The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1859-06-15
THE DISPATCH.
THE HEAD OF MY Pro
.FENSION.
TWo CHAPT 8 B D.
CHAPTER III.

a, p,ussels the game began: There were
k.ssr.as Of wealthy Englishmen there,
nsS .hore were the usual number OF sharks
- a., nations assembled to prey upon them.
80 veil received, and was. | believe, set
aown In many private memorandum as
n;geou easy to be plucked. Crannel man
acsa his affairs with eonsummate address.
he gave the signal for me to lose almost
constantly, day after day, even when 1
knew that he had heavy bets depending on
nv play, and though he had to pay my
own losses as we'll as his. could not under
stand it, and one night, after repetition
of the enigma, begged an explanation. --
He then told me that the supposed losses hs
had endured were 10 confederates-the real
dEes being my owa small stakes-and that
| should see the result OF his policy very
soon. He was right in his prophecy. The
confederates, who seemed to have won so
much. excited the cupidity Of Others. and
they haxipg staked large sums, the signal
suddenly changed, and had to win. BY
what appeared the widest and most fatuous
play, | won game after game, which the
most suspicious could only attribute 10 acci-
dent or the most unheard-of luck. Tho
losers doubled their stakes, and lost again
and now, in lieu Of the feignei thousands
lost, the solid thousands poured 10. So
artfuIly did my patron control his greed,
resigning even large sums when it was pol
icy to do so, that no symptom Of mistrust
appeared and for several weeks he went
on reaping the golden harvest.
Suddenly, he announced his intention OF
starting for Berlin, and requested me to give
my valet the necessary orders, to call IN
my accounts and settle them, for We should
depart in twenty-four hours. could not
understand the reason, as he had certainly
Melted some thousands where We were, and
might easily hare doubled his gains. was
unwilling to move further, for had formed
some most agreeable acquaintance, and
was already beginning to feel so much at
home in the character personated, as to
forget the realities of my lot. | told him
what were my feelings.
That said he coolly, lis the reason why
we quit. Had you kept yourself more aioof,
and formed no such close intimacies, We
might have done well here another mon I
but you have forgotten yourself, and ina
CINE that you are something besides my
servant
1t was true-I had forgotten, and tie re-
proof was inst I; but hated him for making
it, and was profoundly indignant at seeing
that, spite of the gains had brought him,
be regarded me as mere tool. held my
peace, however, complied with his orders,
and the next day was on the road to Berlin,
whittier he followed me in q few days.
At Berlin, my valet, VINO was creature
OF Cranners, engaged a suit Of departments
under the Lindens, where we awaited his
coming. He came in due course, and
the game was renewed under SINH
lar circumstances, and resulting 10 simi-
lar gains TO my proprietor. We stayed in
the Prussian capital over two months, dur
ing which time was received in the best
society, where, however, l could no longer
feel at home, from the consciousness that
was debarred from private friendships
Here my first quarters salary became due,
and Crannel paid me the LIS, in terms Of
the contract, taking a receipt for the same.
II may seem odd to the reader, who knows
that few months before | was contentedly
working for journeyman's wages, that
felt intensely dissatisfied with my pay; but
he who knows anything Of the phenomena
of gamesters mind will readily believe
that such was the case. In.truth, II looked
upon Crannel as q plundering scoundrel
who had entrapped me in his meshes, and
was robbng me wholesale Of the fruits of
my own talents. | conceived that | had
at least an equal right with himself to my
winnings-and began daily to hate the
sight Of his long, stolid visage, and the
piercing eye, from whose glance l could
never be rid.
need not recount the history Of our wan
derings and our well-timed visits to the va.
rious gambling centres Of the European
kingdoms. Be it enough to say that was
the tool of this Old Nan Of the Mountain
for two years, duriag which time he had
made large periodical remittanccs to his Lon
don banker. At the cad Of that period We
sailed from Naples for Aarseilles, and en-
tered France.
Though Crannel must, almost from the
commencement Of our connection, have
been quite aware of my feelings regarding
him, he had never thought fit to manifest
any consciousness that such was the case
He had scrupulouay performed his part of
the contract-paying my salary to the day,
and defraying all the expenses Of the expe-
dition. On my part, had given him no
cause of complaint, feeling too we'll that
was in his power but that l thoroughly
hated and detested him, he knew as we'll as
possible. Perhaps it was with some idea
Of appeasing my hatred that he informed
me, as we were approaching the French
capital, that it was his intention to double
my salary this third year, if l answered his
expectations.
And what are they2' ! asked CURLY.
Increased caution and self-restraint, be
said, Paris is the grand field Of operations.
! should have taken you there at once, had
you been seven years older; the two years
experience you have had elsewh here should
have taught you the value OF reserve. If
you have learned that, We shall do well if
not we shall be soon blown, and success
will be doubtful
knew what he meant, and, for my own
sake, treasured the hint, though made
some ungracious reply.
At Paris, my valet, according to his in
structiOns, took apartments in the Champs
Elysees, and hired me q handsome brough-
am. Instead Of first frequenting the gamb-
ling-rooms, l allowed myself to be enticed
thither by Others. pretended to know
only the English game, and for some time
would play no other. Then grew fanatic
for the French game, and learned that, and
played it with all the airs Of novice, losing
generally, and winning By accident when
my patron gave the signal. He had now,
several confederates, his creatures, who
played into his hands, and shared bis gains,
which at times were beyond ell former pre-
cedent When my salary became due he
doubled it according to bis promise, without
any expression of gratitude on my part,
and the absence of which did not appear to
surprise him in the least.
The position | had assumed in Paris en-
aoled me to keep aloof from the gambling
rowd, and materiallyhelped him in carrying
out bis plans. An act Of imprudencs OF
mine, however, at this time, almost entirely
defeated them, and altered the complexion