Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1886-02-28
CHAPTER V.



That sec .uded corner of Io don which lie-
hidden lehind the three great stations, and
Is separated from the rest of the world by
the Hampstead road on the west and the
st PanCras road on the east. con; aims many
houses and harbor, many families whose his
tories, were they known. are a romantic
and wonderful and as dee ly laden with
pathos and interest, a any moated grange
or shield Of sixteen quart"rings.
One OF these hOuseS-for reasons which
will be Immediately obvious it is not neceS-
sary or advisable to name the road in which
stands-is devoted, 50 to speak, to the
nightly conjuriE. OF the emo .Ons among
hos. who are privileged TO enter its walls.
No melolrama ever pa ed upon the boards
of IA theatre arous,s more fierCely and more
{ rtainly the passion of terror, anxiety.
rage. d SPAR and frantic joy than the slnple
paSSe, Of the great Magician who practices
nightly in Ihi huu~e IL l. no.hing more
than u tavern-a simple corner house. with
a sign bnari and bar of many en- ranc,s
The spells. magic and mystery are wO "ked
on the first floor, which Is let off for club
which meet, here every evening, all the year
round except on Sundays. The members
would meet on SunIays as well If II were
permitted
At seven o'clock the club opens every
evening. 1t is not a political club, tor
politics are never touched upon; nor i it a
social club. for the mer'be. : do not converse
together af er the manner of o. d.nary NOR
tas: nnr Is it club founded for the
advance of any cause. or for the promotion
of any art. or for any scientific Or ntHl-
Iectual objects whatever Yet It is CluI
where Conver alton i always animated, anG
even int + jectional, thou IN sometimes monoy
OuouS 1t is also absorbing, and it brings
all heads bent together; it makes all eyes
strained: everybody's face is anxious and
eager: and II Is 80 wi ty 50 = ever. 80 biting
and epiSrammatlc, that at everything that
Is said some lau- h and shout. and some sigh,
weep aud even ours. 1t is. las ". a club
winch contains everything which the meIn-
berS want to make them completely happy.
though. unfortunately, the members Cannu
always get what they want and what the
come for
There were eight or nine small table
about the room, each provided with a pa 1:
of candles and each occupied by two mel
There was a sideboard or buffet, with de
canters and glasses, cigars, cigarettes and
the usual trimmings, behind which stood a
Young lady of bar-maidenly lOvehness. For
the look Of the thing there were champagne
bottles but the customary drink was whisky
Or bottled stout A dozen men were stand
ing about the bar. drinking or talking IL
the girl They were those who hal come
too late for place, and were waiting their
turn The atmosphere was thick and heavy
with tobacco smoke. There was also an
open piano, but no one regarded it
Among the tables and those who sat out
there moved continually mai rather small
of stature, tut of good proportions, of
straight and regular features, and very
carefully dressed He was now advanced in
life. being perhaps sixty years Of age. His
h,ir was white and he were a heavy white
mustache A cigarette was always ue-
tween his lips; his voice was soft. gentle and
he seemed O have something friendly to say
10 every one Of the members; his smile was
kindly: his ewes benevolent; he laughed
easily and muSically: and there was not 8
man in the room who did not believe that
the count was his own private, personal and
particular friend. They called him, to show
their great respect, the count He did not
himself claim the title, though perhaps bt
was count in his own country. or even q
prince for he was by birth an Italian. aud
MS card bore the mple name of SlgnOI
Giuseppe PiraneSi He had lost the fore
finger of his right hand-in duel. it wa
understood. about la ly. no doubt q
princess Everybody believed the count had
been. in his day a terrible breaker of ladies'
hearts
In plain words the place is a gambling
club, run by this Italian who was so good 6
friend 70 ali the memhsarS
Among the players at the middle table sa
Dick Murrdge
HIS father was right in miStrusting n boy
who went about his work like a machine
end seemed TO have no passion, no pursuit
no ambitiOn-who committed no small fol
lies and had none of the headlOng faults o
ardent youth Dick had a pursuit. 1t wa
absorbing and enhancing. he iOllOwed i
with ardor every evening of the week L
was pursuit which brought into play, to
very remarkable degree the maXimS which
his father had Taught III. 1t requires fO
iu>tan e, no law "f honor, except that if yOl
conceal cards or play false. or do not pay
up. Won are out-kcked Ii makes no foolisl
pretense about friendship philanthropy
charity, or any stuff of that kind. At tn
baccarat table every man is for himself
No skill is wanted no dull working anC
daily practice in order to acquire dexterity
which would not he of any use; the who'll
object of the pursuit Is to win money.
OF all the eager and noisy crew who sat a
that table there was not one who was NOR
absorbed in the game than Dick Muir
ridge The others shouted and swors Grss