The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1875-07-24

0Tve heard of you, old man," he said,
in his matter of-fact way. land I've come
to see you out of this. How much do you
say will clear you up, and leave q trflc
ahead p
Lumley never raised his eyes.
"Old pard," he answered, choking mp,
"you're better friend than ] deserve.
Don't ask me to take anything from you
/ went in with my eyes open, and, thank
ing you all the same, I'll have noDodys
help out"
Iumley's Pardner laid broad hand on
each of the pititully dropping shoulders.
sold man, when the fever had me down
I'd ha' gone under If 1t hadn't been
for YOU. SO help me God! Id rather ha
died than have taken what | did at your
hands. Do you dare deny me this small
return, now ? What's paltry sum OF
money between you and me, and the little
mother waitin' at home ?"
Lumlcy put down his head upon that,
and cried like baby the which, If i be
not manly, like him the better for. There
are tears, am thinking, that are far from
disgracing even the eyes of man.
'Im ashamed of myself, through and
through, for what's gone by" were Lum-
leys next words, "but l can't give 1t up
now. Matters can't be any worse, and
tncTC y u CIldUCC Vi bCttCilbSs NihuIoi W.
night, 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 resolve.
Lumley's Pardner took him by the'arm
EITHER way, I'm bound to see you
through" he said "Come."
So night after night, as Lumley play ed,
there stood Lumleys Partner looking on,
with never word of that little white letter,
his answering message, or the two passen-
gers on board an ocean steamer bound for
California.
Despite Lumlcy's hopefulness, luck never
turned. 1t was the same fevcrish unrest
and tedious waiting, the sense of degrada-
ton by day and at night the brilliantly
lighted gamblinghell. the excitement, The
fascination, trembling bctwixt hope aud
uncertainty, the frequent potations To
steady his nerves, andt us the night wore
on, uncertainty deepening into failure and
disappointment; and each morning lum-
ley's Pardner led him slowly and silently
away, until time, wearing on, brought at
last this appeal
''For Gods sake, old man, when will
you let up?"
$50 help me heaven, rs soon as | get
back two thousand dollars, | swear never
to touch cards or dice again." And Lum-
lev was dead in earnest this time Still,
lie would accept nothing from his partner.
The night the Ocean Belle was signalcd
into port, Lumley's Pardner beckoned
monte Bill aside q reckon you have
heard of Monte Bill the hest brace-dealer
and short-card player west of the old Mis-
sssippD, and some secret understanding
passed between them.
t. al no. % 81 lnrt'a rd-
ner lett his post, which was something UNI
usual, passing Monte Bill on his way to
the door. 1t was not generally noticed,
but as passed be dropped a small, campact
package into the gamblers hand; then,
slouching his sombrero over his eyes, he
left the hall.
Pau.ing in the street, Lumley's Pardner
looked anxiOusly down. 1t would have
been dark but for the street lamps, for it
was full two hours to mOonrise; but down
by the wharf shonc out the CLEAN of new
signal light, which, poised at masthead,
glOwered through the dark like the fiery
eye of a gigantic Cyclops; the Ocean Belle
was in. Ten minutes later, pushing his
way through the busting crowd that
thrOnged the deck, he hurried across the
plank and made his way straight to the
cabin.
uC past SCCIlCu ull u uICuuit 40 hS o'oo'
again with wildly beating heart before a
once familiar form-familar still, though
hearing the maturer crown of motherhood.
Her face was even fairer than of old,
blushng with its own wild-rosc tints OF
loneliness, her soft eyes shining up in glad
expectation. The broad sombrero, SLOUGH
cd over his forehead, shaded his features.
She saw only brOnzed checks and strong,
brown beard. The tremOr in his voice
might have meant diflldence.
"Pardon me, madame, you are-l be-
lieve-that is to say-I am Lumley's Pard
ner."
She held out white hand cordially.
''And my husband?"
"Is we'll. am to take you to him."
lie took timidly the hand she extended
awkwardly the little woman thought, and
then let 1t 90.
''Give me the child"
lie took the sleeping boy in his arms
and so burdened pilotcd the way TO a car
risge close beside the wharf. Putting hel
inside, he laid the child gently, amOs
rcverently, upon her lap.
'We're to drive round and take up Lum
ley. 1t is only few minutes's ride"
One last searching glance from under TN
protecting sombrero, and he closed th'
carriage-doOr, mounting to his place beside
the driver.
Oddly enough, Lumley had just FINISHED
winning game with Monte Bill whci
Lumley's Pardner came hurriedly in. A
he slipped quietly back to his post, Lum
ley sat cycling the "pile"-twenty-fv
hundred dollars. lie put out his hand Il
rake it up, paused, drew it back, picke'
up the cards. and began to shuttle 70
another stake not that he had forgotten
Lilo ba o,I oh; ha lov
but a long way ahead of anything else wa
the thought that luck had turncd-tha
he had only to follow it up and win bacl
all the past. Lumley's Partner stopped t.
his ear
"YOu'd better throw up the game. TIL
little mother and your boy are waiting
here, outside"
Lumley started-half rose to his feet
looked up into his partnerss face, then a
the cards, then at the door, then wistfull
back upon the cards and the gold, A
with heavy sigh he sunk into his sea
again, Lumley's Pardner, dashing the card
from his hand, raked up the stakes an,
forced the money into Lumley's pocket.
''liOw long will you keep your wife an
child waiting alone, at night, in strang
city before the door of a gamblng-housc
The thrust struck home. Like ma
awakening from dream, Lumlcy sprun
up, crushed on his hat, and flew to the doo
Once in the little woman's arms, he wa
safe. Lumley's Pardner knew him we
enough to besur of that lie never tollowe
him, but slipped out of the sidc-door, and III
next day, saw him back IN camp, a tri
pale, and sterner than WAS his won't bt
the clear gray eyes dauntlessy honest an
brave.
And reckon, to this day, Lumley new