The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1881-01-29

month. This year | fell i'll at Cologne
while on my way to Hombourgh, and
the little money | had was not enough
for me to be nursed at home, SO L had to
go to the hospital. When well, / got n
pass to Brussels, for [ knew that there
were Italian refugees here, and as am
an old political exile, they will doubtless
furnish me with the means to return to
Italy
"Why didn't you go and see them as
soon as you arrived?"
"My head was gone; hunger had rem
dered me stupid. [ was incapable of
! everything, and [ counted solely Oh
Providence. You see | was right, and
he sent you to me. p"
providence aids but little those who
cannot aid themselves, and without the
| lucky chance which sent me into the
cigar store at the moment you were there
you risked going without bed and sup
per-"
ooh, no; that was no chance"
can old gambler like you ought to
take no chance, however"
Yes, | believe In chance, but only as
regards roulette. | have been so I'M
happy in my life that [ believe IN Provi-
/ dence. He has saved me more than
once, and has Just saved me again. B"
Well, now, to change the subject, you
want to go back to Italy ?"
"That is my only desire"
"Well, | viii take you to some italian
proscripts that L know, and you can ex-
plain to them your position"
"Twould be useless. Only give me
their address; / will go and see them
4 al / TO 70
as [ have important political secrets,
which | can only confide to tried core
ligionists."
This appeared somewhat odd to me,
but | made no remarks, and gave the
man the address of two of the principal
members of the Italian emigration at
| Brussels. In about an hour the captain
returned. He was furious. He said
that his ancient services were not recog-
nized; that no one would do anything for
him, and that he was reduced to despair.
[ went and found my friend T., to
whom Gondino had been, and asked him
what he TIA ought of this individual.
"He has, answered T., "nO title to
our kindness nor to our aid. [ believe
him to be an old swindler, and however
unhappy may be his present position
you must well know that we cannot give
anything to the first conner when our
funds are barely sufficient to atd real
patriots"
/ returned home, and without telling
the captain what my friend 4. had con
tided tome, [ sought to make him under
stand that he ought to apply to the Ital-
ian consul to get back. He hesitated &
moment and then begged me to allow
him to think over it till the evening.
About o'clock IN the afternoon he
raped discreetly at my sitting door
q have it" cried he, on entering.
"There is a very rich and very Chart
able person here, the Duke IA. who
assisted me three years ago, when [ was
III great want. Be so kind as to write
me out the model of letter to him, and
Tn sure that before tomorrow [ shall
have the wherewiUhal to return to Italy. >
[ asked nothing better than to get rid of
the captain as soon as possible. / wrote
out what he asked, and he went away al
as happy as a king. In the evening ht
returned to dinner, and was full of fun
wit and good humor.
The next day and the next passed
without any news from the duke. 4
peared to me very long, the captain cam,
to me and said that he had changed hi
mind, and that he intended to stop il
Brussels for the winter, and that he haC
enough to live on TIL the spring, whel
he was going back to Spa.
"You have received some none,
then?" | asked.
'Not much yet, but [ have enough t
last me fortnight.
"Then L would recommend YOU t
seek another lodging tomorrow, for
can not keep you in my house an
longer"
'FGoodl good!'' cried he smiling, CIV
viii talk of that tonight, Ell p
And rubbing his hands knowingly, b
went out with the air of conqueror.
| could make nothing out of this man
ways, and was about to repent ever hav
ing aided him, when a revelation as un
expected as complete taught me what
nice gentleman ! had to deal with.
The son of one of my friends, youn!
fellow OF %, possessor Of fine fortune
and well known in Brussels for hi
generosity, had received that very morn
ing a visit from the captain. He allowe
: himself to be taken III at the recital c
SO much misery, and aided him in
, princely manner as was his habit.
The captain, overcome by the youn
mans charity, and counting on the ere
dulity of his age, ventured to propose t
l him an infallible means OF winning mil
lions at roulette. My friends son con
! tented himself by saying that he would
not deprive him of half of the million b
l would gain alone, and added that h
would advise him to renounce his misel
I able existence as a Chevalier de Roug
ct Noir, which was disgraceful at an
age, and above all at his. "'Besides,
continued he, even if you win, none
g won in gambling profits as little q
money ill-gained. l am but a youn
man, but / have seen enough example
r to have the right to affirm this"
1t was then that Gondino, with
frightful cynicism and the calm Of
:, man absolutely destitute of morality
+ told him the following:
e You are young sir, and you still bC
5 heve in virtue That is an honor to you
b but [ who have travelled know what t
: believe on that subject, and will prov
i to you that ill-gotten gains profit some
n times.
Sixteen years ago | found myself j
= London penniless. was gOingt0 thro
myself in the Thames, when detectiy
S who boarded in the same house as [ con
: fided to me a precious secret, Of whic
l availed myself, as you viii see. e
II told ne that clandestine gamblin
Y house existed in Leicester square, b.
O hind the Globe theatre. He cave N