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

one OF the gamb lerS OF that evening snot
himself at Monte Carlo"
Well, I'm sure that none Of Us are likely
to shoot ourselves" said Mr.. Punter; so
you had better join US for once, General.
You can stake as low as you like.
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 ii 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 9l50. 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
/ don't like to see you win from your
guests"
" You needn't be nervous, General " said
Mr. Buttershaw grimly; it's about nine
months since | won 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
80, 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.. Punters prophecy came true not
very long afterwards. The same company
assembled in Mr.. Buttershaw's 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 game just
to amuse the company. The company,
however, We're 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
am fated to win. Gentlemen, don't you
think | had better stop? l would much
rather put this money! fear it is nearly
e5O-in the pool, and leave you play for ii. -
Of course, nobody would agree to so alb
surd 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 COO, and sat at the table with a
huge pile of notes, gold and l o US in
front OF him, looking the very picture CT
despair.
Cheer up, General said the Duke :;
" we Il get il all back another night, never
fear"
am afraid not" groaned the ancient
warrior. | wish had never began this. I
ought to have known how it would end
Blessed if | ever saw a man make as
much fuss over losing as old Barnabas does
over winning said Sir Hector TO his friend
IN private. Il 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 virtuous resolutions. Even Butter
shaw groaned in spirit, and expressed fire.
quent wishes that old Barnabas had not
taken it into his head to make a pilgrimage
to London.
Before the old man came" he would
lament, ii was bad enough. l used to
lose 9lOO 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
for 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 modify down St.
James street, when he was accosted by a
friend whom he had not seen for some
weeks, and who happened to be 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 devill
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 SOP" 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.
" Hullo" 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 a
chap in Buttershaws rooms who cleaned
the whole lot of us out"
Mr. Punter grasped at a lamp-post for
support. What was his name 2n he fee
bly, gasped.
"Barnabas, or something like it. Ought
to be Judas Iscarioti An old sinner, Saws mes
been Peruvian Consul at Odessa; don't be-
ieve there is any Peruvian Consul al
Odessa, but I'm going to a 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 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 TO 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..
Punters 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..
Buttershaw's 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 ito" said Buttershaw inno-
Gently Il 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 a puz-
zled air. Mr.. Punter began to feel uncom-
Portable.
Yes; one said he had lost to an Admi-
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 humor him. He really was
in the Confederate army-got an awful
crack on the head from a saber, and has
been bit funny ever since, though per-
fectly harmless
By Jove, l don't know SO much about
that" said Punter ruefully.
oil hafc hal I@. Of