Waterbury evening Democrat., 1888-09-05

been expected to take this as a hint to make way. But he never heard 8 word. All his sense was concentrated on the board before him, and his only motion was to bend moro closely and eagerly over the play Tom whis- pered in my ear:
 You have the money, Jasper; take her advice if you really mean to play this farce out. Take the seat if you get chance and play your own game.'
 "You have been here before, answered "and know more about the game"
 "Here before! Yes, to my cost. No, no, the idea of play is your own and you shall carry it out. l am always unlucky, and as for knowledge of the game you can pick that up by watching a round or two; it's perfectly simple"
 As I gazed, as the needle whirled and stopped and once more whirled the mad ex- eitement of the place came creeping upon me. | The stitlng heat, the glare the confused mur- mufs mounted like strong wine into my brain. The cliak and gleam of the gold as it passed to end fro, the harsh voice of the man with the shovel calling at intervals, " Put on your money, gentlemen" the mechanical progress of the play, confused and staggered my senses. I forgot Tom. forgot the reason of our coming forgot even where 1 was, so absorbed was l, and leaned forward over the hurrying wheel as intent the verieSt gambler present
 was aroused from my Stuper by a nut tered curse, as the grey-headed man before me staggered up from his chair, and left the table with desperate eyes and stupid gait. As he rose the jewelled fingers made slight mo- tion, and dropped into the vacant seat.
 The bank was still winning. At our hos tess left hand rose swelling pile of gold and silver that time after time absorbed all tho smaller heaps upon the black and red spaces. Meanwhile the woman had scarcely spoken but as the needle went round once more slackcncd and stopped-this timo amid deep and desperate exertons-she turned to me and said
 "Now is your time to break the bank if you 1 wish. Play boldly; I should like to lose to so proper a man."
 I looked back at Tom, who merely nodded and put my first half-crown upon the red space marked 19 My neighbor without seem ing to notice the smallness of the sum, bent over the table and sent the wheel spinning on its errand. I too, bent forward to watch, and as the wheel halted saw the coin swept with many more valuable into the great pile,
 "A bad beginning" said the sweet voice beside me. "Tryagain." l tried again and third time and two moro half-crowns went to join their fellow. There was one more chance. White with desperation drew out my last half-crown, and laid it on the black. A flash and my neiShbor's hand sent the needle whirling. Round and round it went, as though it would never cease; round and round, then slackened, slackened hesitated and stopped-where?
 Where but over the red square opposite mo?
 clutchod the tables green border and sank back in my seat. As 1 did I heard a low curse from Tom behind me. The overwhelm- ing truth broke in upon my senses, chasing the blood from my face, the hope from my heart. Ruinod Ruined Scarce knowing : what did, I turned to look at Tom, and saw , that his face was white and sot. As I did so the musical voice beside me murmured- 1 The game Is waiting; you going to stake this time?'
 I stlmmered out negative. What? already tired? faint heart should not g with such face, and again she swept the pointer round
 lis it." she whispered in my ear, " is it that you cannot?'
 Ut s."
 "Ah, it is hard with half sovereign to break the bank. But see, have you nothing nothing? For feel as if my luck were going to leave me-"
 Nothing" I answered, nothing in the world"
 "Poor boy!'
 Her voice was tender and sympathetic, but in her eye there glanced not the faintest spark of mercy. 1 sat for a moment stunned and helpless, and then she resumed.
 Can lend to you?"
 "No, for have no chance of repaying This was my all, and 1t has gone have not one penny left in the world"
 Poor boyv'
 II thank you. I could not expect you to pity me, but
 "Ah. but you are wrong. pity you; pity you all Fools, fools, call you all and yet make my living out of you. So you cannot play" she added, she set the game going
 
 "Go, first of an."
 "And after?"
 II shrugged my shoulders. "No, do not go yet. Sit beside me for 6 while and watch it is only fortune that makes me your enemy. would willingly have lost | to you"
 She look 50 curious, sitting there with her yellow face, wrinkles, and her innumerable diamonds. could only sit and stare.
 II have seen many desperate boy" con- tinued this extraordinary woman, ''sltting be- side me in that very chair. An, many young life have l murdered in this way. I am old, you see, very old older even than you could guess, but triumph over youth none the less. Sometimes feel as if fed on the young lives of others"
 She turned her attention to the game for 6 moment and then went on:
 It is rare drink, this yellow blood; and e@~A SAAS have had but drop from you, but like you nevertheless. Oh, yes, can pity; my heart is always full of pity as sit here drinking gold. Your friend is a charming boy, but l like you better; and now you will go. These 1 partings are very cruel, are they not?"
 There was not 3 trace of mockery in her i voice, and her eyes were the same as ever. merely looked up in reply, but she divined my i thoughts.
 "No. am not mocking you. I should like you to win once; say it, and am perfectly honest about 1t. You would be beaten in the end, but it would please me while 1t lasted Has your friend no money7"
 "Nol this was all VIC had between us."
 So he came back and got you to play with your money. That was strange friendship"
 You arc wrong" I answered; "he was set against coming, but insisted. It Is all my i own fault"
 "wen." " she said. rnusiagls, "1 suppose you must go, but it is pity. You are too hand some boy to-to do what you will probably do, but the game does not regard looks, or il would fare badly with me. Good by." Good by" said. and rose to go, for Toms