Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1890-05-08
THE BANKERS CRIME
Diamond Cut Diamond.
B1 NATHAN D. URNER.
clAPrER xxxn-,Cout,pu.d.,

they encircled was covered with bouquets,
fruits, half-emptied salvers, bottles,
glasses and the general debris Of an ex-
pensive feast. More than this, wander
Ing Eastern juggler named Ah-Ben- Me-
dan, whose performances were at that
time making something Of sensation in
fashionable circles, was occupying an
ppen space near the table. and preparing
In exhibition for the special entertain
menf Of the banqueters.
The place was shut of from prying out
siders by rows of tall tropical plants
arranged in green boxes, and further
privacy was insured by special walters
who had been hired to stand on guard
In the passages leading through the plants
ut intervals, and connected with the great
crowded garden outside.
-You have your cue" whispered Jasper
TO his companion, as they arrived upon
the border Of, this secluded merriment.
We had better blunder in together, when
you can make the necessary excuses. But
remember not to drink any more wine, or
you may defeat our plans.
You don't understand me-" was the
impatient reply. Wine never overcomes
me at this hour Of the daw."
They then pushed their way through
oneof the passages, and carelessly thrust
aside the waiter guarding it, as though
unconscious Of the space within being
occupied.
The young men at the table at once
looked up. more or less indignant at the
intrusion.
Jasper made motion to retire with
well-simulated embarrassment, and Roi-
lingstone at once began string of apollo
gies when his glance fell upon Noel Mar
lowe, and he broke off to exclaim:
BY Jove, though, isn't that Mr.. Mar
lowe, Of Highcombe? Excuse us, GENTLE
men. How could we know that this little
nook was occupied? There was snch O
deuved confusion on the outside, you
know
aAh, it's Boncourt's friend, Captain
Rollingstone, said Noel, smiling. Come,
since you are here, you might as well join
Us. Captain. The more the merrier.
Jasper had surmised the young mans
disposition pretty correctly. Though
little given to dissipation OF any sort,
many OF Noel's friends were Just the re-
verse in their habits, and he had this day
yielded TO the prevailing desire for good
time generally. He was little heated
with wine, and the result was pleasing
cratic qualities.
Come, Captain" continued he, rising
with extended hand, "you shall join us,
Tor We are about to have q novel exhibi-
lion all to ourselves. My friends here
will make NO objection to the addition, /
Inn certain.
@Not /, for one, cried Sir Harry Wild
Ing, turning in his seat with equal COR
diality, now that the intrusion was ex-
planned.
Nor /; the more the merrier," said
Lord Squanderall, who was OF his elbow,
and the same sentiment was echoed by
two others on the opposite side Of the
table.
Captain Rollingstone was charmed,
and said SO; but, unfortunately, he was
not alone, being accompanied by his
friend Mr.. Bently, q capital fellow, just
back to England alter many years ABB
sence in foreign parts, and then Mr..
Bently himself, modest, almost blush
Ing and apparently about to beat hasty
retreat, was first discovered to the BAN
queters. His appearance was greatly in
bis favor, and it was good-naturedly in
sisted that both the Captain and his friend
should be Of the party.
Thus it came about that the group at
the table was increased from five to
seven, and in very few minutes the
best of understandings prevailed.
Jasper was an excellent conversations
alist, when he chose to be, especially as
narrator, and he was soon Interesting
Noel and young squire named Calkins,
who was seated directly opposite to him,
by a running account Of adventures in
California and South America; while
Rollingstone, if not equally fluent of ad-
dress, was making himself scarcely less
entertaining to Squanderall, Wilding, and
the fifth original guest, another young
squire Of thickset and athletic proper
lions, named Poins, by fund of anec-
dote In relation to the races and other
sporting events, and by the expeditions
and unalterable gravity with which he
emptied his glass, and signed its replen-
ishment to the white -chokered waiter in
attendance.
It was noticeable, however. that Lord
Equanderall confined his indulgence to
claret, and that he was, contrary to habit,
the most taciturn and reoccupied Of the
party.
II had become generally understood
among his companions that he was in love
with some -hopelessly, it was fur
ther coniectured- and he had been left to
the quiet fostering of his usual mood,
after little preliminary bantering.
Presently, when the new order o1
affairs had been thoroughly established
around the table, and the participants
seemed to have got thoroughly interested
In each other, to the exclusion of outside
consideratio there occurred an amusing
interruption in the form Of q long-drawn
wailing sort Of yawn, OF sigh, close q
hand.
They all looked up, and there was {
general burst of laughter.
Ii was fully justified by the occasion
\ All Ben-Medan, the afore- mentioned
Eastern juggler, finding himself alto.
gether forgotten, had either gone to sleeI
and suddenly walked up in the position
s where he had been neglectfully lef
standing from the moment Of the new
comers entrance into the inclosure, d
had adopted this method Of forcing {
recognition Of his, existence.
He was = swarthy, ill-fayored fellow
in elaborate Oriental costume, and ther,
be stood, on the bright colored rug whicl
be had spread out as o preliminary to hi
experiments for the amusement Of his pa
trons OF the time being, with his cienchet
hands raised to his ears, his body archet
backward, his turbaned head thrown
back, while from his gaping, cavernou
mouth was issuing the lugubrious, cater
wauling expression Of extreme weariness
that has been referred to.
Hallol we've forgotten our howlinl
N a1s a Nnal