Weekly commercial herald. (Vicksburg, Miss.) 1884-18??, 1886-04-23

4 HAAA4 EAAEAAH ~ 80 ~ #4E H"'
] which sparkles In the cup and mounts to a
mans brain, filling him with pride and joy,
and chnrity toward all men. Gin and water
might stay the craving, but as yet he was a
quarter Of an hour from his gin and water,
and though there were many public houses
on the way, Uncle Joseph had no money;
even gin and water was almost as unattain-
able as champagne.
While ha stopped, however, letting his
fancy revel in imaginary gObIets, beaker5'
cups and glasses, all full and brimming oveF,
and foaming and sparkling and trembling,
he became conscious of a face, the sight OF
which was so little in harmony with his
thoughts that the cup was, so to speak,
dashed from his lips, and the beverage OF
the gods was spilled upon the ground.
The face, or rather the head, was in a
second floor window Of a house on tile other
side Of the street; it was looking up and
down the street; a perfectly familiar face,
yet for a while Uncle Joseph could not re-
member at all to whom it belonged, so great
was the yearning within him for cham
payne. Presently, however, he regained
some command over himself, and understood
that the face belonged to none other III Il to
Dick Murridge. 1t was twilight now, but
the old, that is to say, some of the Old, have
long sight, and the gas below caught the
face. Oh, there could be no doubt that it
was the face of Dick MurriIge, the run.
away.
For by this tins it was well known in
vague terms that there WIS trouble about
some checks, and that Dick had run away,
and that Norah had quarreled with Mr..
Murridge, and was staying with CaliSta
under the pretext or pretense Of a holiday.
This seemed a very remarkable discovery.
Uncle Joseph was, by nature, curious, in
q~uisitive into other peoples affairs and of a
prying nature. Therefore he at once re-
solved to pursue this adventure further.
The house, he now perceived, vas a public
house-something better than the ordinary
run of street tayerns-for it had a side en-
trance, marked Hotel" His wits were
now completely restored, and he was able
to observe carefully the position of the win
dow at which Dick Murridge was sitting.
AS soon as he was quite certain on this point
he boldly entered by the sile door AMI
walked up stairs.
Ten days Of hiding in his upper chamber
bad begun to tell upon Dick Murri1ge. So
great was the terror instilled into him by
his instructor and protector, of his fathers
vengeance and wrath, that he was afraid to
venture out, evon after dark, having a CON
fused notion that every policeman in Lon
don would have a warrant for his arrest in
his pocket, and that he would be taken up
on suspicion. He stayed, therefore, all day
long in one room. leading a most doleful
and miserable existence, ordered by the
count to practice continually the
tricks and cozenage of the cards, which
were to advance him to that life of per-
feet delight promised by the tempter. Never
had professor a more eager or an apter
pupil. Never did Chinaman take more
kindly to ways of guile than Dick Muir
ridge, insomuch that his past ardor and
passion for gambling wholly died away,
and the excitement of chance seemed a poor
thing indeed, compared with the excitement
of dexterity. He called it dexterity, because
the professor gave it that name, and be-
cause, in his hands, the mystery of cheat
ing at cards became a fine art Of the most
manifold and occult contrivance, the most
profound combination a7d calculation, the
swiftest movement OF hand, and the steadiest
guard on eye and face. Yet to practice the
black art all day long, hidden away from
the world in a single room, is monotonous.
Suppose that one were to receive, as a gift,
the power of cheating with the certainty OF
never being found out. TlNre are a thou
sand ways of cheating besides that of cheat
ing at cards. Would not this power be a
constant temptation even to the most virtu-
Gus among us2 What would it not be to one
who, like this unfortunate Dick, had been
brought up from childhood to believe that
there never was any morality, any. honor,
any honesty, except what springs from a
feeling of representation anil projections
Would he not jump at such a chance? Now,
this was exactly the chance that was offered
to Dick Murridge. 1t came in his extremi-
ty, when he had cut himself off from his own
people by a deed which would never be for
gotten or forgiven. 1t came when he was
in an agony Of despair and terror, and it
seemed to open a way Of life Of the greatest
ease, comfort, and profit. He knew not yet
that there is no way of life without comreti-
ton, and therefore jealousy, with its at.
tendant tokens of malice, SANDER, mischief,
c%alumny, and the biting of back. Also he
knew not how quickly the professional
gambler is detected, and how even the most
unbounded lovers Of the cards become shy of
playing with him. All this he had still to
learn.
But it was dull in that upper chamber,
which he left only to go down stairs at meal
time to the lar parlor, where he sat at table
with the landto and his family. They
knew him as a young gentleman, presuma-
bly, under a temporary cloud, in whom the
signor, proprietor of the CLUB, was interest
ed. 1t was horribly dull. He hated read
ing; he grew tired Of drawing; he could not
be always practising with the cards; he
wanted some one to talk W. tn.
Good evening, Mr.. Richard" said Uncle
Joseph, entering noiselessly,
Dicks head and shoulders were out of the
window; but it does not take long to change
the position of q head and shoulders.
"Whatl" he cried, springing to his feet
"You here-you"
Yes, l am here. All, you are very snug
and quiet, Dick, here! No one would ever
expect to find you here. l was just going
along the street, you know-just walking
down the street, when | saw your facs at the
window. What a surprised what surprise!
How pleased your father will bel"
"Is hel What does he-what does he--
what does he want with me9'
Uncle Joseph noddedhis head impressively.
Some men can convey a solemn and impress
sive assurance much better by a nod of the
had 41ou L1 nny xuyorda TTno1o Toao-L1.