The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-06-10

81 can't think" 1 returned, sadly---and it
was certainly the best answer / could have
made, for We were evidently suspected, un-
der the circumstances.
Shortly afterwards the -Scerpion and
1 left the room, and made him, on pain of
an immediate sound beating from that awful
blackthorn, indite another letter setting
forth that the secretary was sorry to inform
the English strangers that 5000 was not the
number of the winning ticket; that the right
figure was 3061. It was q poor, lame attempt
at getting out of the scrape, sort of hyste-
rical won n't-you-forgive-me style of thing, and
was thoroughly ashamed of it. Bat It was
transmitted to the Governor in due course,
and when he opened it the farce was at an
end, the tragedy commenced.
Some people never credit thing entirely
until they see it in black and white; and there
it was in black and white, in mean, base,
deceitful words that seemed to shrink from
showing themselves in patent black and
while. It was the straw that broke the camels
back.
'T wouldn't have played such trick on
cat" sighed the Governor, as the flush of
incipient fever mounted to his brow, and he
retired to his room followed silently by his
wife. -
The Oommissary. General advanced q step
and clutched his blackthorn menscingly, but
yielding to his gentle wife he, too, quietly
withdrew.
For an instant the Chief Justice hesitated,
and glared with frenzied eye at the two mis-
erable culprits on the sofa, then seizing his
hat he planted it firmly on the back of his
head and stalked out of the house into the
noiseless street and on, on, on, over-moun-
tain and plain seven-and-twenty miles down
into Santa Cruz.
How passed that night cannot tell; it
was not in bed; a stupor overcame me, and
suppose l remained on that hard horse-hair
sofa. The sight of the Rock-Scorpion
loathed, and told him so. AS, therefore, he
had no friend left among us, he departed at
daylight; and have not since set eyes upon
him.
physician was summoned next morning
to attend the Governor, and he recommended
change, to the mild warmth of Santa Cruz
SO soon as his Excellency could be safely
moved.
There was, therefore, good excuse for them
to remain in their rooms; but so also did the
Commissary- General and his wife, without
excuse. 1t was evident was to be ''cut, I"
and sat down to q sorrowful meal all alone
and choking with mingled remorse and pain.
So passed that day and another. On the
third, the Governor was to leave, and he was
resting in the big sitting-room awaiting his
convey anee when chanced to enter.
The sight of him as he lay there pale and
detected oppressed me greatly; 1 think tears
filed my eyes, for, noticing my emotion, he
held out his hand and pardoned me-.
'T feel sure you had no idea of the length
you were going to-" he said, simply; ''but,
my boy, remember that duTi SdcrG flames is
universal, and that you hurt man to the
quick when you touch his pocket. That mo-
ney was ours to all intents and purposes; we
had already determined what to do with it.
and you have deprived us of that pleasure.
1t was the most dangerous of practical
jokes"
He spoke truly, but reproof was unneeded;
the crime carried its own punishment.
Little further passed at our interview, and
he left shortly after for Santa Cruz, while L,
relieved beyond measure by our reconcilia-
tion, sailed out for days excursion.
returned late in the evening, and was en-
gagged in my solitary supper, when suddenly
my Irish friend opened his door and came for
ward.
''The Governor has made up with you, /
understand" he said, almost gruffiy; "and
so shall l. Tip us your fist, old bov I can't
bear to see you all alone, and yet hate you,
for you have nearly killed me and my poor
wife; e;"-and he squeezed my hand unmerci-
| fully-''but you are not out of the wood yet,
let me tell you; you forget that the Judge
wasn't such an old friend of yours, and he is
not so weak as to make up in a hurry, not
| without satisfaction, you understand? Re-
| member, you are in foreign country; and, !
am sorry to say, he has written to me to the
effect that he will have you out"
1t was not comforting reflection that in
stantly occurred to my mind: :-"Have you
escaped the perils of pestilential Africa
to fall now by the bullet of judicious
duellist?"
~ am fully aware of the consequences OF
my unwarrsntable liberty" 1 replied, sand
am bound to give him the satisfaction he
requires; arrange it when and where you
| like"
''Ill see what 1 can do" he returned,
carelessly; meantime we will remain on
here quietly. And now come and make your
peace with my wife,"
1t was fully week after this that / ar
ranged to return to Santa Cruz, with the idea
of having the duel over at once, one way OIL
the other, and rode across country all alone,
arriving as night fell at the hotel.
The English mail steamer had come into
port, and, anxious for letters, went at once
to Mr.. Robinson's Office.
''You are still in time for dinner, if you
hurry" he said: "a large number of passen-
gers came ashore to dine here, and you may
know some of them.
hastened to the table-d'hote, but as 1 ad-
vanced along the corridor to the door of the
dining-room, 1 was arrested by hearing my
own name mingled with shouts of laughter
from the company, and one voice clear above
the others, as though causing the mirth by
some recital.
1t was the Governors, and he was in the
act of narrating, with all establishment and
in his own quaint irresistible manner, the
lottery trick and its consequences.