The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1886-08-06
to think that l may have been the
cause OF unhappiness, and even OF


cause OF unhappiness, and even O
poverty.
"Bnt, my dear sir, laughed Sir Hec
tor, some one must win and som,
one must lose. Ii you always win,
should advise you to stick to it.
only wish that ALWAYS did"
The General mournfully shook his
head. II have known so much mis-
ery," he continued, "come from gamb
lins-other men may play, that is no,
my affair, but you must really excuse
NE. The last time l remember--'
and he appeared to be lost in melan
cholv reflections.
"Well, what happened them"
| ~ was induced to play game called
poker. believe there is such a game,
is there not?"
II believe there is," chuckled Mr.
Punter.
II did not understand it ALL" con,
tinued the General. 1--WE played with
counters, and l merely did as l was
told; but at the end OF the evening ]
found had won, gentleman, no less
than sixty dollarsp'
The other gentlemen seemed to be
seized with a violent fit OF coughing,
out the General was evidently obliyi-
GUS OF his surroundinps, and went on:
III did not like it at all, and l could
not restore the money, for did not
know even the names OF those with
whom l played"
$50 what did you do with it?"
~ gave it toa hospital" said the
General, solemnly; "and three weeks
afterward one OF the gamblers OF that
evening shot himself at Monte Carlo" !"
"Well, Pm sure that none OF us are
likely to shoot ourselves" said Mr..
Punter; so you had better Join us for
once, General. You can stake as low
as you like"
mo, my dear sir, really cannot;
but don't trouble about me. Illlook
| on"
Mr.. Buttershaw shrugged his
shoulders. indicating that further ar
gument was hopeless, and the game
| proceeded. The General watched it
with much interest, frequently sighing
and lifting his eyebrows in mute pro-
tests rs the stakes grew higher. The
result was much the same as usual,
Buttershaw being the principal loser
to the tune OF about fl5O. The gen.
| eral sympathized with his friend alter
q somewhat curious fashion.
cts just as we'll that you should
lose, my dear boy; you have plenty to
spare. and / don't like to see you win
from your guests"
"You needn't be nervous, general" /"
said Mr.. Buttershaw, grimly; tits
about nine months since Iwon q half
penny"
"Rum old fish, that" said Sir Hec-
tor as he and Mr.. Punter walked
home in the early morning. at would
be rare sport to get him to play"
"Oh, we'll do it some ofthese nights,
never fear. Buttershaw gave me hint
not to frighten HIM at frst. But what
an old innocent he is"
Mr.. Punter's prophecy came trus
not very long afterward The same
company assembled in Mr. Butter
shaw's rooms, and owing either to the
excellence OF the liquor provided by
his host, or to the persuasive tongue
OF Mr.. Punter the general gave way
and consented to join in a game just
to amuse the company. The compa-
ny however, were not quite,so much
amused as they had expected, for the
worthy old man carried everything be.
fore him, and the more he won the
apolegetic and deprecatory he became:
"lwas right, he earnestly protested;
g! am fated to win. Gentlemen, don't
you think / had better stop? l would
much rather put the money! fear it
IS nearly fifty pounds-in the pool and
leave you to play for it,"
| OF course nobody would agree 10 so
absurd proposition and the General
continued to play, winning with extra
ordinary steadiness, but lamentingthe
while over bis abnormal luck.
At the end of the evening he had won
nearly Ell 900, and sat at the table
with a huge pile OF notes, gold and o
US in front OF him, looking the very
picture OF despair.
"Cheer up, General" said the dukes:
''we'll get it all back another night,
never fear.
I'm afraid not, "groaned the ancient
warrior. II wish had never begun
this. Fought to have known hoMit
would end
BLESSED if I ever saw a man make
as much fuss oNsr losing as old Barna-
bas does over winning" said Sir Mec-
tor to his friend i'm private, ~ wonder
if he would lend me a bit, if he IS. so
precious shy nbont keeping it?"
Weeks passed, by, and the general
rnnae several gallant efforts to lose
the money he. had won, but without
snccess. In fact the more he PLAYED
the Lore he won and the punters of
the Greville. club had excellent reason
TO regret THAT they had conquered his
rirtuous resolutions. Even Batter
shaw groaned in spirit, and expressed
frequent wishes that old Barnabas
had not taken it into his head to
make q pilgrimage to London.
Before the old man came" hswould
lament, cit was bad enough. l used
to lose hundred or SO a night, but
now, assure you, I've lost ever f1,-
500 to him within the last fortnight.
Why, he must have won thousands"
He had. indeed; and frora all ap-
pearances the discomftted gamblers
fully expected that he would win
thousands more. Now, Mr.. Butter
shaw belonged to several clubs in ad-
dition to the Greville, for his aristo-
cratic friends were powerful enough to
insure his admission to many Gimilar
institutions. and. OF course, hs oc-
OCCASIONALLY played at them, and asked
their members to dine at his cham
| bers.
One fine day Mr.. Punter chanced to
be walking somewhat moodily down
St. James street, when he was &C
costed by friend whom he had not
seen for some weeks, and who hap
pened to be member OF club called
Parthian. situated within the imme
diate neighborhood.
"Come into the pothouse and have
| a,.:..lx y "A .tor "a friax,a a.,A Mr.