Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1889-06-28

ings on which he had not forgotten his
troubles; but his remorse of that morn
ing and his gaiety of that evening were
quite phenomenal in comparison with each
other.
AS has already been related, the Major
had been successful again at the tables,
and that fact, of course, was of service to
him. Beyond that, this was the evening
for opening operations in earnest against
Paul Jones' millions, and the splendor of
his hopes illumined the Majors spirits,
Medhurst, attributing the amiable bri-
Gand's jollity to one cause alone, was all
the more sombre and solemn because of it.
The partnership, as he knew full well,
was not going to win anything from Paul
Jones that evening; and even if he had had
the best will in the world to exploit his
guest there was so little TO WIN JnaG the
game would not have been worth the can
die. Half-a-dozen times he resolved to
take the Major out and tell him all about
it, but he put off the evil moment. 1t
would be time enough by-and-by.
Paul and the Major had never been such
admirable companions as they were that
evening. They told stories against one
another, and roared at each others jokes
until the very walters, to whom their con-
NeTSdllOu WIS lOEtISu mystery, COulu
not refrain from smiling Medhurst sat
very gloomy and silent through it all,
until upon sudden he likewise bright
ened up.
When the table was cleared it was Med
hurst who made the first allusion to the
cards.
Come" said he to Paul, ''you must
have your revenge"
Paul nothing 10th, drew up to the table,
produced his handful of money, and pre-
pared for the combat. The Major was an
excellent confederate, but Medhurst was
the master spirit of the two, and the Daisy
followed his lead with the most implicit
confidence. The leader was relieved to
see the Major pull out small handful Of
gold from his pocket. At least, he thought,
there would be a little left to begin the
world anew upon.
There was one popularity in the game
on which Paul Jones had not counted. IL
he had known it he might, possibly, have
decided not to play with these two ex-
tremely dexterous gentlemen. The pc
culiarity was simply that when Medhurst
dealt he knew every card that Paul and
the Major held, and that when the Major
dealt he occupied the same position of ad-
vantage.
Medhurst dealt the first hand. doing out
worthless cards to himself and the Major,
and giving Paul hand of unusual excel
leuce The Major Immediately followed
his colleagues tactics They pleased him
well, because they made it evident to him
that Medhurst was going to make his
great splash that evening, and was simply
paving his way to an increase of the stakes.
Paul had never had such luck in his life,
and he and the Major roared with laugh
ter over one particular deal, when at the
conclusion of hand the cards were ex-
posed. On sudden, to the Majors in
tense establishment, MedhuTst pushed back
his chair from the table, and arose.
THAT will do" he said, Il am out of
sorts to night, and l shall play no more"
"What on earth'S the matter with your"
cried the Major
Pm out of sorts,' said Medhurst az
shall play no more"
''Oh! very we'll" said the Major, sulki-
ly. If you like to break up the party"
yes, ," said Medhurst; 'if you put it that
way, like to break up the party"
But that this was plainly equivalent to
command, the Major would have chal-
lenged his supposed millionaire to sim
gle encounter. AS it was he left the room
grumpily, and Medhurst, reSuming his
seat at the table, address ed Paul, who was
little astonished at the sudden cessation
of play. When Medhurst chose he could
be very dignitied and suave, and he put on
his best manner now.
Il dare say" he began, THAT | shall
| surprise you by what | am going to say,
but shall beg you not to be hurt by it.
| am good deal older than yourself, and,
| if may say so without offence, more of a
man of the world. My friend, Major De
| We're, is one of the richest men in England
and one of the heaviest and most daring
| gamblers in the world For example, he
| lost twenty thousand pounds last night at
| the tables here, and set everybody talking
about his SGngfrOid and the tremendous
| character of his play. Now, Major De
| We're made an odd little mistake about you
which | discovered only yesterday. Do
| you happen to know that there is person
of your own name now in the Riviera
and, like yourself, an American, who is
| said to be one of the richest men in the
| States?"
81 know there is such a man; 1 didn't
| know that he was in the Riviera"
Il have met him here" said Medhurst,
| gravelY, "and so have you"
THE dOoce | haven said Paul, staring.
UNLESS | am very much mistaken" an
swered Medhurst, "he is travelling under
| the name of Morton, and he stayed at the
same hotel with us in Paris" AT this an
nOuncement Paul fell back into his chair
and emitted long whistle of astonish-
ment He has probably assumed the
name for the sake of privacy. Whatever
his motive may be, we are justified in pre-
Stunning 1t to be honorable and blameIess
And now comes my explanation. When
my friend Major De We're learned yester-
day, for the first time, that Mr. Paul Jones
the millionaire had stayed in the same
hotel with US in Paris, he leaped natural
ly to the conclusion that you were that
fortunate parsonage, and in his reckless
| and jovial way, which by this time YOU
know so well, he said to me that here was
an opponent worthy of his steel, and that
he would have such game with you as
should set the whole confederation of
cardplayers in England and America quite
agog. l believe" said Medhurst, with an
unmoved countenance, that he has or
dered hundred thousand pounds To be
set to his credit here in order that he might
meet you did not undeceive him, though
| had rather distinct memory of the
millionaire, who was pointed out to me at
a reception of Mr.. Vanderbilt's in New
York last year. And now, perhaps. YOU
may see why stopped the game when
Fortune had restored TO you something
like the sum you had already lost to us. |
hoped for that chance to happen, and |
will tell my friend De We're the facts of the
case-or will keep them between ourselves
Just as you choose"
Tell him, by all meansr' said Paul. 81
don't want to pass for a millionaire; can't
afford it."
And, will you, my dear JONES'" con-
tinued MedhurSt, with an almost fatherIy
air, permit me to offer you a word of ad-
vice9 Don't gamble. De We're and | play
high; and for me TO preach against gam
bling is very like the Devil reproving sin;
but our incomes are assured. and our lives
are empty of Interest. You, with your
delightful art and your splendid talents,
have great career before you. Don't run
any risk of losing it by getting absorbed
in the mad excitement of the gaming
table. l nave seen more promising young
men ruined in that fashion than care to
say. l need not tell you how much the in
terest originally felt in you has been
ueepened by the event Of this afternoon"
He had been lying like Trojan, and
suppose that at his best in these days he
was pretty much of knave, taking him
by and large, as the seafaring folk say.
But here he was genuinely moved, and his