Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1886-05-27
turn to win now. As to stakes, he say3
he has something with him that wiD

he has something with him that viii
do"
Charles Dalrymple drew the papers
from his pocket, and dashed them be-
fore Colonel Haughton. Il am pre-
pared to stake this" he said. Nothing
risk, nothing win. Luck must favor
me tonight. Even Piggott says so,
and he knows how bad It has been"
Colonel Haughton ran his spectacles
over the papers. II see," he said,
.'It will do: The risking it is your
business, not ours
"Of course it is mine," answered
Charles Dalrymple.
Then put your signature to it.
Here; by the side of the other"
1t was done, and they sat down to
play. Nothing risk, nothing win,"
Charles had said, he had better have
said: Nothing risk, nothing lost;"
and have acted upon it. A little past
midnight, he went staggering out of
the house, a doomed man. All was
over, all lost Farmer Les money had
passed out of his possession, and he
was criminal in the sight of the
world, and liable to be arrested and
tried at the bar of justice, a common
felon.
He had taken nothing since he en-.
tered, yet he reeled about like one the
worse for drink. What was to become
of him? Involuntarily the fate his un-
Gle had resorted to came across his
mind; nay, it is wrong to say ''came
across his mind" for it had not been
away from it. Even in the mad tur-
MOL of that last hour, when the sus-
pense was awful to bear, and hope and
dread had fought with each other as
meeting whirlwind, the facts of that
dark history had been thrusting them
selves out.
HIS face was burning without and
his brain was burning within. 1t was
a remarkably windy night. and he
took off his hat and suffered the
breeze to blow on his miserable brow.
And so he paced the streets, going
from home, not to it. Where could he
goP he with the brand of crime and
shame upon him? He got to Gharing-
Cross, and there he halted, and
listenened to the different clocks strik-
ing one. Should he turn back to South
Audley street? And encounter Reuben,
who had tried to save him, and had
failed? And 60 to bed, and wait, with
what calmness he might, till the law
CldihCu al " HCIC DuU
home. The breeze was stronger now:
Charles Dalrymple replaced his hat,
pulled it firmly on his head to hide his
eyes from the night, and dragged his
steps towards Westminster bridge.
Of all places in the world!-the
bridge and the tempting stream!-
what evil power impelled him there?
Reuben sat up the livelOng night. His
master never came. Fearing, he knew
not what. and attaching more import
ance to Charles having remained out
than he might have done at another
time, he betook himself between eight
and nine to Mr.. Piggott's. That gem
tleman did not live in very fashion able
lodgings, and his address there was
not usually given; but Reuben had
gone on fishing tour, some days be-
fore, to catch what information he
could, as to the private concerns of Mr..
Piggott and Colonel Haughton. and had
found it out.
The slip-shod servant knew nothing;
only that Mr.. Piggott ''warn't up yet"
So Reuben, without any opposition, APP
peared before the chamber door, and
knocked at it, sharp, loud knock.
''Who's there?"
Another knock, sharper than before.
Come in"
Reuben walked in. ..Sir," was his
unceremOnious address, do you know
any thing of my master?"
''I!'' cried Mr.. Piggott, when he had
recovered his surprise. 81 do not.
Why?"
II thought you might, sir, as you
took him out last night. He said he
was going to play with YOU and Colonel
Haughton. He has not returned home,
and there's some important business
waiting for him, so l want to find
him.
Reuben had spoken out daringly, but
the important business" was an inn
promptu invention.
.'He left us last night between twelve
and one; to go home, as 1 suppose"
said Mr.. Piggott, somewhat taken-to.
II know nothing more
Nobody else knew any thing more,
though Reuben did not scruple to ques-
ton all he came across, especially
Colonel Haughton. The day wore on,
and the servant was half distracted.
His master had never remained away
like this.
Another night passed, Sunday morn.
ing arose, and tidings came of Charles
found in the Thames the previous day,
floating away with the tide. Inside it
was written, &c. Dalrymple," and it
was brought to Reuben to be owned or
disowned. He recognized it in mo-
ment. 1t was the one his unfortunate
master had worn that night. How
could it have come in the water, and
where, then, was Charles Dalrymple?
Little need to speculate. Some barge
men, who were in their vessel, lying
close to the side of Westminster bridge
came forward and deposed that about
two o'clock on Saturday morning they
had heard weight drop into the water
las if a body had throwed hisseh
right on to the Thames, O. purpose to
make a hole in it" A person had also
seen Mr.. Dalrymple on the bridge, and
recognized him, not many minutes be-
fore. The melancholy tale soon spread
over London-that Charles Dalrymple
had drowned himself; another victim
to Play.
ut runs in the family" quoth some
who remembered the former catastro-
ply; ''like uncle, like nephew. The
name of Charles Dalrymple must be
fated one."
Il would at least have used a pistol,
and gone out of the world like gen.
tleman," was the bad remark of that
bad man, Colonel Haughton, as he
stood on the Sunday nj ght-yes, the
Sunday highland addressed those
collected around him in the - place
with the hot name.