, 1875-07-25

sure unless he has spoken ont, Then. perhaps
ano.her. who has leaned to lore her, doe
speak. She feels the need OF love IN her life
women AZ often marry to be loved - becans
they love. Then instead Of wasting her life TO
| that which may never come to her, she takes n
the fate lyin,g as her feet. Does she so yer
Lunlley's Pardner dropped his head upon hi
| breast. "Poor girl! never thought Of thai
| he said.
do not know Just how it was that remem
bered all the words 20 plain. There was nj
more said. and. feeling Eulity-liks for stealing
| mates secret which it vas not meant for me Il
| know, crept to my shanty, hunked IN. and le
| the broken pick lie over unit! morning.
I always felt cory for Lumley's Pardnsr afte
| that.
| Well, for time, things vent on in the oil
| way. Then LuIo}ev's Pardner came down witt
mountain-fe fever, aud LuInfey nursed him through
it. He was "a tender as q woman, was Lumley
When used to drop in OF nights, occasionally
to lend hand at watching, tho sick mans eyes
would follow him about the room, in a helpless,
| beseeching way that WAS pitiful to see.
It was only the ghost Of Lumley's Partner
| that got up from it, but the tTo men we're
always higher together after that.
When Iumley got back to tho claim, and
Lunley's Pardner Was just able to crawl about,
they came into wonderful streak OF luck.
Lumley struck into big pocket, aud there they
! after all, is game OF chance-you buy your
| ticket, but it does not always win there are
plenty OF blanks to every prize.
1t does not matter the exact amount this prize
netted, IT had remembered it, Lumiey was ju-
bilant over his ''p1le," anxious to sell out, and
leave the mines; so nobody was surprised when
his partner bought him out for good round
sum, saying, In his quiet way, that he guessed
he'd stay and zee the thing through.
IL was very quiet IN camp the morning that
r
! lose him, for he had lot any but we'll wishers
! among us.
Wei, six months went by, and then came
little white letter. Is scribed" in dainty voman's
hand. to Lumley's Pardner. Tho man tremp1ed
all over like leaf when it was put into his hand
took it into his cabin, and shut the door, Within
tho next half-hour he came out again In des-
perata hurry, saddled hts mule, and rode off
down the trail
'Une1pectcd busness!" YVES his hastv expla-
nation. Gould not say how 5000 he might be
back.
traders, stopping to noon in camp. Then knew
what those marks Of weakness about his mouth
stood for; Lumley had never left the city at ali +!
He had sat down to the gaming table, one night,
and gotten up from it, the next morning, poorer
than be had come into the mines. He bad first
won, then lost, and lost and won, and won again;
and then that Last total blank stared him il the
face.
LnmIey could never give up at that. He must
win it all back! Luck was surely IN store for
him yet! He haunted the gambhng-hells, play
ing recklessly, desperately, 30 long as he could
win enough to keep the ball rolling, pawning his
watch. his ring, eyen his clothing, when other
So Lumley's Pa1dner found him-heavy-eyed,
with seedy hashiness in his dress, marks OF dis
sipation on his fair, womanish face,--a pretty
nearly played-out individual.
The blood rushed all over his face, for the man.
Ine6s get left in him could but feel the shame
Of that meeting. But thera WAS no backing
out NOW. Lumley's Pardner took him to one
sde.
matteE-of-fact way, 'and I've come to SOC YOU
out Of this. How much do you say will clear you
up. and h8ya = sIl1e aheads"
Lumley never raised his eyes.
"Old pard, " he answered, choking up, "youTe
better friend than deserve. Don't ask me to
open, and thanking you all the same, III have
nobodya help out"
Lumleys Pardner laid broad hand On each
Of the pitltully dropping shoulders.
"Old man, vhea the fever had me down, I'd
ha' gone under if it hadn't been for you So
help me God! I'd rather ha' died than have
taken what did ut your hands. Do you dare
deny me- this small return, now2 What's .
paltry sum OF money between you and me, and
the little mother waitin' At homer"
cried like baby: the which, il it be not manly,
like him the better for. There are tears, an
thinking, that art far from dlsgracing eyen the
eyes OF man.
"Tm ashamed Of myself. through and
through, for what's gone BY" wers LuInley's
ters can't be any worse, and there's chance Of
betteriug. Perhaps, tonight shall win it all
back"
There were the old willfulness and pride. and
the new fascination of the gamiug-table- There
was no turning him back, no moving him from
that resolve,
"Either way, I'm bound to see you through"
he said. ..'Come."
So night after night, as Lum1ey played, there
stood Lumley:s Pardner looking on, with never
word Of that little white letter, his answering
message. OF the two passengers on board an
ocean steamer bound for California
Despite Lumleys hopefu)ness. lnck nerer
turned. It WAS the same feverish unrest and
tedious waiting. the sense Of deeradation by Gay.
and at night the brilliantly ly-ligbted gambling
hell the excitement, the fascination, trembling
batwixt hope and uncertainty, the frequent pota-
tions to steady his shaken nerves, and, ID the
night wore on uncertainty deepening into failure
aud disappointment; and each morning Lum-
ley's Pardner led him slowly aud silently away,
until time, wearing on, brought at Inst this ap-
peal:
..For Gods sake, old man, when will you let
up?" -
so help me heaven, as soon as get back
tro thousand dollars. I swear never to touch
cards OF dice again" And Lumlsy WAS dead in
earnest this time Still, he would accept moth
ing from his partner.
The night the Ocean Belle was signaled into
port, Lumteys Pardner beckoned "Monte Bill"
aside II reckon you have heard OF Monte Bill,
the best hrzce-dealer and ehort-card PLAYER west
OF the old Misaissippi), and Some secret under
1.h-