The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1891-01-01

Mr.. Emerick's house that evening.
Nothing could have suited Percy bet
ter than this. He went and stayed late.
Poker was the order of the hour, and
Percy left winner to such an extent
that he felt in honor bound 10 accept
the invitation pressed upon him to at
tend again week later and give the
losers an opportunity to recoup their
losses.
An intelligent Spaniard of about Mr..
Emerick's own age accompanied Percy
part Of the way home and grew very
confidential.
MIR. IIuntly," he said, let me eau
ton you TO be very careful when you 20
To Mr. limerick next week. There
were one or two gentlemen in that party
tonight who are adopts at handling the
cards and have just cause for being
suspicious even Of Mr.. Limerick him.
self. 1t is net perhaps the essence of
honor TO speak i'll Of ones host behind
his back. You are stranger and may
have plenty of money which you can
afford to lose. but my suspicious that
| the play at Mr.. Emerica's house was
not always fair. were confirmed tonight
and give Won warning. lie careful.
These words set r Grey thinking, but
| they OF course did not deter him from
going to Mr.. Emericls's on that night
week.
During tho time which interviewed he
took trip up the Rio de Ia Plata to one
Of the river ports. and returned on the
| morning of his appointment for the card
party.
| When evening came Mr.. Limerick
called for him at the hotel and together
| they went out to the merchants house.
/ Percy was left to himself for about half
| an hour before dinner, and he occupied
most of the time with his thoughts. lie
could not by an means make up his mind
/ that this man limerick was the man he
was searching for. vet he could not give
up the idea that limerick was in hiding
| for some purpose of his own. There was
a slight resemblance to Nclasqucz. as he
remem bered that rascal. but 50 long
time had elapsed since he used to watch
1 the high play al the gaming house in
san Francisco that 1t would be danger
Gus to accuse this man of being Mario
Delaro.s murderer and then discover
| that he was altogether mistaken. BE-
sides. in regard 10 finding out whether
he was the woman Hregy's husband or
not. he possessed no clew OF any kind
on which to work.
The early part Of the evening passed
pleasantly enough. Percy continued to
win and 50 did the gentleman who had
! given him the warming on the last occa-
sion Of their playing But after mid
night--the turn came In an incredibly
short space of time the Spaniard's pile
was reduced to almost nothing. and
Percy also played a losing game. All Of
sudden lie detected the unpleasant
fact that they were being cheated.
When lie made this discovery he did not
hesitate a moment but threw down his
cards and refused to play. The Span
iards and Mr. limerick stared at him in
amazement and asked the reason. Lean
ing back in his chair and quietly light
ing cigar he said. as he pulled away
without the slightest regard to conse-
quences: Because this game is crook
ed
Every man except the Spaniard who
had warned Percy jumped to his feet.
Sir" they said III unison. what dc
you mean by this INSULT" Precisely
what | said" the cool and undaunted
Englishman replied.
"Such insults may pass unnoticed IL
England" said Mr.. limerick, with as
surned haurhtiness, but here thing.
are different The insult which yol
have offered us can only be wiped gu
, in one way"
!, ION the modern French plan or in tn
! stern reality"" asked Percy. who coul'
not resist the temptation to hurl a snee
at the man for whom he had conceiye'
: such strong dislike.
: I'VE have but one plan here" spoll
: up tall. mustached Spaniard, IAN
that is to fight to the death"
; II undoubtedly very good one, too
!. but DO you propose that should figh
= each Of you singly, will you all pounc
upon me at once, or do take my choic
of opponent" was Percy's reply. mad
II as easily as though he was engineerin
- his way on an unfamiliar street. Tn
u Spaniards at once commenced spcakin
~ rapidly to each other. at the same tim
y casting angry chances at Percy. but /
- never fiinched.
~ During this conversation Percy
- thoughts chased each other through HI
mind with lightning swiftness. If b
IN fought, his opponent must be this ma
ie limerick. And what If limerick shoul
D. prove tue better mano In that ease
re might never be learned who he reall
II was. lie felt that he had made mi
y take in offending these hot-heade
ID Spaniards. True, there was one VIII
e. would probably render him assistance
"a but even he could not be relied upol
le Percy had no faith at all in men Of the
a nationality.
= In a few moments they ceased the
= confab, and Mr.. limerick, acting
- spokesman. said:
= I'VE have decided that you mu
= either name one Of US gentlemen
- fight with weapons which you shall
:. allowed to choose or prepare to
~ treated as coward and liar"
1t is hardly possible that sha
choose the latter answered Percy. q
nj