The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1879-02-20

pray you think how soon the rose
From grsve-dust grows:
THE SPAN1ARD'S LAST PRIZE.
ASketch Of Naval Adventure.
By LIEUT.. n. D. SMITH, o. 3. R. N.
II Gay, Ralph, it is close upon midnight,
and there 10 little use in going aboard the
corvette ut this late hour. We may as
make night of it and crop into
Ssuspertl's. Everything is in full blast
Ut this time, and you may never have an.
other such opportunity OF seeing life in
Jamaica. We will sail tomorrow, you
know"
"6ausperti's, JACKIE Seems to me l
have heard the name before, and yet !
cannot place it. What is it-acafe9"
"You can see for yourself in five min
utes. In oil probability you will meet
old Sundries, the purser, there, and, in
fact oil the notabilities of the island.
Hark! do you hear that delicious strain of
music, and the air-do you recognize it,
Yes, = gem from TrGvatore, and the per-
formers, or l should say artistes, are only
retained by Sausperti at a heavy expense.
But here We are, and now tor . glimpse
Of life in the tropics"
The friends passed through the wide
gateway, which assumed a ghastly white
kue in the brilliant blaze of light that
STRAINED from score of heavily -draped
open windows. The rose colored globes
cast delicious hue upon gorgeous scene,
rejecting back the glittering buttons on
the uniforms of the two gentlemen who
had at that moment entered the mansion.
Ralph Claxton was Eative of Charles
ton, generous hot-headed representative
of the Palmetto State, and filled the
petition of first lieutenant of the crack
American corvette FREELY. His COM
panion was Captain Jack Weathersby,
commanding the marines of the corvette.
The soft, v0luptu0us strains Of the band
stole gently forth upon the perfumed air,
and, strolling from room to room, fur
nished with gorgeousness not unworthy
Of . Rajah's palace, the two officers
quietly observed the throng crowding
around the tables. Ladies and gentle
men in full evening dress, soldiers IN
scarlet, with orders and crosses on their
breasts, navy officers, representing half.
adozen different natlona|itles, priests,
bankers and merchants-all were there.
The mellow clink Of doubloons, as the
shifting gold changed hands, the
low monotOnous tene of the croupier 8
voice, the suppressed breathing of the
gamesters, mingled with an occasional
passionate exclamation as some unfortu
nate player staked his last gold piece
and lost, was all that reached the ears in
those vast rooms. Silent, we'll trained
servants glided noiselessly to and fro,
bearing iced wines, frozen fruits, sherbert
and creams to the guests of Sausperti.
"Yonder is Sundries, ana, judging
from the crowd surrounding the table,
he il playing heavily. 1t is his greatest
failure, and he has sacrificed an estate
that has been in the family for years, to
ssy nothing Of numerous body Of slaves.
But come-let's see who is winning"
The purser, fat, red faced, jolly little
fellow, had evidently been heavy loser,
fighting in vain against the run of bad
luck that had set in against him. His
opponent was tall, sallow, muscular
Spaniard, dressed in species of uniform,
With no distinctive mark or badge of rank
about him.
His white teeth cleaned unpleasantly
through his !jet-black mustache, while
his eyes, as they met those of Ralph for
q moment, flashed with an expression
that instantly arrested the attention OF
the naval officer. There was a certain
sardonic, cold blooded air about the man
that struck Ralph as particularly disa.
greeable.
The eyes of the spectators were fasten-
ed upon the fascinating gold, for which
the gamesters were throwing dice, each
using the hame pair. But Ralph watched
the quick movements Of the successful
gambler, WHO was rapidly draining the
purser.
1t had struck Ralph as exceedingly
strange that the Spaniard should be ia
vored with such an extraordinary run Of
good fortune, and changing his position
to one nearer the purser's opponent
Ralph redoubled his vigilance.
His suspicious we're we'll founded, fol
the Spanird, by rapid, dexterous move.
ment, only to be attained by loIg prac.
tice, succeeded in changing the dice-s
movement invariably followed by 8
diminution of the purser's gold. Ralph
had often heard Of the dexterity and
tricks of gamblers, but had never before
seen IN exhibition of their Infamous skill
The cheat being practiced upon his
brother officer was known in those days
~ tho alto dolus, or dice trick, and thu
blood Of the chivalrous Southerner howec
through his veins with quickened pulse
- he saw the sinister smile OF exultato1
on the thin and sallow lips of the gam
bier.
1t WAS the last stake of the p:rser, an6
huge drops Of perspiration stood on thai
officers brow as he prepared to throw the
dice. seizing a goblet Of brandy from
aservant passing by, ne dreined it to tht
dregs, but still his hand shook from ex
element. The Spaniard. cool and i'm
perturbable a. statue, was on the poin
Of deciding the contest, when grip o.
steel seized the plant wrist; q Sigh
wrench and the concealed dice fell OF
the table in full view of all present.
"Take back your gold. purser. 70,
have been tricked, cheated. These dic@
arc loaded" and Ralph, calm and collect
ID, confronted the spaniard, the detecte:
cheat, with glance that compelled hi,
glittering eyes to quail and his swarthy
complexion to pale.
The spectators had hastily withdrawn
leaving the principal actors the centra
figures.
A furious oath burst from the spani
ards lips a. he Kissed forth torrent O
fiery threats.
~You shall pay for this with your life
blood, you cursed Yankee! Here's m,
card" But the words died away in hi
throat with . convulsive rattle, for tn
sinewy fingers of Ralph had compressed
his throat with the strength of wise.
"Your card, you miserable theft D
you suppose gentleman would sully hi
weapons with such As you2 No: trea
You a. I would the lowest cur skulking il
the CUTTERS Of the city," and, suiting til
action to the word, he applied his boo
vigorously to the spaniard's person, VII,
Ha1 from tho se1ou amid <ho :oo,. ~.