The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-12-25
,'onIy back TO the table for a little whilc,7


replied; 81 think you might stay u little will,
! for mine"
vi can't stand it," said Rivers; 'and I an
cleaned out"
what ?' | exclaimed "You have not los
any OF yoir own money y"
Every franc" he said, bitterly; sand so vii
you; II you go near that cursed table,
hcsiiUtcd for Il few moments but tho tcmp
tntion WIS too strong; ,n,i probably srrir,
,hit hesitation, walter approached and ot
icird ac some wine. | could krcu back nt
,l.nh,srr; me low talking at the table seemed
like whispers calling me to 20 and s,yrcu nm ::
Elittrring pile Of money. Aarinnn himicl
sl!aimoned me To his worship, and feeling Ger
lam that SAW f:lilings In my comp,Rion'
method Of play, walked up to tile table, threw
down Il iivc-iranc piece and saw IL rnkrd
away.
threw another upon the cloth, and that
also was swcp! away.
IN sort "t intoylcniion, brought on by the
excitement, | sakcd two pieces this time and
t,ry also disappeared. Half napoleon shared
tllcir fate; then Il napolcon; when Rivers
caught me by the arm, IL being his turn now
10 pay the part Of mentor and to whisper 10
come away.
Monsieur can play for himself, sir. WHY
do You Interfere z" said swarthy Individual
hair. S''' WI
"I'll come soon," s;lid angriIy. 81 can ,Io
~" worse than you have done"
hrcrs shrugged his shoulders and turned
AWAY 10 take another glass Of champagne from
inc walter, when the !icrcc-lo0kifg French
xn, a" W.T.. W,'sRerSa , 10 me. PLAY high. monsieur;
Soldcss likes not humble olrrlngsn
turning impa;icntly from my woul,l-bc coun.
scilo whom set down us belonging 10 the
proprstary' pro again threw down nurolcon,
ana lost. Observation-Disclosures In
hye minutes had come dOwn TO my last
coin, and stood for II few moments Thought
~, ha aug ponaer.Sg ms Should let that go with
asked mNSpif bitfprlC. m 1.
greater; and, almost nasslonaiely, | threw II
down, half turning, at the same time, TO leave
INC liable, and hurry from the house.
"oh3 ny Jovc y voice Whispered at my
eur; ana was once more in funds to carry on
inc warfare, or to leave, whichever | liked.
was about TO pursue the latter course, when
ha!t-contemPtuous glance from the French
mars eye turned me back, and staked again
ahd a%;hh; doubled my stake, and won again /;
again doubled and won: so that in the course
OF few minutes, | had piled up IL .soodly hunp
OF five franc pieces before me.
"Glfe TINS gentleman some winc," the
Frcncliman said, In low tone to q walter
and glass was handed TO me, but, Impatient
~ motioning the man aside, / plunged. as IL
were, into the orcrpowerlng cXci,cmen. Of the
play, winning constantly, and with q feeling as
oil some Hild fever thrilling through nv veins
Twice over I believe that Rivers eagerly
begged OF me to leave, but | refused, and
played on, although Mt the time there was n
strange desire upon me TO leave OF and 10
S"its UNhJ HIlUS IsNGTy Stake
laid down was successful, and In n short time
found that the greater part OF the occu,aits
OF The room were now watching my success
with ns much cagerncss rs they had previously
gnzcd upon my companion.
0ncc stopped rs If 10 take breath, and I'm
the Dricf momca.s Which cnsucd seemed 10
look upon the probable rcsut-the gliiterinr
heap gradually melting away, and taking with
II my last shilling; md yet could not restrain
myself, but played on asmin, still winning,
with an insensatc thirst for more of the wild
excitement ever growing upon me.
Still won; Till, trembling for my gains, I
began 10 thrust the coins Into dicarcnt pock-
cts, lcescning the heap ae much as could
before stalking the llr@cst sum That had yet
been upon the table that evening.
] placed II upon the red, and II seemed as if
the result would never be known. In effect,
there was quite pause, and then came the
announcement, 'Rouge yagne n In calm. I'm
prcssivc tones; and again swept up the
money, before Il score OF cOvctolis look crs- on
. Int this once !" mutiered 10 myself, pre-
pairing 10 stake the whole of my last gains !;
when, In quiet manner, as If eBere was no.
thing ut all In the announcement, the propri-
ctor informed the company that the play wus
ut an end for hat evening.
"Nonsieur has broken the bank said n soff
voics:al my ear, and, turning. there stood the
swar,hy frenchmuM.
started from this man as If had been
stnng and, hastily gathering up my treasure
turned my attention towards leaving the
place, already half cmpticd ofits occupants.-
But my eyes first sought for Rivers, who, to my
great surprise, SAW ioiiirlg back upon fan
tenit, evidently half uslccp.
Monsieur, your friend IL tlrcd,n said the
Frcnchman, who seemed determined to force
upon me his society. 1.-The SaH6l has been hot.
and disappointment wcared his BRAIN Mon
sicur would do well to rest too"
q In my country, sir" said. turning upon
him sharply, and NOT, am afraid, speaking in
very, pure French, I'VE only take advice from
our friends"
Predisdmcnt," he said, with smile, and a
shru. oi his shoulders; "it is Us a friend /
offer you my advice"
lie pushed his face close to mine, as he spoke
now in Il whisper.
"Thc hour is late the streets arc unsafe
Twenty men, desperate with their losses, hnye
seen you wln-win ma fol- as never saw play
er win before. 1t would be n temptation-
throwing temptation In their way-pultIng bad
ilens in mems minds, when they would other
wise 70 quietly home. Is this lust, Monsieur 2
Are mine the words or friend or cnemy'Y Take
my advice, IT II seem IL friends, and stay here ;
ifit seem On enemy's, rouse your conrade, and
go in peace.
He tapped my breast with his fingers, which
calnc In contact with the nnnole0ns In my pock-
et, and smiled meaningly, but with O leer In his
eyes which troubled iac, and made me turn
uneasily to look aL Rivers.
Crossing TO him, shook his arm. Int onlv
~,
though l earnestly besonght him to wake in
Ills arm dropped ncrvcless 10 his side, his head
sank lower upon his bosom, and breathing
stentorlonsly the while, he seemed to be
plunged In deep, heavy sleep, from which
there was n2nQwakcning him.
What conldSl do? What did 1t mcan-Rivcrs
being so fast asleep? Had he been piled with
wine or was 1t possible that he could have
been drlIgged?
half laughed Mt what seemed to be the alb.
sDrdity Of the thought, full OF romance MS IL
appeared; but the next moment cold chill
ran through nae rs recalled The words OF our
friend who had brought US there,-"I don't
consider this the safest Of places I"
What should / do-run oil risks and 60, or
run all risks and stay? Tho danger seemed
equal on either hand; while how could go
and leave my companion In the hands of these
people / cursed the folly that made me stay
that had brought me to such place for
what, after oil, were my winnings compared
with life How could tell what would be nv
fate before morning, unarmed, In strange
house, In strange city, and surrounded BY
DpODle who knew In In N r