The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1878-12-06

confronting the dealer, sat Cecil, his
face flushed, his eyes sparkling, a cham
payne glass in his hand, and a great heap
of gold and notes lying on the velvet
cloth before him. Most of the other
fsees near him, including the Baron
Daplessis, expressed annoyance, dismay,
or savage ill-humor, and / saw at once
that this was an instance of one of those
! extraordinary runs of luck which some
times enable tyro TO conquer the
wiIest practitioners at the gaming table.
Again and again the cards were dealt.
and still tickle fortune befriended Cecil.
The pile of gold before him swelled and
swelled, until st last, with muttered
osth, the last stake of the bank was
reluctantly pushed towards my pupil
Broke the bank, by Jovel l said
I'd do itlp cried the lad, with boyish
exultation, as ne held out his glass to be
replenished
+ I gas in the very act 6f rushing from
nnyplsce of couoealment TO reprcach my
pupil with his duplicity, and to fling his
III gotten gains broadcast among the
harpers who surrounded him, when l
happened te observe one of the evil
vlsaged serving g-men, in, obedience to a
nod from Colonel the Baron Duplessis,
add few drops from little vial thst
he carried hidden in his sleeve, TO the
ioaming contents of the broad glass of
champagne which he presently placed in
CeciPs outstretched hand. The Tad
swallowed the frothing wine at s draught,
and again laughed in foolish triumph,
as he passed his fingers through the
gold coin and rustling notes. And then
so rapid, no doubt, was the action Of
the drug-his bright eyes SWAN and
grew dim, ne nodded drowsily, and
sank forward in sort of stupor, his head
resting on his arm. Instantly there
began to be q movement among the
company, snd with many " Bon soir'
and Au plsisir," the majority OF the
guests took their leave.
Tang The sharp little hammer of
the bronze clock on the chimney piece,
ss it struck the hour of one, suggested to
me the necessity of being prompt and
cool. ii l would save Cecil Manvers from
worse psril than the mere loas of
money. By this time only FIVE persons,
excepting nay pupil, remained IN the
room, Tor even the bsron's scared wife
and dulleyed daughter had disappeared,
aud one OF these FIVE, two were the
serYing-men In theatrical livery. The
other three were the baron himself; a
cadaverous little old fellow, with a
hatchet face and a harsh voice; and q
big, black-browed man, whose sharp
white teeth, filed to point like those
of saYages, looked disagreeably wolfish
whenever he smiled or spoke. I grew
seriously alarmed as I noted the signi-
fcant gIances which these WORTHLESS
exchanged, 20 they surrounded the
sleepjng stripping. That they would
alsssy. the lad ta carry off his winnings
had never thought probable, but now it
seemed evident that something beyond
commonplace knavery was in question
WHO sleeps, sups," remarked tn
senior OF the group, with 3 cackling
laugh that chilled my blood IS I heard
it. Your soothing syrup, Duplessis,
did the trick we'll"
cay" replied the baron, as he passed
the fame of a candle before CeciPs un-
conscious eyes sit was time, comrades,
to pour out something stronger than
Clicquot, for, peste what cards that
English boy did hold, as if the devil had
shufied the pack; and, trust me, we'd
not have found it easy to make se
the gold he wonI Young as he is, be
has sense and spirit too, and he had the
effrontery to tell me tonight he was
ashamed OF playing tricks on his good
natured tutor, and that, win or lose,
he'd ganele the more"
The stout-built M responded with
some brutal joke about tender young
pigeon that Nas ready for the spit.
"There Is no risk, no risk at all, - said
the eldest OF the scoundrels; "what can
theyprove against us, helm {? The young
gentleman has won cur money, not we
his. He has drunk much wine. He
insisted ON returning home on foot, with
his gold IN his pockets. 1t is our fault,
NJ le President, If those pockets were
empty when the body, discovered in the
Seine, was laid out on the vet slabs of
the Morgue?"
shuddered, for there was something
peculiarly hideous in the affectation of
the old villains manner, as, drawing
himself up, and extending one arm in
forensic fashion, he pleaded bis own
/ cause before an imaginary tribunal.
But the two evil-visAged serving men
and the burly black-browed ruffian were
Of another mind, for ey.laughed with
evident enjoyment of the jest.
That for tbs Cour d'Assisesl" re-
toEed the big man, swapping his fingers; !;
ssand now, mon vieux, if you like, am
ready TO administer the coup de-pouce to
this young aristo," and he stretched
forth his brawny hands, half jocularly,
towards Cecips throat.
Not yet" returned the baron, per-
emptorily; g not yet this hour to come.
One O'Clock Is too early for our good
friends, Jacques and Jean Bapriste here,
to carry SUCH load through the river
side streets. Botter wait till the last
wine.shop cleses. and the last drunkard
bas reeled homeward."
And then all FIVE sat down together
at the table, in familiar conversation,
much Of which was to me unintel
ligible, slipping Curacao and ChartIeuse
the while with appreciative relish. The
onlv one who locked careworn and apx-
;ous wa the colonel himself. / did not,
however, linger long to play the part OF
eavssdropper. Clearly, if 1 would save
csc;l. / must lose no time in sumnoning
re.cue. Noiselessly, cautiously, I treaded
nv Eay through the darkling ante
chambers and down the solitary stair
cosa / reached the courtyard. 1t was
emntv. and the porter's lodge dark and
deserted. Softly unclosing the gate, 1