The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1891-07-15
THE BANKERS CRIME;
Diamond Gut Diamond.
BY NATHAN D. JRNER.
CHATTER XXXII.-(Continued.)


The young men were drinking wine
they epcircled was covered with bouquets,
fruits, half-emptied salvers, bottles,
glasses and the general debris of an e1-
pensive feast. More than this, wander.
Ing Eastern juggler named Ah-Ben- Me-
dan, whose performances were at that
time making something of asensation in
fashionable circles, WAS occupying an
open space near the table. and preparing
an exhibition for the special entertain
ment of the banqueters.
The pl:.e was shut off from prying out
siders ly 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
Mt 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 oyercones
me at this hour of the daw."
They then pushed their way through
one of 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 OF once
looked up. more or less indignant at the
intrusion.
Jasper made motion to retire with
well-simulated embarrassment, and Roll
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 MIR. Mar
lowe, of Highcombe? Excuse US, gentle
men. How could we know that this little
nook was occupied? There was snch a
deuced confusion on the outside. you
Know"
-Ah, it's Boncourt's friend, Captain.
Rollingstone,' said Noel, smiling. Come,
since you are here, you might as we'll join
Ms, 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 a good
ime generally. He was little heated
With wine, and the result was pleasing
enhancement of his amiable and demo-
cratic qualities.
Come, Captain" continued he. rising
with extended hand, you shall join us,
for We are about to have novel exhibi-
tion all to ourselves. My friends here
will make no objection to the addition,
am certain"
4Not I, 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 at 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, capital fellow, just
back to England alter many years ab-
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
his favor, and it was good-naturedly in
sisted that both the Captain and his friend
should be of the party.
che table was increased from five to
seven, ard in very few minutes the
best Of understandings prevailed.
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 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
tions, named Poins, by fund Of anec~
dots in relation to the races and other
sporting events, and by the expeditions
and unalterable gravity with which he
smptied his glass, and signed its replen-
ishment to the white-cLokered 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 preo scuried Of tho
party.
1t had become generally understood
among his companions that he was in love
with somc one-hopelessly, it was -.r-
tucE COuJoCtuEeu-du u6 uuu U6eu lGlC 10
the quiet fostering of his usual mood,
after little preliminary bantering.
Presently, when the new order of
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
considerations, there occurred an amusing
interruption in the form of long-drawn,
vailing sort Of yawn, or sigh, close at
hare. ~ .na ,,.,, ,.,.
They all looKeu "o '"sAe ""'
general burst of laug ghter. ~-..:o
1t was fully justified by thA eacSss''o'
Fastern 0a .ne. afore-mentioned
as'0f yuggler, finding himself alto
e.ether forgotten, had either gone to sleep
fl5 suddenly walked up in the position
where he had been neg!ectfully left
standing from the moment of the new
corners entrance into the inclosure, or
had adopted this method of enforcing
recognition of his existence.
He was swarthy, ill-favored fellow,
In elaborate Oriental costume, and there
he Stood on the bright colorLd rug which
he had spread out as preliminary to his
experiments for the amusement of his pa
irons of the time being, with his clenchea
hands raised to his ears, his body arched
Backward, his turbsned head thrown
back, while from his gaping, cavernous
wauI1ng expression or extreme wearIne3s
that has been referred to.
Halo! we've forgotten our bowling