San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1889-11-13
Paul Jones' Alias
Ton me, ced in No 237

L
| and that fact, of course, was of service Il
| him. Beyond that, this was the evening
for opening operations in earnest against
Paul Jones' millions, and the splendor Of
his hopes illum ned the Majors spirits.
Medhurst, attributing the amiable bri
| gand's jollity to one cause alone, was al
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 that 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. II
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-
versation was q foreign mystery, could
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 a 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. If
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 adj
vantage. Z
Medhurst dealt the first hand doing out
worthless cards to himself and the Major,
and giving Paul hand of unusual excel
lence 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 q hand the cards were eX-
posed. On sudden, to the Majors in
tense establishment, Medhurst pushed back
his chair from the table, and arose.
THAT will do" he said, Il am out of
sorts tonight, and 1 shall play no more"
What on earth'S the matter with your"
cried the Major.
"I'm out of Sorts" said Medhurst 81
shall play no more"
"Ohl very WE'LL" said the Major, sulki-
ly. IF you like to break up the party"
eyes," said Medhurst; eff you put it that
way, like to break up the party"
But that this was plainly equivalent to
a command, the Major would have chal-
lenged his supposed millionaire to a sin
gle encounter. AS it was he left the room
grumpily, and Medhurst, resuming his
seat at the table, addressed Paul, who was
of play. When Medhurst chose he could
be very dignifed and suave, and he put on
his best manner now.
Il dare say" he began, THAT I shall
surprise you by what l am going to say,
but shall beg you not to be hurt by it. l
am good deal older than yourself, and,
if l may say so without offence, more of q
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 SGRgfrOid 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?"
Il know there is such a man; didn't
know that he was in the Riviera"
II have met him here" said Medhurst,
gravely, land so have you"
THE doOce have" said Paul, staring.
UNLESS l 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 it to be honorable and blameless.
And now comes my explanation. When
my friend Major De We're learned yester-
daY for the first time that Mr. Panl Jones