Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1889-11-16
''Who is the mann" asked Rush, know
no very we'll who had sent the flowers


c-ful rich, and would marry Leoni If
ed have him. Sho won't have any
I ing else, he can bet his life on that"
And the usher stopped talking to join in
the applause as Helen Knowlton came
down the stage.
need hardly say that Rush was inter.
ested In the usher's information. He
could not help smiling at the idea Of
John marrying the ballet dancer with
his engagement to Amy Rayliss on his
hands. He didn't even believe that he
knew her, but merely thought 1t was one
Of his fancies to be known as patron
of the ballet to the extent. Of sending
flowers to premiere danseuse. The
dancing was hardly over, whea John
proposed going, and, as Rneh was his
guest, he had to so too, though he did so
with great reluctance. John suggested
that they should return 70 THE Club;"
and to ''The Club they accordingly re-
turned
There "a some interesting playing
here of an evening" said John. as they
entered the gi.ded saloon; you will be
amused to watch it. These fellows play
high some nights--eh, colone.s"
The colonel smiled, and ti,cy saun-
tered up to the table and watched the
game in progress. As 1t grow exciting,
John said that he would throw s. on
the red, "just for the fun OF the thing"
and the red won. He left his money
there. and still won.
"Why don't you take your money
while the luck is with you?" said Rush.
ut will do better than that. I'll leave
It there AMI show you." But the luck
did not last very long, and before the
evening was over John had lost $500.
"I'n have my revenge tomorrow
night" said he. good naturedly. land
win it all back and more, too"
Rush looked at his watch. 1t was 2
o'clock, and he felt ashamed Of himself
for having come from the presence OF
Helen Knowlton to spend the evening IN
such a place. He knew that she de-
tested anything like fastnes, In man.
and that she would be tho. oughly dis
gusted if she knew that he was spending
an evening in the company of gamblers.
for he realized now that 1.-The Club" was
nothing more nor less than gaming
house he noticed with pain Johns
familiarity with the place, and put it all
down to the corruptirg influence of Col
Mortimer, so loath was he to think that
John could go unled among such men,
Rush had no maudlin sentiment on the
subject; it was not from any religious
scruples that he disliked gambling, but
because of what he knew Of its hurtful
ness. The victims he looked upon with
pity and the victimizers with disgust
John was in fair way Of being ruined
but Rush knew there was no use in
speaking to him on the subject. He
would not get angry and fly into pas
sion. but he would laugh good naturedly
and tell Rush that losing few dollars
at cards was not going to hurt him. and
that he didn't propose to follow gambling
as profession. but only as an occasional
pastime 1t would have been easier tc
argue with a more violent man. fol
John only laughed off words Of warning
and advice.
Seeing Leoni at the Academy reminded
Rush that he had not been very attentive
to her Of late. and, as she had been e
friend in the hour Of need, he upbraidec
himself for not having called upon her,
and vowed that he would do SO at the
earliest opportunity. Fearful lest john
should go back to the gaming table, he
proposed walking home with him, and
the brothers left 1.-THE Club" together.
John had rooms in Twenty ninth street.
and when they arrived at the door he in.
sisted upon Rush going in with him, not
withstanding the lateness Of the hour.
"In for a penny, in for pound" said
John, gayly. Rush was astonished at
the splendor Of the rooms. Everything
that luxurious taste could suggest fol-
a bachelors comfort was to be found
there, from q well stocked buffet to q
well trained valet
"Why, John. yoH i've like prince, said
Rush, looking around in admiration.
"Say rather like s,ockholder In the
Mutual Dividend Mining company; that
beats the princes. Rush." Then, taking
q dainty decanter from the buffet, he
poured out small glass OF old brandy.
There, there's something to warm the
cookies Of your heartl Drink that, and
tell me II it isn't goodl"
Rush tossed it down and declared that
he had never tasted better.
"And you never will. unless you taste
it here. Mortimer has corner on that
brandy" said he, filling his glass. 'and
no one else can get it."
Rush's eyes roamcd about the apart
ment, seeing new beauties every mo
ment, until they rested on a large col.
ored photograph Of Leoni standing on
an easel "Helloi" said he. there's q
portrait Of Leoni! Do you know her.
john
"Why should know herr said John,
rather shortly. "Must man know every
ballet dancer whose picture he happens
to haveY'
"Of course not; but this portrait is sc
conspicuous feature Of your room
| thouuht Il o,,ita ikelv Won knew the