　a　little　higher　than　the　〃person〃　who　arranged
the　flowers。　Nor；　in　her　turn；　did　Dolly　consider　her　mother；　for
within　two　months　another　matter　of　controversy　between　Dolly　and
Carter　was　as　to　who　had　first　proposed　to　the　other。　Carter
protested　there　never　had　been　any　formal　proposal；　that　from　the
first　they　had　both　taken　it　for　granted　that　married　they　would
be。　But　Dolly　insisted　that　because　he　had　been　afraid　of　her
money；　or　her　mother；　he　had　forced　her　to　propose　to　him。

〃You　could　not　have　loved　me　very　much；〃　she　complained；　〃if　you'd
let　a　little　thing　like　money　make　you　hesitate。〃

〃It's　not　a　little　thing；〃　suggested　Carter。　〃They　say　it's　several
millions；　and　it　happens　to　be　YOURS。　If　it　were　MINE；　now！〃
〃Money；〃　said　Dolly　sententiously；　〃is　given　people　to　make　them
happy；　not　to　make　them　miserable。〃

〃Wait　until　I　sell　my　stories　to　the　magazines；〃　said　Carter；　〃and
then　I　will　be　independent　and　can　support　you。〃

The　plan　did　not　strike　Dolly　as　one　likely　to　lead　to　a　hasty
marriage。　But　he　was　sensitive　about　his　stories；　and　she　did　not
wish　to　hurt　his　feelings。

〃Let's　get　married　first；〃　she　suggested；　〃and　then　I　can　BUY　you
a　magazine。　We'll　call　it　CARTER'S　MAGAZINE　and　we　will　print
nothing　in　it　but　your　stories。　Then　we　can　laugh　at　the　editors！〃

〃Not　half　as　loud　as　they　will；〃　said　Carter。

With　three　thousand　dollars　in　bank　and　three　stories　accepted　and
seventeen　still　to　hear　from；　and　with　Dolly　daily　telling　him　that
it　was　evident　he　did　not　love　her；　Carter　decided　they　were　ready；
hand　in　hand；　to　leap　into　the　sea　of　matrimony。　His　interview　on
the　subject　with　Mrs。　Ingram　was　most　painful。　It　lasted　during　the
time　it　took　her　to　walk　out　of　her　drawing…room　to　the　foot　of　her
staircase。　She　spoke　to　herself；　and　the　only　words　of　which　Carter
was　sure　were　〃preposterous〃　and　〃intolerable　insolence。〃　Later　in
the　morning　she　sent　a　note　to　his　flat；　forbidding　him　not　only
her　daughter；　but　the　house　in　which　her　daughter　lived；　and　even
the　use　of　the　United　States　mails　and　the　New　York　telephone
wires。　She　described　his　conduct　in　words　that；　had　they　come　from
a　man；　would　have　afforded　Carter　every　excuse　for　violent
exercise。

Immediately　in　the　wake　of　the　note　arrived　Dolly；　in　tears；　and
carrying　a　dressing…case。

〃I　have　left　mother！〃　she　announced。　〃And　I　have　her　car
downstairs；　and　a　clergyman　in　it；　unless　he　has　run　away。　He
doesn't　want　to　marry　us；　because　he's　afraid　mother　will　stop
supporting　his　flower　mission。　You　get　your　hat　and　take　me　where
he　can　marry　us。　No　mother　can　talk　about　the　man　I　love　the　way
mother　talked　about　you；　and　think　I　won't　marry　him　the　same　day！〃

Carter；　with　her　mother's　handwriting　still　red　before　his　eyes；
and　his　self…love　shaken　with　rage　flourished　the　letter。

〃And　no　mother；〃　he　shouted；　〃can　call　ME　a　'fortune…hunter'　and　a
'cradle…robber'　and　think　I'll　make　good　by　marrying　her　daughter！
Not　until　she　BEGS　me　to！〃

Dolly　swept　toward　him　like　a　summer　storm。　Her　eyes　were　wet　and
flashing。　〃Until　WHO　begs　you　to？〃　she　demanded。　〃WHO　are　you
marrying；　mother　or　me？〃

〃If　I　marry　you；〃　cried　Carter；　frightened　but　also　greatly
excited；　〃your　mother　won't　give　you　a　penny！〃

〃And　that；〃　taunted　Dolly；　perfectly　aware　that　she　was　ridiculous；
〃is　why　you　won't　marry　me！〃

For　an　instant；　long　enough　to　make　her　blush　with　shame　and
happiness；　Carter　grinned　at　her。　〃Now；　just　for　that；〃　he　said；　〃I
won't　kiss　you；　and　I　WILL　marry　you！〃　But；　as　a　matter　of　fact；　he
DID　kiss　her。　Then　he　gazed　happily　around　his　small　sitting…room。
〃Make　yourself　at　home　here；〃　he　directed；　〃while　I　pack　my　bag。〃

〃I　MEAN　to　make　myself　very　much　at　home　here；〃　said　Dolly
joyfully；　〃for　the　rest　of　my　life。〃

From　the　recesses　of　the　flat　Carter　called：　〃The　rent's　paid　only
till　September。　After　that　we　live　in　a　hall　bedroom　and　cook　on　a
gas…stove。　And　that's　no　idle　jest；　either。〃

Fearing　the　publicity　of　the　City　Hall　license　bureau；　they
released　the　clergyman；　much　to　the　relief　of　that　gentleman；　and
told　the　chauffeur　to　drive　across　the　State　line　into　Connecticut。

〃It's　the　last　time　we　can　borrow　your　mother's　car；〃　said　Carter；
〃and　we'd　better　make　it　go　as　far　as　we　can。〃

It　was　one　of　those　days　in　May。　Blue　was　the　sky　and　sunshine　was
in　the　air；　and　in　the　park　little　girls　from　the　tenements；　in
white；　were　playing　they　were　queens。　Dolly　wanted　to　kidnap　two　of
them　for　bridesmaids。　In　Harlem　they　stopped　at　a　jeweler's　shop；
and　Carter　got　out　and　bought　a　wedding…ring。

In　the　Bronx　were　dogwood　blossoms　and　leaves　of　tender　green　and
beds　of　tulips；　and　along　the　Boston　Post　Road；　on　their　right；　the
Sound　flashed　in　the　sunlight；　and　on　their　left；　gardens；　lawns；
and　orchards　ran　with　the　road；　and　the　apple　trees　were　masses　of
pink　and　white。

Whenever　a　car　approached　from　the　rear；　Carter　pretended　it　was
Mrs。　Ingram　coming　to　prevent　the　elopement；　and　Dolly　clung　to
him。　When　the　car　had　passed；　she　forgot　to　stop　clinging　to　him。

In　Greenwich　Village　they　procured　a　license；　and　a　magistrate
married　them；　and　they　were　a　little　frightened　and　greatly　happy
and；　they　both　discovered　simultaneously；　outrageously　hungry。　So
they　drove　through　Bedford　Village　to　South　Salem；　and　lunched　at
the　Horse　and　Hounds　Inn；　on　blue　and　white　china；　in　the　same　room
w