Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1886-04-02
CHAPTER VI.

The soft voice of the man. his measured
speech his calmly prophetic assurance that
tsouble was on the wav. affected Dick MUIR
ridge at this juno ure of his affairs very dis
agreeably. He could know nothing. Yet he
spoke as if he knew
For now the trouble was actually come
In a few days his father would expect some
thing from him report, a clew, theory
something which might ne followed up. If
there was nothing he would himself take I'D
the case. Come to me-" said the count,
when the trouble falls upon you Come to
me tomorrow and let us talk
He kept that appointment; he found the
count in the club room, which, by day. with
its tables put together and covered with a
green baize cloth looked like a board room
Or a room for the coroner and the iurv, OF,
at least, like room for friendly lead.
80" said the count, '.you are here lex
pected you. Has the trouble COMP
There is no trouble coming Dick replied.
"lt will come very soon, if it has not
already come. However, let us talk business,
You owe me twenty-iour pounds You have
borrowed from time to time sixty pounds.
and YOU have paid me in three checks thirty
six pounds You want to Lorrow more Last
night YOU lost ten pounds or Whereabouts"
''How 10 you know?'
81 watched you all the evening That is
simple is it nots Do you wish to borrow
more money!"
Dick made no reply. He had lost more
than ten rounds out of the check which
Daffodl cashed for hlnl-there was. IN fact.
half crown left. Half crown out Of
twelve pounds!
..All the young men who come here fall
into trouble sooner or later, my dear Rich
ard l have seen your trouble coming for a
long time. What 10 you expect You want
to enjoy life. Very WE'LL then. Nature
says that those who enjoy life must have
mon.v. 1t is reasonable Tho Q who have
money are kings. Those who have none are
slaves If you win you saend your winnings
OIL your pleasu es. II you lose, you-well,
you get in trouble
Il never do w.n," said Dick.
SHY 1rlenl, Ii ten C refully." The count
sat down and drew his chair quite Close to
Dick L have watched you for many
nights. / say to myself, i want pupil
Here i, one who may be a credit to me. )
Very good; as for the others let them go.
They may help themseiv.'s; but am willing
to help you. FOR you are different. have
found that you are hard and you are brave;
you have no foolish. soft heart, and you
OF sense and life, which can be taught to
handle cards.
what do you meanq" Dick cried, with
the feelin OF attraction which bu .terhy
feels owarl tie candle.
The first lesson was the most wonderful
thing which Dick ever learned. Yet it was
a verv small thing; nothing but simp 9
method of turning up the king whenever he
was wan9ed. and simple explanation of
the fact t at in professional gamoiing the
on. 81 Ter plays with the man " no knows how
to turn up the king and therefore must in
the long run, lose.
Come again, tomorrow" said the count;
"cleanwlll.e ''ractise Oh, can teach you!
Eu5 This is nothing. Understand that what
you have learned to-day is only the very
beginning of the art-the first elements.
Persevere. my son, and I will place an un-
heard Of fortune in your hands"
What am to give you for itF'
That you will presently discover shall
not teach you much, you may be sure, unless
we understand each other"