The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1875-09-16

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after that
When Lumley got back to the claim
and Lumley's Pardner was Just able +,
crawl about, they came into wonder
full streak of luck. Lnmiey struck int,
big pocket, and there they were, a
the turn of die, rich men. Mining
after all, is game of chance-you bu,
your ticket, but it does not always win
there are plenty of blanks to ever.
prize.
II does not matter the exact amour
this prize netted, if / had remembered
it. Lumley Was iubilant over hi
"pile," anxious to sail ont and leav,
the mines so nobody was surprised
when his partner bought him out for I
good round sum, saying, in his qnie
way, that he guessed he'd stay AMI SEE
the thing through.
1t was very quiet in camp the morning
that Lumley went away. The boys
we're sorry to lose him, for he had moi
any but well wishers among us.
Well, six months went by, and then
came little white letter, "scrib;d
in dainty womans hand, to Lumleyr
Parduer. The man trembled all owe
like n leaf when it was put into his
cabin and shut the door. Within the
next half hour he came out again in a
desperate hurry, sadaled his mule and
rode of down the trail.
Unexpected business !" was his
hasty explanation. Could not say when
he might be back.
The news came to us at last hy 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 bad sat down to the gaming table
one night and gotten up from it the next
morning poorer than he had come into
the 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 tn t.
surely in store for him yet. He haunted
the gambling hells, playing recklessly,
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
heavy.eyed, with seedy iashiness in his
dress, marks of dissipation on his fair,
womanish face-a pretty nearly played
out individual.
The blood rushed all over his face,
for the manliness yet left in him ceuld
but feel the shame of that meeting. But
there was no backing out now. Lum.
ley's Pardner took him to one side.
GIVE heard of you, old man" he
said, in his matter. of-fact way, "and
I've come to see you ont of this. How
much do You say will clear you up and
have trihe 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. l went in with my eyes open,
and thanking you all the same, ii have
nobody's help out
Lumley's Pardner laid broad hand
ON each of the pitifulIy dropping
shoulders.
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 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?"
Lumley put down his head upon that,
and cried like baby; the which, il it
be not manly, | like him the better for.
There are tears, | am thinking, that are
far from disgracing even the eyes OF
man.
"Tm ashamed of myself, through and
through, for what's gone by" were
Lumley's next words, "but cant give
it up now. Matters cant be any worse,
and there's chance of bettering. Per
haps tonight 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.
Lumlcy's Parduer took him by the
arm.
"Either way, I'm bouud to sec you
through" he snid. "Come."
So night after night, as Lumley
PLAYED, there stood Lumley's Pardne
looking on, with never word of that
little white letter, his answering mes.
sage, or tho two passengers on board an
ocean steamer bonnd for California.
Despite Lumley's hopefulness, luck
never turned. 1t was the same fev7rish
unrest and tedious waiting, the sense of
degradation by day, and at night the
brilliantly. lighted gambling hell, the
excitement, the fascination, trembling
betwixt hope and uncertainty, the fre
quent potations to steady his shaken
nerves, and as the night wore on, uncer-
tainty deepening into failure and disap-
pointment and each morning Lumley'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 up2'
$50 help me heaven, as soon as | get
back two thousand dollars, | swear never
to tonch cards or dice again" And
Lumley was dead in earnest this time.
Still, he would accept nothing from his
partner.
The night the Ocean Belle was
signaled into port, Lunley's Pardner
beckoned "Monte Bill" aside q reckon
you have heard of Monte Bill, til best
brace dealer and short. t.card PLAYER west
OF the MississippD. and some see 'et nm
derstandiDg passed between theu.
In the midst OF a game Llmleys
Pardner left his post, which was some
thing unusual, passing Monte Bill on
his way to the door. II was not gener-
ally noticed, but as he passed he drop.
ped a small, compact package in the
gamblers hand; then, slouching his
l. LII 4. L