Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1889-07-28

] ".
Perhaps the Consciousness of all
those wstchful, resolute eyes fixed
upon uis face stesdied MIN, although he
might well have shOwn some signs of dis
composure, knowing the issues at stake.
The letter was from Redeem Churchill.
signed with his full name. 1t was writ
! ten under the pressure of fierce rage and
despair, BIZ man who was evidently mad
dened by t1eachery aRd ruin. The writer
swore be would have his revenge, even if
he had to hunt Mr.. Thomas Cairnes down
10 the death. 1t was dated about a week
before the murder.
"Guess we're on the trail, stranger. :"
said one of the meu, "a Newenham at last
laid the letter upon the table.
''Yes," he replied, his voice sounding
far off in his own ears.
He drew back from the circle of stern
faced, reeolute men, who would be that
brothers. judges, and stood with his own
face in the shadow. John Smith care
lessly advancing, took his place. He lift
ed up the letter and read it quietly
through
81 reckon this gentleman is euchred, I"
said the man who had spoken to Newen-
ham. It was he who had found the let
ter, and he was feeling very triumphant.
"You bet," said John Smith laconically,
laying the letter down upon the table.
Lets get ont of this" whispered New
enham to him under cover of the buzz of
general conversation which then began.
John Smith nodded, and they left the
room together, making their way ont of
the house into the square. They stood for
moment looking across the open space
toward the street, which was comparatively
quiet tonight.
At the farther end f,re of flaming oil
lamps from the open doors Of the gambling
saloon lighted up the summer
evening dusk. Newenhsm, restless with
feverish excitement, harassed by doubts
aud fears, felt that anything would be
welcome to take his thoughts away from
the scene he had just witnessed. He sug-
gested turning in there to see what sort of
place the saloon was, as he had not yet
paid it visit.
John Smith scceded by simply turning
in it's direction.
Some ten minutes walking brought
them to the hopitable doors of Macnab's
saloon. AS John Smith unconcernedly
made his way through the bar Groom, nod
ding carelessly here and there to those of
his acquaintance who, helped to make up
the crowd of smokers and drinkers, he fol-
lowed too, with a regretful thought of the
fresh sweet air he had left outside.
They went or to farther room, where
the tables were set apart, each one con-
tanning its complement of silent, earnest
gamblers, some of whom would sit play
ing there till daylight, their silence broken
only by words marking the course of the
game or occseional imprecations as the
luck changed. The two young men
strolIed up 70 the tables. John
Smith being greeted here and there with a
silent nod by some more Of his acquaint-
snces at tie tables, took mp his place near
one of them. A little later Newenham
happening to look up from a game in the
progress of which he himself had become
interested, caught sight of his friend, and
was startled at the change which had taken
place in him. John Smith, leaning
against the opposite wall, was watching
the play of four Of his friends at the table
close to him. His pipe had gone out for
gotten, though clenched between his set
teeth. His face was pale and rigid with
the intense excitement of the unholy lust
of play, and his eyes were cleaning with a
fierce light.
One OF his friends at the table, glancing
MP at him as they proceeded TO deal out a
fresh hand, saw the gambling fever stamp
ed unon his face and said:
"Take hand yourself, boss You look
like playing stakes with old Scratch his
self ~