The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1861-10-17

bad not elapsed, when Cordan, looking more
linsolently triumphant than ever, entered arm
in arm with pale, aristocratic looking young
man, whom had no difficulty, from his stri-
king resemblance to portrait in Lady Everton's
drawing room in deciding to be Merton.
/ My course of action was at once determined
upon. Pausing only to master the emotion
which the sight of the glittering reptile IN whose
poisonous folds l had been involved and crush
ed inspired, passed to the opposite side of the
house. and boldly entered the box. Gardens
back was towards me, and l tapped him lightly
on the shoulder. He turned quickly round
and if basilisk had confronted him, he could
scarcely have exhibited greater surprise. My
aspect nevertheless, was studiously bland and
conciliatory, and my outstretched hand seemed
to invite a renewal of our old friendship.
"Waters !" he at last staInmered, feebly &C
cepting my proffered grasp-"who would have
thought of m Getting you here?"
mot you certainly, since you stare at an old
friend as if he were some frghtful goblin about
to swallow you Really y
Hush let us speak together in the lobby.
An old friend" he added, in answer to Mr.Mer-
tons surprised stare, "we will return in an in
slant"
"Wen, what is all this, Waters I" said Car
don, recovering his wonted sang trold the in
slant we were alone. II understand you had
retired from amongst US; where IN fact-what
shall saw"
"Ruined-done up Nobody should know that
better than you"
'iMy good fellow you do not imagine -
~ imagine nothing, my dear Carbon. was
very thoroughly done-done brown as is writ
ten in the vulgar tongue. But fortunately my
kind old uncle''--
"Passgrove is dead !" interrupted my old ac-
quaintance, eagerly jumping to conclusion
land you are his heir. l congratulate you,my
dear fellow. This Is indeed charming reverse
| of circumstances"
"Yes but mind have given up the old game
No more dice-devitry for me. have promised
Emily never even to touch card again"
The cold hard eye of the incarnate tiend-Ge
was little else-g leaning mockingly, at these
good intentions of practical gamester fell
upon his ear-but he replied, ivory good, quite
right, my dear boy. but come let me introduce
| you 10 Mr. Merton, highly connected person
AGE. assure you By the way, Waters" he
my name for family and some other reasons,
which | will hereafter explain TO you, is for the
pre- sent Sanford"
Sanford -
Yes; do not forget. But allons, or the bal
| let will be over"
| was introduced in due form to Mr.. Merton
as an old and esteemed friend, whom he (oan-
tord) had not seen for many months. AT the
conclusion of the ballet Sanford proposed that
we should adjourn to the European Gomez
House nearly opposite, and out We sailed. At
the TOD of the staircase we jostled against the
Commissioner, who like us, was leaving the
house, He bowed slightly to Mr. Mertoa's apol-
oey, and his eye wandered coldly and briefly
over our persons !; not the slightest sign or re-
cognision escaped him. l thought it possible
he did not know me in my changed applare-
but looking back after descending few steps
was quickly un6eceived. sharp quick glance,
| expressive both of encouragement and surprise,
shot out from under his penthouse brows, and
| as swiftly vanished. He did not know how lit
tie 1 needed squirting to gain the goal we hao IN
| view.
| We discussed two or three bottles of wine
with much gaiety and relish. Sanford espec-
tally was in exuberant spiriss-bfimmlng over
with brilliant anecdotes and sparkling oadi-
mage.
| He saw in me fresh rich prey, and his eager
spirit revealed by anticipation III the victory
which he doubted nothing to obtain over my
excellent Intentions and vile pledged VIRTUE -
About half past IL he proposed to adjourn
This was eagerly assented to by MIR. Merton.
who had for some time exhibited unmis taxable
symptoms of Impotence and unrest.
"You will accompany us, Waters : said San
ford, as we rose to depart There Is, suppose
no VOW registered in the mrtrimohial archives
again st looking ON at game played by othero
"Oh no but do not ask me to p'ay?"
Certainly not - ard devllish sheer cqrled
his lip. Your virtue shall suffer no tempta-
ton, be assured"
| We soon arrived before the door of quiet,
respectable looking house, in one OF the streets
leading to the Strand a low peculiar knock,
given by Sanford, was promptly answer ed -
then a password, which | did not catch, was
whispered by him through the keyhole as we
passed in.
| We proceeded up stairs TO the first door, the
shutters of which were carefully closed, so that
no intimation of what was going Oil could pos
sbly reach the street The apartment was bril-
liantly hghted, a roulette table and dice and
cards i'll full activity f; wines and liquors
| OF all varieties werelprofusey paraded. There
were about half.a-doZen persons present, soon
discovered, besides the gang, and that compris
ed eleven or twelve well dressed desperadoes
whose sinister aspects induced a momentrry
qualm, lest one or more of the pleasant party
migut suspect or recognize my vocation. This,
however, reflected was scarcely possible. My
! ocat, du,ing the short period have been in the
| force, was far distant from the usual haunts OF
such gentry, and l was otherwise unknown in
| London. Still, questioning chances were ca
gerry directed towards my lntroducer and one
Dig bury fellow, a torelgner-the rascals were
the scum of various countries YVES unpleasant
iy lnqulsitorIal-"Jen reSPOnde - heard San
ford say, i'll answer to his iterated queries and
he added something in whisper which brought
saTdonIc smile to the fellow lips. and lutro-
duced total change in his demeanor towards
myself This was re- assuring for tho ugh pro-
vided with pistols, l should, l felt, nave little
chance with such utterly reckless HUMANS as
those by whom | was surrounded, Play was
proposed and though at first stouty refused.
teie ned to be overcome by irresistible tempta-
ton and sat down to blind hazard with my for
/ eign friend for moderate stakes. was gra-
ciously allowed to win, land in the end found my
self richer in money by about ten pounds Mr..
| Merton was soon absorbed in the chances OF dice
and lost large sums, for which, when the money
be brought with him was exhausted, he gave
written acknow Judgements. The cheating prac-
ticed upon him was really audaclous, and any
one but tyro must have repeatedly detected II
He, however, appeared not to entertain the
slightest suspicion of the ''fair play" OF his OPP
ponents, guiding him entirely by the advice Of
his friend and counsellor, who did not himself
play. The amiable assemblage broke up about
six in the morning, each person retiring singly
by the back way, receiving, as ne departed,
new password for the next evening.
A few hours afterwards | waited on the com
missioner to report the state Ofaffairs. He was
) delighted with the fortunate debut L had made
but still strictly enjoined patience and caution
IL would have been easy, as was IN possession
of the password, to have surprised the confed
eracy in the act of gaming that very evening
but this would only have accomplished par
of the object aimed at. Several ofthe fraternity
, Sanford among the number-@ere suspected
: : of uttering forged foreign bank notes. and i
!. was essential to watch narrowly for legal evl
dence to restore, if possible, the property anC
: securities of which Mr. Merton had been pill
! LACED.
t Nothing of especial Importance occurred TO
: seven or EIGHT DAYS Gaming went on as usua
I every evening and Mr. Merton became, G
: course, more and more involved; even his sis
i ter's jewels-which he had surreptitiously OBJ
}. tanned, to such depth of degradation will thi
y vice plunge men otherwise honorable-had bee
d staked and lost and he was, by the advice 0
It Sanford, about to conclude heavy mortgage OIL