The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1870-06-17
INBIA, TENNESSEE. FRIDAY, JUNE u. 1870.
don: the jew is an iscompiice.

80
don; the Jew is an coinpiioe. Th,
rascal has let you win The first game
he will now propose higher stakes ant
win. Take care, too, or they'll dOcto
your brandy. They've gone out nov
to get something to make it get int
your head faster before the betting be
gins. I have no motive, you mlistSee
but the interest 1 feel for q young maj
unacquainted with London tricks
Hush! here they come"
Just at this moment the brandy anC
the two thieves came in. 1 observed
the Jew instantly go toward the smok.
ing glasses and stir one of them round
as he turned his back to me. -e ~
The Captain pulled off his coat, turn.
ed his back to me. p
The Captain pulled off his coat turned
TIP his right shirt-cuff, and spotted the
red ball with his usual gay noncha-
lance. "You begin,n he said.
Thank you," said /, putting on my
don't think shall play any
tonight"
Not play? not play why, you en-.
XAged with me ?' he said, looking
around the room in surprise, half in
suspicion, half in anger. "May Task,
sir, what has produced this sudden
change of intention ?n u-L
Marker" said l, "you may take
that brandy and water-I have had
enough; Pm afraid you'llfind it rather
strong"
40, I see,n said the Captain, un-
masking at once and advancing threat
eningly toward the Vicar, who was
watching him like hawk. "This
fellow here, whoever he may be, has
been good enough to slander me while
my back was turned. And pray, sir,
who are you?" AS he said this he
walked up to the Vicar, flourishing the
but end of his cue menacingly.
don't know your name,n he said, with
a long impudent fixed stare, cor where
you are parson, but you're as like lag
once knew in Australia as two peas.
You remember Gentleman Jack, Mo
sey?"
"Of course 1 do, and s'elp me, but
he's the very image of him." jabbered
the Jew.
"You We're, then, probably in the
same chaiu gang" said the Vicar, as
he rose and clenched his fist. "I'll
bear this insolence no longer. You are
both notorious billiard sharpers; the
marker knows it, and has been paid
for admitting you. The police all
know you. One word more and I'll
ring the bell and send the waiter for a
constable and give you in charge. Now
you be off: I won't take the trouble to
knock down this sham Captain for his
insolence-a feather would do that. Go,
both of you; I'll not let my friend here
be robbed by two such pitiful thieves"
The Captain was a pOltrOon, saw
that he could have stabbed the Vicar
on the spot. His color came and went.
He had once resolved on q rush; then
a fear seized him, as he saw his adver-
sary standing like marble statue-a
phalanx in himself. Muttering and
cursing, the two rascals skunk away,
like Satan from the spear of the arch
angel.
Perfect strangers to me, 1 assure
you, gents" said the marker, never
seed 'em afore in my life."
You don't take your brandy" said L.
"Don't seem to care for any more,
thank you, sir. Pay for the table, sir?"
He doesn't deserve it, bat still
pay" said the Vicar. So II paid.
The police shall know how these
rooms are conducted, depend upon it, !"
he said to the marker as we left; "you
might as well garrote a man at once.
What city! W he said to me as We
turned to the hotel, and | thanked him
for his good advice. "What whirl-
pool Of goddess iniquity! Adulterated
bread d-adulterated wine adulterated
medicines-the very
adulterating ingredients themselves
adulterated At every foot one walks
a snare in every street pit-fall vir-
tue only vice disguised, and vice herself
as like virtue as if she was her twin
sister; sham everything! When will
the fire descend upon it? When will
the fire descend ?n
In the coffee room where we sat
talking for half an hour, expressed
my surprise at the Wears entering a
public billiard room.
You do not know me-" he said. II
am like Paley; I am never afraid of
humbugs. 1 like to see the DEVILS
schemes that l may counteract them.
We Church-of-E England men know too
little of the world; that is why the
Belials and the ASmodei of cities cheat
and fool us so often and outrageOusly.
make a point, when / visit the me-
trOpOlis, of occasionally going to such
places. Another night you might have
met me at CremOrne, or at the equally
dangerous Alhambra. 1t is my duty,
sir, and however unpleasant, L 60
everywhere to see sin and folly at their
fiood-tide. You will at least admit that
my experience of rascality has been
useful to you tonight ?"
"I owe you thousand thanks" he
replied. "Ihad heard of blizzard shar-
Iers, but had never met any BEFORE"
/ think I'll wish you a goodnight
now," he said, as 1 am accustomed to
early country hours, and begin to feel
ut my eyes. Tomorrow, then, at 7:15,
we meet. Goodnight"
So 1 wished the Vicar goodnight
and we parted. / was out nearly all
day, making calls and transacting bu-
siness. IgOt back to the hotel about
half fpast six, ordered down my luggage
and asked at the Tar if the Rev. Mr..
Atkins was gone. The porter said; d;he
was on the platform waiting for me-
He had just paid his bill and taken his
luggage forward. % i''t
/ took my ticket but did not see him.
/ gotmy luggage labelled for Exeter;
still he did not appear; but when the
guard opened the door Of first-class
carriage for me, found a plaid and
some books on the opposite seat.
"There's gentleman, sir, o clergy
man, taken that seat. He's been look
ing for G friend. suppose that's you,
sir. If he don't look sharp he'll miss
the train"
The guard had already come for the
tickets. The sharp cry, "Take your
seats" had just gone forth, when the
Vicar came running up, and said,
"Open this door guard" The guard
opened the door, and the Vicar took
his place, laughing, opposite me. !
hardly knew him at first, for he wore a
large dark great coat, and had on q
travelling cap drawn down over his
ears. He had a roll of papers and two
magazines in his hand.
"How l hate this fuss and hurry "
he said, as he folded his plaid over his
legs; how 1 hate this destruction of
all individuality When was young,
the coach journey was deliberate,
quiet, affair-the traveller was recog-
nized individuality. The coachman
and guard knew you, and chatted; the
hostler chatted the insides and outsides
knew you, and chatted. There was
interest in every village; the people
came out to see you pass the inn din
ner was amusing. Now you area mere
parcel sent by train. The pointsman,