Dodge City times., 1890-05-09
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CHAPTER vL-THE GAME-MoCNTJoV wINa,
Miss Henley's telegram arrived at the
inn the next morning
He was willing to receive his daughter,
but not unreservedly. The message was
characteristic Of the man: .Yes-on trial" "
Aountjoy was not shocked, was not even
surprised He knew that the successful
Spoculations, by means of which Mr. Hen
10y had accumulated his wealth, had
Eaised against him enemies, who had
spread scandalous reports which had never
been completely refuted- The silent se-
cession Of friends, in whose fidelity he
trusted, had hardened the mans keaIt
and embittered his nature. Strangers in
distress, who appealed to the rich, retired
merchant for help, found in their excel
lent references to character tho worst
form of persuasion that they could have
adopted. Paupers without rag Of repu-
tatton left to cover them were the objects
Of charity whom Mr.. Henley relieved.
When he was asked to justify his conduct
he said, Il have q sympathy with bad
characters-I am one OF them myself"
With the arrival OF the dinner-hour the
doctor appeared, in no very amiablo hu.
NOR, at the inn.
Another hard days work" he said; Il
should sink under it, il l hadn't prospect
Of getting rid of my practice here. Lon.
donor the neighborhood OF London
there's the right place for man like me.
Wellt Where's the wonderful winei
Mindl I'm Tom Tell Truth; if don't like
your French upple. l shall say so.'
The inn possessed no claret glasses; they
drank the grand wine in tumblers as II It
had been win ordinaire.
Mr.. Vimpany showed that he was ac-
quainted with the formalities proper to
the ceremony Of tasting. He filed hiR
makeshift glass, he held it up to the light.
and looked at the wine severely: he moved
the tumbler to and fro under his nose,
and smelt at it again and again: he paused
and reflected: he tasted the claret as eau
tiously as II be feared it might be poison
cd; he smacked his lips. and emptied his
glass at draught; lastly, he showed some
consideration for his hosts anxiety, and
pronounced sentence on the wine.
mot so good as You think it, sir! But
nice light claret-clean and wholesome.
! hope you have not given too much for
Thus far Hugh had PLAYED losing game
patiently His reward had come at last.
After what the doctor had just said to
him he saw the winning card safe in his
own hand.
The bad dinner was soon over No soup,
usually presented by a decayed country
town; steak that rivaled the toughness OF
india-rubber: potatoes whose aspect said,
stranger, don't eat u.s." pudding that
would have produced sense OF discour-
agement, even in the mind of child; and
the famous English cheese which comes
to US, oddly enough. from the United
States. and stings US sviudictively when we
put it into our mouths. But the wine. the
glorious wine, would have made amends
to anybody but Mr.. Vimpany for the Woe
full deficiencies of the food. Tumblerful
after tumblerful of that noble vintage
poured down his thirsty and ignorant
throat and still he persisted in declaring
that it was nice, light stuff. and still he
unforgivingly bore in mind the badness OF
the dinner.
"The feeding here" said this candid
man, sis worse. if possible, than the feed
ing at sea, when | served as doctor on
board a passenger steamer. Shall / tell
you how | lost my place, Oh say plainly,
IL you don't think my little anecdote worth
listening tor
MY dea- sir, am waiting to hear it."
Every good. No offense, hope, That's
right! Well, sir, the captain of the ship
complained of me to the owners; l would
not go round, every morning, and knock
at the ladies' cabn-doors, and ask how
they felt after a sea-sick night. Who
doesn't know what they feel, without
knocking at their doors? Let them send
for the doctor when they want him. That
was how understood my duty; and there
was the line of conduct that lost me my
place. Pass the wine. Talking of ladies,
what do you think of my wifef Did you
ever see such distinguished manners be- |
forei My dear fellow, l have taken
fancy to you. Shake hands. III tell you |
another little anecdote. Where do you |
think my wife picked up her fashionable |
airs and gracese Ho! no! On the stageI /
i~ho hranci. pf ha y,rnfaccinn CIV
"A tragic actress. If YOU had seen her in |
Lady Macbeth, Mrs. Vimpany would have |
made your flesh creep. Look at me, and !,
feast your eyes on man who is above |
hypocritical objections to the theatre.
Haven't proved it by marrying an ac-
tressi But we don't mention it here. The |
savages in this beastly place wouldn't en-
ploy me IL they knew | had married q |
stage-piayer. Hullo! the bottles empty |
again. Ha. here's another bottle, full. I |
love man who has always got full bot
tie to offer his friend. Shake hands. Isay
Mountjoy, tell me on your sacred word Of
honor, can you keep secret? My wife's
secret, sir! Stop! let me look at you again. |
/ thought l saw you smile. II a man
smiles at me, when am opening my whole
heart to him, by the living Jingo. I would
knock that man down at his own tablet
What! you didn't smile? I apologize.
Your hand again; l drink your health in
your own good wine. Where was l? What
was I talking about?''
Mountjoy carefully humored his inter
esting guest.
'YOu were about to honor me-" he said,
ssby taking me into your confidence"
Mr.. Vimpany stared in tipsy bewilder-
ment. Mountjoy tried again, in palmer
language: you were going to tell mo .
secret"
This time. the doctor grasped the idea.
He looked round cunningly to the door,
ANY eavesdropperss" he asked. "Hushi
Whisper-this is serious-whisper, What
was it 1 was going to tell you! Whit was
tho secret old bOy?"
Mountjoy then answered a little too
readily: Il think it related to Mrs. ViiDp
any"
Mrs. Vimpany's husband threw himself
back in his chair, snatched dirty hand.
kerchief out of his pocket, and began to
cry:
Here's q false friendr' the creature
whimpered ASKS me to dinner, and
takes advantage of my dependent situa-
tion to insult my wife. The loveliest Of
women, the sweetest of women, the limo
centest of women. Oh, nv wife! my wifeI'
He suddenly threw his handkerchief to the
other end of the room, and burst out
laughing. "Hol no! Mountjoy, what an
Internal fool you must be to take mo ser
t0usly. can act, tool Do you think ]
care about my wifet She was q fine wo.
man once; she's bundle of old rags now.
IN .|iF:, |