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se together was one of marvelous
richness, yet it was delicate and beautiful beyond description.

The odor of the different flowers hung on the air until it was almost
oppressive, but yet so delicious. The young man thought what a success
this kind of lighting and decoration would be for some of the smart set
who are always trying to find something new with which to surprise their
guests. He made a mental note of it and said to himself that other men
had become leaders in the domains of swelldom on less than this, and he
decided to keep his eyes open for any other novelty which could be
transplanted above ground.

There was a breeze from somewhere, and he saw that the festoons of
incandescent flowers were swaying in the wind, and the movement set free
hundreds of delicious odors until now unsuspected. He was trying to
study out a plan by which the danger of fire could be avoided, and still
preserve all the marvelous effect of the illumination. As he stood lost
in his admiration he became aware that a man was watching him. As he
turned the man made a ceremonious bow and said:

"Excuse me, sir; but may I ask if you are really as much interested in
the decorations as you appear to be?"

"I certainly am," answered the young man, "and I wonder who could have
done it. It must have taken many minds and many hands to have
accomplished it. I am filled with wonder at the master mind that
conceived it. Can you tell me anything about it?"

"Yes, for the original idea was mine, though many hands helped in
carrying out the details. While I was alive, being a man of wealth and
leisure, I amused myself in getting up unique affairs intended to amuse
Society. I planned many things, both of a public and private nature, and
if you will look over the files of the society papers of my time you
will see that all were successful, even when I had but earthly hands and
intelligence to depend upon. Our insight is keener now and our hands are
no longer the clumsy things of life. Here I have but to formulate an idea
and the artists, electricians and florists know my exact meaning; I
flatter myself that the decorations here tonight are pretty fine. I do
not believe that anyone could surpass them. What do you think?"

 "I flatter myself that the decorations are fine"

"I think it is marvelous. But, please tell me-am I not speaking to the
great-"

"Hush, young man. No one is great or small here. Only some have more
power than others for certain reasons. I undertook the getting up of
this affair just to keep my hand in. I hope that when I get my passport
I may be able to run things in the next sphere as I did in my own circle
while I was alive."

The young man did not know exactly how to talk to the great man and so
waited in silence for him to take up the conversation again. He did this
by asking if the young man had noted many expressions of regret in the
newspapers at the time of his demise.

The young man took note of the word demise and decided that somehow it
sounded better than the less subdued one of Death, in a general way, and
he thought it would sound so much better down here that he should make
use of it. So he looked sympathetically at the ghost, who stood
expectantly waiting, and said that he had been in school at the time,
but he remembered perfectly well, and he had also heard the principal of
the school tell the scholars about the demise of so famous a man, and
one so useful. That his example was a noble one for the rising
generation. While he was trying to think of something else to say, the
ghost suddenly and very irrelevantly said:

"My dear sir, what do you consider the most satisfactory word in the
English language?"

The young man blushed and stammered lamely that he did not exactly know,
but would be glad if the shade of such an authority would enlighten him.

The great man pushed out his chest, and said pompously:

"I should say it is, satisfaction. I think there is no other word so
strong in point of expressing a meaning to my mind. Now, I can say that
I am in a state of complete satisfaction so far as the success of the
origination of this fete is concerned. I have arranged so many other
affairs out of doors that I was glad to try my hand in a new field. It
has resulted in perfect satisfaction."

Here he paused to allow the young listener to signify that he fully
concurred in the statement. The ghost passed his skeleton hand across
his chin and in a philosophical manner continued:

"Life is full of unsatisfied ambitions and general unrest of mind, and
hunger for food or power that nothing can satisfy but the actual
realization and final satisfaction of all longings. There is another
satisfaction, and that is realized revenge. When I came down here and
left all the vanities and pomp of the world behind me, I heard that a
certain society woman who had often tried to rebel and set aside my
authority, and sometimes did really annoy me very much and interfered
with my plans to a most unreasonable extent, said that now that I was
gone Society could draw a long breath and call its soul its own. This
woman prided herself on her fine presence. She even boasted that Death
itself could not make her ugly or less imposing. I saw her a few minutes
ago, and I honestly think she makes the worst-looking ghost I ever saw.
I assure you that was a great satisfaction. But, to return to the
decorations here. I would ask, have you seen the card room?"

"Card room! I was always led to think cards the invention of the Evil
one, and I certainly never expected to find them here."

"My dear sir; you are behind the age. Cards are not by any means wicked
in themselves, nor is it wicked to play them. The whole 600 play cards.
Some of their card parties are among the most interesting functions down
here. If Tom, Dick or Harry sit around in common places and play stud
poker for the drinks, that is one thing. If Mrs. Schuyler Van Astorbilt
has a card party, why it is all right to play poker, euchre or bridge
whist, and if some lose why the others must win. They all are able to
lose without depriving their families of bread. Therefore it is no sin
for Society to play cards. I have decided that bridge whist is not worse
than casino. There has been a lot of rot talked about the smart set, but
not half of it is true-ah, yes; in a minute!"

This last was said by the man who had been talking with the reporter to
a man who appeared to be quite excited about something. They talked for
a few minutes in whispers, and then the newcomer, satisfied, went away,
and the social leader and planner of the fete returned to the newspaper
man with an apology, and said:

"You saw me just now? Well, that man came to tell me that there is a
professional gambler in the card room. I must go and put him out. It
would never do to let a professional gambler associate with our set.
Many of them are here. Will you come with me?"

CHAPTER III.
THE GAMBLER'S PENANCE

As they went toward the card room, the organizer of the banquet said:
"Yo

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