San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1889-11-14
Paul Jones' Alias
commenced IN No 237

commenced IN No 23I
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 millionaire; can't
afford it,"
"And, will you, my dear Jones'" con-
tinued Medhurst, with an almost fatherly
air, permit me to offer you word of adj
vice? 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 a great career before you. Don't run
any risk of losing it by getting absorbed
in the mad excitement of the gaming
table. have seen more promising young
men ruined in that fashion than l care to
say. | need not tell you how much the in
terest originally felt in you has been
deepened by the event of this afternoon"
He had been lying like a Trojan, and
suppose that at his best in these days he
was pretty much of a knave, taking him
by and large, as the seafaring folk say.
But here he was genuinely moved, and his
voice stuck in his throat so that he had to
"hem" and "ha" considerably before he
could make way for it.
IF could induce you to promise" he
went on, that you would never touch a
card again, should believe myself almost
to have repaid you to-day's inestimable SER
vice"
The young Paul was easily moved at
any time, and both on account of the SER
vice he had done. and the kindness he
had received, his heart warmed to his adj
wiser.
That's a bargain, Captain Medhurst,"
he said, holding out his hand.
II am very much obliged to you," Med
hurst answered, simply, and almost at that
moment the Major re- entered.
Il say, Major De Vere," cried Paul,
you'll have to find somebody else to
spend that hundred Thousand pounds
sterling on. 1t won't come into my peck
ets."
The Major looked with a transient be
wilderment at Medhurst, who telegraphed
him by wink and a nod of the head from
behind PauPs shoulder.
THAT'S bit of pity for you, isn't itF'
said the Major.
'Well, yes" said Paul. "And it's even
q bit more of pity than it would have
been if had been the man you took me
for"
Medhurst slid in with smooth eXplana-
ton, and Paul, catching the humorous
side of it and going off into great shout
of laughter. the Major, by an heroic effort,
found presence of mind to start another,
and being once started he laughed almost
Historically, until he and Paul sat opposite
to each other exhausted, and with tears in
their eyes.
So the firms credit was saved, and young
Paul was saved, and the confederates
were at least no worse off than they had
been. But so curiously is the human mind
constructed that when the Major heard
the story at full he almost worshipped
Medhurst for his self-abnegation. There
was only one regret in his mind about the
whole matter. Captain Medhurst's honor
was upon occasion impeached in his hear
ing, and there were circumstances even
in this heroic self-surrender which made
it impossible to clear him by relating it.
THE END.