PENALTIES OF LUCK.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 128, 6 July 1914, Page 10

PENALTIES OF LUCK.

"What this country really wants," declared a weary-looking man in a South-Eastern railway carriage, "is a Sweepstake Winners' Defence League.

"Take my case. I was unlucky enough to draw Ilapsburg in our office 'sweep'—and fool enough to tell my wife that I had done so. The second prize was £5. I drew 'the money this morning. I had taken three half-crown tickets, so that I tad really won £4 12/6. When I entered the office the lift boy—a child with an itching palm—congratulated mo. That congratulation cost me a shilling.

"In the office the head clerk reminded me of an alleged loan of 10/- dating back to Christmas. Two of the junid-es found that they were a little short till the enof the month. 1 lent them half a sovereign each- —'lent,' is a euphemism. The man who usually lunches with me made it obvious that he expected to be my guest to-day, and I could not refuse. Everybody in the office seemed to think himself entitled to drinks at my expense.

"This afternoon my wife telephoned to me. On the strength of the £5 she had bought a new hat and a blouse, and she had promised our boy the model aeroplane he has been asking for. ' 1 The last straw was the. guv 'nor. ' Hullo, Blank,' lie says. 'Surely you are not going to walk to London Bridge 011 such a day? You can give me a lift in a taxi.' I gave him a life and got to the station ten minutes too early. I calculate that I have lost about £;■ already by winning that £4, and goodness knoWvS what 1 shall find my wife has bought when i get home. "The awful thing is that to-day there must have been hundreds of men like me in Loudon —poor beggars who Irive beeu unlucky enough to win prizes in 'sweeps.' But the worst is to come. I have drawn Princess Dorrie in the office Oaks 'sweep,' and they tell me she has a good chance. It she wins, lam ruined.'' —-"Daily Mail."