Weekly commercial herald. (Vicksburg, Miss.) 1884-18??, 1886-04-02

9 standS-s devoted, 90 20 apeAA % "'
nightly coujuring Of The emotions among
those who arc privileged to enter It's walls
No melodrama ever placed upon the boards
AZ A theatre arouses more fercely and more
certainly the passions Of terror, anxiety,
raos. despair and frantic Joy than the simple
passes OF the great magician VINO practlces
nightly in this house. It is nothing more
than a tavern-a simple corner house, Win
a sign board and a bar of many en- RANGES
The spells, magic and mystery are worker
on the first floor, which is let on for a cluD
which meets here every evening, all the year
round. except on Sundays. The members
would meet on Sundays as well II it were
permitted.
At seven o'clock the club opens every
evening. 1t is not a political club, LOT
politics are never touched upon; nor bita
social club, for the members do not converse
together after the manner of ordinary NOR
tails: nor is it a club founded for the
advance Of any cause, or for the promotion
of any art, or for any scientific or intel
lectual objects whatever. Yet it is cluo
where conversation Is always animated, and
even inter jectional, though sometlines monot
onous. 1t is also absorbing, and it brings
all heads bent together; it makes all eyes
strained; everybody's face is anxious n
| eager; and it is so witty, so c.ever, SO biting
and epigrammatic, that at everything that
is said some laugh and shout, and some sigh,
weep and even curse. 1t is, las .ly, a club
which contains everything which the mem
bers want to make them completely happy,
though, unfortunately, the member cannot
always get what they want and what they
come for.
There were eight or nine small tables
about the room, each provided with a pair
of candles, and each occupied by two men.
There was a sideboard, or buffet, with de-
canters and glasses, cigars, cigarettes and
the usual trimmings, behind which stood a
young l,dy Of bar-maidenly loveliness. 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 to
the girl They were those who had come
too late for a place, and were waiting their
turn The atmosphere was thick and heavy
with tobacco smoke. There was also al
open piano, but no one regarded it.
AuOHR lu0 DdDloo anu UuOS6 WIZ odu Ou
there moved continually a man rather small
of stature, but Of good proportions, o.
straight and regular features, and very
carefully dressed. He was now advanced il
life, being perhaps sixty years of age. Hi
hair was white, and he wore a heavy whit
mustache. A cigarette was always be
tween his lips; his voice was soft, gentle ant
he seemed to have something friendly to sal
to every one Of the members; his smile wa
kindly; his eyes benevolent; he laugheC
easily and unsteady; and there was not
man in the room who did not believe tha
the count was his own private, personal ant
particular friend. They called him, to shov
their great respect, the count. He did no
himself claim the title, though perhaps h
was a count in his W country, Or even
prince, for he was by birth an Italian, an
his card bore the simple name Of Signo
Giuseppe Piranesi. He had lost the fore
finger of his right hand-in a duel, it wa
understood, about a lady, no doubt
princess Everybody believed the count ha
been, in his day, a terrible breaker Of ladie:
hearts.
In plain words, the place is a gamblin
club, run by this italian who was so good
friend to all the members.
Among the players at the middle table 50
Dick Murridge.
His father was right in nistrusting a bo
who went about his work like a machine
and seemed to have no passion, no pursuit
no ambition-who committed no small TO
lies and had none Of the headlong faults @
ardent youth. Dick had a pursuit. 1t wa
absorbing and enhancing; he followed
with ardor every evening of the week. ]
was a pursuit which brought into play, to
very remarkable degree, the maxims whic
his father had taught him. 1t requires, fo
instance, no law of honor, except that if 20
conceal cards, or play false, or do not pa
up, you are out-kicked. 1t makes no FOOLS
pretense about friendship, philanthropy
charity, or any stuff of that kind. At th
baccarat table every man is for himself
No skill is wanted; TO dull working an
daily practice in order to acquire dexteritJ
which would not be Of any use; the who
object of the pursuit is to win money.
OF all the eager and noisy crew who sat
that table there was not one who was mol
absorbed in the game than Dick Mul
ridge. The others shouted and swore gree
oaths when they won or lost Dick made n
sign. His face betrayed no emotion tt
quiet gambler is the most determined an
the most hopeless.
By the side Of Dick sat-alas!-young Da.
fodil Cronan. He vas by no means a siler
player. His face was flushed with excita
ment, his hair tossed; his lips were parted
and at every turn Of the cards he gaspet
whether it brought him victory or los
nHlv- il he won hn launched aloud