Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1889-06-14

''You won't lose by it, old chap" he
went on isn't there song or a tune
somewhere, 'Lilla's a Lady?' BY CAD, she
shall be! like you, Medhurst. You're
good fellow. You've stuck to me more
than once when I've been down and you've
been up. rve done the same by you when
the tables have been turned, and we know
one another, don't we?"
This kind of sentimental talk was not
Captain Medhurst's forte at all.
"Well, that's true enough, ne answered
drily; "but what about it?"
"There's this about IT," responded the
Daisy; you stick to me, keep me from
getting too hot, just simply stand by and
give me the tip if | show any sign of going
wild, and when I've reached the hundred
thousand there's quarter of it tied hard
and fast on little Lila. She sha'n't be
able to touch the principal till she's of
age, and you shall have the management
of it in her behalf till then. If anything
should happen to her before that-and God
forbid it shouldt-it'll come to you. Shake
hands on that, old chap"
The Major was genuinely and deeply
moved by his own generosity and the sense
of the Importance of the favor he was con-
ferring on his friend. He was even little
surprised to find Medhurst apparently SO
unmoved by this aerial offer. 1t was just
as real to the Major as if the speculative
hundred thousand had lain on the table
there before him; but Medhurst's mind
was of less and more practical cast, and
80 far, though he did full justice to the
others intent. he experienced no especial
call to gratitude.
81 mean it, Medhurst!" cried the Major.
"By God, | mean it,"
'Pve no doubt you mean it," Medhurst
answered, with even an increased dryness;
but you haven't got it, Daisy, and it isn't
the moral certainty You fancy that you
ever will have it. l don't believe there
ever was a man with n system who didn't
get his head turned by it, more or less.
Mark my wordsworth lose in the long
run. Every penny of that money will go
back to the bank; every penny, that is
that isn't spent in the meanwhile. How
many men have tried the game before
you, How many men nave come here
with their systems with more than TWEEN
ty thousand pounds to back them, and
have gone back paupers? Who built those
halls of dazzling light where you've been
flourishing this last day or two? Who
made the roads and laid out the gardens7
Who pays those scores and scores of i'm
passive devils who relieve each other at
the table? Who pays for the band that
gives you a concert twice day."
al don't" said the Major, stOlidly.
1.-The fools VITO come here with their
systems" said Medhurst, waxing parlia-
mentary in tone and gesture. The be-
nighted asses who think that all human
experience is going to contradict itself for
their sakes Every one of 'em comes with
this proverb running in his head-"The
many fail, the one succeeds They come
poor, and 90 back poorer; they come full,
and go back empty. One in a hundred
thousand wins, and goes away to spread
the news of victory. The people who
have really lost heavily hide their losses,
either in shame or in fear of damaging
their credit"
"They haven't got my system, my boy"
responded the inyincible Major.
Your systemp scoffed Medhurst.
"There are runs on record winch would
smash your system like house of cards
and smash you with them"
The Major had ordered a bottle of his
favorite Pommcry Grcno, aud had lit
cigar OF the choicest brand to be had in
that Quarter of the world for love or
money. He slipped and smoked in luxur.
ious contentment and waved Il hand to-
wards the table where his winnings still
lay exposed.
you've got a craze Medhurst, ~ he said
TRANQUILITY. YOU'RE like those teetotal
coves who preach against drink, or the
Gospel fellows who think that everybody
who sets foot on race course is going to
the devil They've got the right on their
side in the main. Drinks bad thing-a
COMPOUNDED bad thiug'-the Major emp
tied and refilled his gluss-"but it's only
bad when man amt moderate, and
jolly good, comforting, cheerful thing
when he is. Racing would be a pretty
bad thing if all the world went in for it
and did nothing else You've got right on
your side, too. A lot of chaps have come
here with systems, and have gone to the
bad with them-a set of rotters" the Ma
jor added, with quiet and rooted scorn,
"who didn't know that three and three
make six. Now, look here, my boy, it
comes to this: l came here on my sys-
tenn"
'Oh, confound your systemr' broke in
Medhurst. ITS no use talking to you"
mot n bit of use" replied the Major,
checrfully. Al come here on my system,
and play low first day and win, roughly,
Il couple of thousand pounds / leave the
place, and come back to it two or three
days later; play a bit more boldly, and |
win three thousand. Next day | launch
out still more and win over four Next
day, over five. To-day, over six. Now,
each time the winnings increase-not be
cause the sittings longer, but because
the stakes are higher, and they go on in
what do you call it?-geometrical pro-
gression."
'All right" said Medhurst; IF wIlful
will to water, wilful must drink"
Drink" replied the Major, slipping
gaily ut his glass, 81 should think SO. and
drink the best there is into the bargain"
Pm going to Mentone," said Medhurst,
gloomily. after pause Il have been here
four days and have never seen the child.
l shall bring her over here with me, and
have her somewhere near She's too
young to get any harm out of the place,
and | want to see more of her than | have
done"
II say, Medhurst," said the Major. 81
don't think you're as fond of the kid as
you ought to be"
Mop said Medhurst, glancing sidelong
at him, and beginning to pace up and
down the room.
NO said the Major "She's pretty,
jolly little creature, and if she were mine,
beCad, I'd take jolly good care to have her
with me wherever l went"
II dare say" MedhurSt answered. in a
tone which he tried to make indifferent.
But, for my part. think she's a little
better where she is" He looked at his
watch. There's train in a quarter of
an hour from now. Daisy, promise me
one thtuG-promise me you won't play
while I'm away. You won't dream of GO
ing back before dinner, of course, and l
shall be here again a little after nine
You won't play'"
No" said the Major; al won't play till
you come back again" He bundled the
money together, with the exception of two
or three notes, which he slipped into his
pocket book, and put the mass of it into a
cash-boN, which he sealed. I'm leave
that" he said, with the manager. It's
safer in his hands than here Finish your
wine, Medhurst, and III walk down to the
station with you"
1t was dusk already, and the evening
chill had fallen. Medhurst found a car
riage to himself when the train steamed
up to the platform. and as it bore him
away. solitary. he sat in gloomy thought
with his hat tilted over his eyes. aud his
hands thrust deep into his pockets. BY
d-by he took out from his breast-pocket
a small portfolio, and selecting from its
contents the same PORTRAIT he had kissed
in Paris he stood nm with l ami srsury--