Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1881-02-05

The fatal influence OF tho sex, assisted
by wine, produced the inevitable result.
Romayne allowed himself to be
led to the card-table For moment
the General delayed the beginning OF
the game. After what had happened, II
was necessary that he should assert the
strict sense Of justice that was in him.
q We are all honorable men," he began.
"And brave men," the Commander
added, admiring the General.
"And brave men," the General ad-
mitted, admiring the Commander
Gentlemen, if I have been led intt
expressing myself with unnecessary
warmth Of feeling, I apologize, and re
gret it."
"Nobly spoken" the Commando,
pronounced. The General put his hand
on his heart and bowed. The game be
gan.
As the poorest man Of the two, hat
escaped the attentions lavished by the
ladies on Romayne. At the same time
Twas obliged to pay for my dinner by
taking some part in the proceedings o.
the evening. Small stakes were al
lowed, I found, at roulette; and be.
sides, the heavy chances in favor of the
table made it scarcely worth while to
run the risk of cheating, in this case. ]
placed myself next to the least rss.
cally-looking man in the company, and
played roulAtte,
Tor wonder, 1 was successful =. the
frst attempt. My neighbor handed me
my winnings. II have lost every farth-
ing 1 possess" he whispered to me,
piteously; "and l have a wife and
children at home" 1 lent the poor
wretch five francs. He smiled family
as he looked at the money. "It re-
minds me-" he said, "of my last trans
action, when borrowed of that gentle
man there, who is betting on the Cen
erals luck at the card-table. Beware OF
employing him as did. What do you
think got for my note of hand of four
thousand francs? A hundred bottles
of champagne, fifty bottles Of ink, fifty
bottles of blacking, three dozen hand
kerchiefs, two pictures by unknown
masters, two shawls, one hundred maps,
and--five francs"
We went on playing. My luck de-
serted me; lost, and lost, and lost
again. From time to time 1 looAed
round at the card-table. The "deal "
had fallen early to the General and it
seemed to be indefinitely prolonged. A
heap of notes and gold-won mainly
from Romayne, as I afterward discov-
cred lay before him. As for my neigh
Dor, the unhappy possessor of the bot
Ties 1f blacking, the pictures by un-
known masters, and the rest of it, he
won, and then rashly presumed on hi.
good fortune. Deprived of his last
farthing, he retired into corner of the
room, and consoled himself with ci-
gar. had just risen to follow his ex.
ample when furious uproar burst out
at the card-table.
saw Romayne spring up and snatch
the cards out of the Generals hand.
"You scoundrel" |" he shouted, "you
are cheating!" The General started to
his feet in fury. "You lie !" he cried.
1 attempted to interfere; but Romayne
had already seen the necessity of con-
trolling himself. "a gentleman doesn't
accept an insult from swindler," ho
said, coolly. "Accept this; then tho
General answered, and spat on him.
In an instant Romayne knocked him
down.
The blow was dealt straight between
his eyes he was gross, big-boned
man, and he fell heavily. For the time
he was stunned. The women ran,
screaming, out of the room. The peace
able Commander trembled from head to
foot. Two Of the men present, who, to
BlNo tuoul tuCl oucy NOiO hO COWuluop
locked the doors. "You don't CO."
they said, "tiH we see whether he re-
covers or not" Cold water, assisted by
the landlady's smelling salts, brought
the General to his senses after while.
He whispered something to one of his
friends, who Immediately turned to me.
"The General challenges Mr.. Ro-
msyne," he said. GAS one Of his Sec
onds, I demand an appointment for to-
morrow morning" Irefused to make
any appointment unless the doors were
first unlocked, and we were left free to
depart. "Our carriage is waiting out,
side," added. eff it returns to the
hotel without us there will be an in
quiry." This latter consideration had
It's effects. On their side, the doors
were opened; on our side, the appoint
ment was made. We left the house.