Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-01-13
CHAPTER VIII.
THE COLONEL DEALS TO WIN.

Ihb DEALS III WIN.
When Mr.. Pootle's withdrawal broke up
the game of euchre, the partnership of the
Colonel and Victor had won dozen dollars
from the opposing firm of Pootle and
Winston.
''Shall You and cut cards for the money,
Mr.. Leroyd?" the Colonel asked, indiffer.
emily.
Gas you please" Victor assented.
The Colonel never permitted himself to
waste skill or take unnecessary risks. The
play had been perfectly fair. Pootle and
Winston might have won if luck had
favored them; but in that case Winston
would have cut the pack at jack, instead
of the Colonel having to perform that small
feat in sleight-of-haLd. He clinked the
silver dollars, rolled them up in the paper
ones, seemed disinclined to take the win
nings, but overcame his scruples and pock-
eted the handful with a polite degree Of dis
dain. That trifle being disposed of, he de-
voted Some attention to May Morris, the
more important stake. Victor and Winston
were by her side. 1t seemed worth while to
send Victor away and leave Winston with
her, and so he said:
"Sheeba, oughtn't you to look after Mrs.
Gansett? She may be ill. Mr.. Leroyd
NAV like to go over to the bluff with you"
That left no option, and Sheeba and Vic
tor went to the summer house on the bluff,
where they found Pootle and the widow,
and were told at once of the betrothal.
And what will they say at the SEM
inary?" the widow objected, when the sud-
den marriage and departure for Europe were
mentioned. "It will look awfully like an
elopement.'
"You won't have to return there to hear
it," Pootle urged.
30, but there is May Morris. She was en-
trusted to my charge during vacation. Her
chaperon can't leave her.
mot with Mrs. Dallas?'
Sheeba conceived in a flash a project of
sending her daughter away from all peril
into safety.
'No, no. she said; 'sdon't leave May
with me. That would be a desertion of
your charge. But you can very properly
take her along. She will be glad to 60, and
she will be safe with you-but not with me
NOT with me. And it is essential-I can
not know of her going. The reason is good
it is for her happiness-it is to save her
from misery. Will you take my word for
this?''
'Of course we will, - Pootle responded,
and the widow echoed him.
Pootle was in state of flaming enthusi-
asm, the widow was marveling at the sud-
denness of her betrothal to riches, and
neither was in a condition of mind to refuse
anything to anybody. They were duly con-
graduated by Victor, who said to the
widow:
'My uncle is happy-that is evident; and
you will be, if being the wife of as good
hearted man as ever lived will make you
so."
At which she responded half quizzically.
"Thank you. Your aunty will strive to
deserve him-indeed she will"
II shall be something of an intruder upon
your wedding journey for am to 60 on the
trip with Uncle Jonas-unless under the
circumstances wouldn't be wanted" said
Victor.
80, your attention may be diverted from
us if Miss Morris goes along"
MAY must CO." Sheeba interposed, ''pe-
cause, although she is very dear to us here,
Mrs. Gansett is responsible for her during
her absence from school; and 1t is especially
agreed that Colonel Dallas is not to -
1t was the Colonel himself who caused
glance the deep interest of the group in
whatever was under discussion. Victor was
was not less selfshly eugrossed than the
others, for he was impulsive beyond his
habit with sudden resolution. That was
why he forgot Sheeba's injunction that the
Colonel was not to know Of the plan to let
May go across the ocean with the bridal
couple.
'AIiss Morris is without blood relations,
I believe" he said.
''But not without guardianship" the
Colonel exclaimed, at safe venture. my
wife and feel as near to her as though she
were our daughter-do we not?"
YES" Sheeba replied with difficult calm