Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1875-08-18

occasionally, to lend hand at watch
ing, the sick mans eyes would follow
him about the room in a helpless, be-
seeching way that was pitiful to see.
It was only the ghost of lumley' s
Pardner that got up from it, but the
two were always higher together after
that.
When Lumley got back to the claim,
and Lumley's Pardner was just able
to crawl about, they came into won
derful streak Of luck. Lumley struck
into a big pocket, and there they were,
in the turn of die, rich men. Mining,
after all, is game of chance-you buy
your ticket but it does not always win;
there are plenty of blanks to every
prize.
| It does not matter the exact amount
this prize Melted, if I had remembered
it. Lumley was jubilant over his
..pile," anxious to sell out, and leave
the mines; so nobody was surprised
when his pardner brought him out for a
good round sum, saying, in his quiet
way, that he guessed he'd stay and
see the thing through.
It was very quiet in camp, the morn
ing that Lumley went away. The boys
were sorry to lose him, for he had not
any but we'll wishers among us.
Well, six months went by, and then
came little white letter, "scribed" in
dainty wonnan's hand, to Lumley' s
Pardner. The man trembled all over
like leaf when it was put into his
hand, took it into his cabin, and shut
fast the door. Within the next half
| l. I, TO
hurry, saddled his mule, and rode off
down the trail.
"Unexpected business p was his
hasty explanation. Gould not say how
soon he might be back.
| The news came to us at last by a
party Of traders, stopping to noon in
camp. Then I knew what those marks
of weakness about his mouth stood for;
Lumley had never left the city at all /!
He had sat down to the gaming table,
one night, and gotten up from it, the
next morning, poorer than he had come
into mines. He had first won, then lost,
and lost and won, and won again; and
then that last total blank stared him in
the face.
| Lumley could never give up at that.
He must win it all back? Luck was
surely in store for him yet! He haunt
ed the gambling bells, playing reck-
lessly, desperately, SO long as he could
win enough to keep the ball rolling;
pawning his watch, his ring, even his
clothing, when other resources failed
So Lumley's Pardner found him
heavyeyes, with seedy fashiness in
his dress, marks of dissipation in his
fair, womanish face-a pretty nearly
played out individual.
The blood rushed all over his face,
for the manliness yet left in him could
but feel the shame of that meeting. But
there was no backing out now. Lum-
ley's Pardner took him to one side.
tive heard of you, old man." he
said, in his matter-of fact way" "and
I've come to see you out of this. How
much do you say will clear you up, and
have tride ahead ?"
Lumley never raised his eyes.
"Old pard," he answered, choking
up, "you're better friend than de-
serve. Don't ask me to take anything
from you. [ went in with my eyes
open, and thanking you all the same,
I'll have nobody's help out"
Lumley's Pardner H. broad hand
OF each of the pitifully dropping
shoulders. VIo
cold man, when 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 ha' taken what I
did at your hands, Do you dare deny
me this small return, now? What's a
paltry sum of money between you and
me, and the little mother waitin' at
homer"
Lumley put down his head upon that,
and cried like baby; the which, if it
be not manly, I like the better for.
There are tears, I am thinking, that
are far from disgracing the eyes Of
man.
"Pm ashamed of myself, through and
through, for what's gone by" were
Lumleys next words, ''but I can't give
it up now. Matters can't be any worse,
and there's a chance of lettering. Per-
haps, tonight, I shall win it all back"
There were the old willfulness and
pride, and the new fascination of the
gaming-table. There was no turning
him back, no moving him from that re-
solve. ira
Lumley's Pardner took him by the
arm.
either way I'm bound to see you
through" Lessaid. Come
| So night after night, as Lumley
played, there stood Lumley's Pardner
looking On, with never word of that
little white letter, his answering mes
sage, or the two passengers on board
Of an ocean steamer bound for Cali
| fornia.
Despite Lumley's hopefulness, luck
| never turned. It was the same feverish
unrest and tedious waiting, the sense of
degradation BY day, and at night the
brilliantly lighted gambling he'll, the
excitement, the fascination, trembling
betwixt hope and uncertainty, the
frequent potations to steady his shaken
nerves, and, as the night wore on, un-
certainty deepening into failure and
disappointment; and each morning
Lumley's Pardner led him slowly, and
silently away, until time, wearing ON,
brought at last this appeal
~