Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-05-22

:
No, my dear sir, really can not: but
don't trouble about me. I'll look on"
Mr.. Buttershaw shrugged his shoulders,
indicating that further argument was hope
less, and the game proceeded. The General
watched it with much interest, frequently
signing and lifting his eyebrows in mute
protest as the stakes grew higher. The re-
suit was much the same as usual, Butter
shaw being the principal loser TO the tune
of about $50. The General sympathized
with his friend after a somewhat curious
fashion
" It's just as well that You should lose,
my dear boy; you have plenty TO spare, and
L don't like to see you win from your
guests"
" You needn't be nervous, General, said
Mr.. Buttershaw grimly; its about nine
months since l won a halfpenny."
Rum old fish, that, said Sir Hector, as
he and Mr.. Punter walked home in the
early morning. 1t would be rare sport to
get him to play"
40, we'll do it some of these nights,
never fear. Buttershaw gave me hint not
to brighten him at first. But what an old
innocent it is :"
Mr.. Punter's prophecy came true not
very long afterwards. The same company
assembled in Mr.. Buttershaws rooms, and,
owing to the excellence of the liquor pro-
yided 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 company
however, were not quite so much amused
as they had been expected, for the worthy
old man carried everything before him !;
and the more he won the more apologize
and deprecatory he became.
" was right" he earnestly protested; Il
a m, fataI TO yrin
think | had better stop? | would much
rather put this money! fear it is nearly
G50-in the pool, and leave you play for il -
Ot course, nobody would agree TO so alb
surd q proposition, and the General con-
tinued TO play, winning with extraordinary
steadiness, but lamenting the while over his
abnormal luck.
At the end Of the evening he had won
nearly 81 CO. and sat at the table with a
huge pile of notes, gold and | 0 US in
front OF him, looking the very picture CT
despair.
~ Cheer up, General" said the Duke :.
. well get 1t all back another night, never
fear
Il am afraid not, " groaned the ancient
warrior. l wish had never began this. |
ought to have known how it would end
Blessed if | ever saw a man make as
much tUSS over losing as old Barnabas does
over winningl' said Sir Hector 10 his friend
IN private. wonder if he would lend
me bit, if he's 50 precious Shy about keep
ing it,"
Weeks passed by, and the General made
several gallant efforts to lose the money he
had won, but without success. In fact, the
more he played the more he won, and the
punters OF the Greville Club had excellent
reason to regret that they had conquered
his VirtppItS rasol1,+iODe
shaw groaned in spirit, and expressed fire.
quent wishes that old Barnabas had not
taken 1t into his head to make a pilgrimage
to London.
Before the old man came" he would
lament, it was bad enough | used TO
lose 91OO or so night; but now, | assure
you, I've lost over 81 800 to him within the
last fortnight. Why, he must have won
thousands !" He had, indeed; and, from
all appearances the discounted gamblers
fully expected that he would win thousands
more. Now, Mr.. Buttershaw belonged to
several clubs in addition to the Greville,
Tor his aristocratic friends were powerful
enough to insure his admission to many
similar institutions; and, of course, he oc-
casionally played at them. and asked their
members to dine at his chambers.
One fine day Mr.. Punter CHANGED to be
walking somewhat moodily down St.
James street, when he was accosted by
friend whom he had not seen for some
weeks, and who happened to be a member
OF club called the Parthian, situated
within the immediate neighborhood
Come into my pothouse and have a
drink, said Punter S friend, and Mr.. Pun
ter aSsented.
Anything being going on here lately in
the card line?' inquired the latter gentle
man.
Not much here; but we've played once
or twice in Buttershaw's rooms, and there's
an old chap, pal of his, who wins like the
very devilr'
Really?"
Yes; he's an Admiral something
sounded like Burnaby but it wasn't.
Used to be in the CHILEAN Navy. White
haired old chap-wears spectacles."
You don't say so?" said Mr.. Punter,
feeling very singular sensation
Why? What do you mean?"
Nothing nothing! I'll have another
split, please
Mr.. Punter left the Parthian meditating
much more gloomily than before On his
way to the Greville he met another friend.
Hullow said the new conner. You
look precious solemn. Been losing money!"
Yes, confound it ~ replied Punter.
How's luck with you p
Mighty bad. Nearly broke Met
chap in Buttershaw's rooms who cleaned
the whole lot of us out"
Mr.. Punter grasped at a lamp-post for
support. " What was his name ?" he fee
bly, gasped.
Barnabas, or something like it. Ought
to be Judas Iscariot. An old sinner Saws mes
been Peruvian Consul at Odessa don't be-
lieye there is any Peruvian Consul al
Odessa, but m going to chap in the For
eign Office who can find out. Ta-ta: you
look mighty bad; take care of Yourself
Mr.. Punter, in fact, felt very bad indeed.
Was it possible that after all his vast and
varied experience, he had been sharped
and swindled like a guileless schoolboy
The very idea was torture, and he rushed
towards the Greville; but before he arrived
there he remembered that Buttershaw had
invited him 10 dinner that very evening.
and he determined to do nothing rash. He
would consult the Duke, Sir Hector, and
the rest, and warn Buttershaw that he had
been cherishing viper But perhaps But
tershaw was in the plot himself, and Mr..
Punter's very brain began to reel with per-
plexity. There was no one particular in
the club, so he spent the afternoon in q fe-
yer of impotence, and appeared at Mr..
Buttershaws chan bers punctual to the
minute. He was the first to arrive and
lost no time in questioning his host about
their mutual friend the General
It's very odd thing that old Barnabas
should always win" he began.
Yes; isn't it ?" said Buttershaw inno-
Gently =" | can't understand it at all"
met two men to-day who have lost
money to him here" continued Mr. Pun
ter.
Indeed?" replied the other, with puz
zled air Mr.. Punter began to feel uncom-
Portable.
Yes; one said he had lost to an Admit
raj, and the other to a Consul, and both
these seemed TO be exactly the same per-
son as our friend Barnabas.'
Mr.. Buttershaw burst into loud laughter
unnecessarily loud, Mr.. Punter thought.
Fact is, my dear fellow, old Barnabas
is a bit touched in the upper story. He's
knocked about so much and been wounded
so often that he fancies himself all sorts of
things, and l humor him. He really was
in the Confederate army-got an awful
crack on the head from a saber, and has
been a bit funny ever since, though per-
fectly harmless
by Jove, l don't know SO much about
that, said Punter ruefully.
Well, he's had a lot out of me, too,
sighed Mr.. Buttershaw paid him another
$500 to square our accounts only this
morning But l wonder where he has got
to? Excuse me, and I'll just go and see if
he has sent any message"
lNxr.N-