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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 ma