The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1883-01-05


Barnes from the depths Of his romance,
and we left the carriage.
"Dinner over, we went TO the thea
tire, and aiterward, by the persuasion Of
q friend, to private gambling-house.
was greatly surprised on entering to
see my elderly travelling companion
seated at the table, his eyes and man
ner keen as ever, and deep in u game
OF roEge-et-R0ir. 1t was early yet, and
very few people were present; but ev-
cry sound was hushed, and the game
went on in dead silence, broken only by
the voices OF the dealers calling the re.
suit OF the games, and the rafting Of
the gold as it was rakcd from one TO an
other. The old man seemed in luck for
the time being, and won every game.
thought CLEAN Of satisfaction shone
over his face rs the door opened and
our other travelling acquaintance from
VersaIles--the quiet, careless husband
entered and sat down to play.
Il did not play that night, and my
whole attention was given 10 those two.
The young man lost from the first deal.
Rouleau after rouleau was swept from
the table by his watchful old opponent;
but still he played on. The large sums
he lost, and his pale, excited face, deep.
ly interested me, aud ! stayed on and
watched him until late at night, when
he left, his last Napoleon gone.
"Atter suppng Mt coilee-house, I
went back TO my room ut the hotel, but
for some cause could not sleep. The
heat was oppressive, aud my room
small besides, the game | bad been
watching had excited me strangely, and
only fell into troubled slcep near
morning.
II was awakened about daylight BY
voices in the adjoining room those OF
man and woman, evidently. Tho
man ; voice was low and pleading, aud
the woman seemed to be crying. could
hear enough To understand that she
was refusing him some request. for his
tones became loud and threatening, and
at last heard him say;
" If Won refuse me, You seal my ruin
and yOur own. | have no more gold
and must have the diamonds to re.
trieye myself.
"Hysterical sobS were the only an.
swer he received, and he continued:
Something tcl. me shall win TO.
night, and must have the ring.
Never, Charles, ] cannot give it UP.
1t is all | have left 1t was my mothers,
and | will not let it leave me-
The mans voice was sochoked with
passion that his words were inartiou-
late, but with burst Of wild anger he
left. samning the door aitcrhim. The
womans sob- became lower, her crying
ceased, and fell into another nap. not
waking until near ten.
II saw neither Of my gambling ac-
quaintances that day, and the night
found me again in Monsieur Carlos
rooms The old man was again on
hand i not satisfied, thought, with bis
winnings of the night beforehand again
! saw CLEAN of satisfaction cross his
face as his victim OF the previous even
ing came in aud got ready TO play.
" Make Your game the game is
made up" cried the dealer and was
about to deal the cards, when the young
man who bad just entered called out,
in a loud voice:
Fifty Napolcous upon the redn
Seeing he placed no money upon
the table, the croupicr paused mo-
ment, then said
''Sir, you must stake the money,
The gambler started and turned paler
than ever, long, shuddering sigh
broke from him rs he felt first in one
| pocket, then in another, and finally
| grasped his hat and He'd from the room
The playing went on for a while longer
and then one by one they went out,
leaving only the attendants the old,
keen-eyed gambler and myself present.
Somctbng-an indcfnable feeling Of
interest in the unhappy young man who
had left the house in such despair n
short time before held me there. |
must gee if he returned.
Suddenly the door opened, and he
ran in, as if fleeing for his life shall
never forget that sight, Louie. His face
was ghastly, his dress disordored, and
he trcmbled as though with ague. AS
he rushed up to the table, in the strong
glare Of the lights, saw great drops OF
perspiratiou standing on his brow, He
thrust his hand in his pocket and tossed
a ring down before his opponent
There it is worth ten thousand
francs. Now cover my stakes, he
cried
Il instantly recognized the beautiful
diamond rs the one his wife had worn
in the cars, and the conversation / had
heard that morning camc back to my
memory, and | knew my felow-travel-
lcrs were the man aud woman had
heard disputing in the early morning
hours But he had succeeded in over
coming her discrimination, for he had
the ring, and my heart achcd for the
poor wife as ! wondered how he had OBJ
tanned it.
" Red, | bet on the redn again
shouted the young man and in a mo-
mcut the croupicr called Black wins
and the ring was no longer his.
with II wild cry the wretchcd loser
fled from the house; and, completely
unnamed by what | had scen | return
ed to my hotel, hoping the young man
would soon follow me,
II found them all--travellers, pro.