New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-07-17
WHAT'S

Tom looked at the floor and said nothing There
was long pause Wlll9n9hDy puhed nara at
| "Dou you know what mortgages are, Tom =
/ Yes, sir we call EN- monkeys
| We'll, Tom, there are good many MONKEYS
on my farm, and the owners Of the monkeys
that is, the mortgages will want their Interest
in months time. If they don't get it they will
sell me up. ] have not the money. Now, DO
you understand why am going TO play carus
Tom looked at his master alphabetically, but
| did not speak.
ITS not all my fault" he went on. 81 had
| the money in the bank at the beginning of the
year; but relative borrowed $500 to set up In
business ness and-and-- Bgt you understand th..
| money again. sir ?"
| Exactly So"
| I'm right down sorry 70 hear II, sir. But IS
| there no way except this card-playiqe? Couldn
you put off them monkeygees for year?
Couldn't you tell EN- that you were going to work
| hard, and save, and pull things round? Knock
of my wage sir: | don't want it,. And put
me on to some harder work; could do as much
| again as | do
Tom rose to his feet somewhat excitedly, pull
| ing his waistcoat dcwn and stilening his back,
| as though TO show of his physical capacity for
additional tolls.
Rubbish Tom Sit down. Kindly meant, but
| rubbish shall play tomorrow night; Il lose, /
shall stop, before much damage is done If | win
shall follow my luck There my friend let that
| Good night, sir. But promise me one thing:
if you are lucky, you'll never play for money
| again
Il promise.
Then may you be lucky, sir, for this once.
Good Good, night, SIR And Tom disappeared. W.,
loughby. wonder if he'll make me sign the
| pledge next
It was late in the afternoon when Tom drove
| the dog-cart up g. the front door.
Put little corn in" shouted Wioughby from
his bedroom window, and a basket | shall
want you ,tc. fetch Lightning up for me in the
! Bent Garth"
Lightning was horse with a good deal of
blood in him, very dear to WillOughby, and often
entered for steeplechases at the minor race
In few minutes they drove away. Arrived
at the Bent Garth, Tom got down with his basket
of corn, and Wioughby sat waiting in the trap
The Bent Garth was, as its name implied,
bent field, shaped like the letter l. The horse
bend. Thither Tom marched through the grass;
he had hardly got round the corner and out Of
his MASTER sight when he came on two men
ing fellow with dark unshaven face, the other
a nondescript of middle height and particular
! color. Tom recognized them both-old dcquant-
ances of his vagrant days, and brace of thorough
S''" Hu iTG';' cried Tom
Bless me-" said the big fellow. If it amt old
a good job on, old pal ?'
Yes; Eve turned groom"
"Lor' now to think of that Old Sweepy
turned groom! And looks quite reformed. don't
he Well, it is pleasant meeting old friends
when they're getting up in the world. And where
are you hanging out now? ,"
AT that big house this SIDE Of the village"
"Mr. Willoughby's. | know him fond Of his
glass, and don't mind tipping poor feer
shilling when he's on bit. Hes gentleman
he is What are you going 10 do now with that
basket?'
Fetch up that horse for Mr.. wloughby to
Ta-ta then, for the present We shall be at
the village inn tonight. Perhaps you'll drop III
and stand US glass for old times, Sweepy, won't
yer?"
No, can't I'm just off with Mr.. Wnoughby.
and shant be home till late"
Going out for the hevcning, | SUPPOSE Got
yer dress-suit In the conveyance, and too proud
"Shut up your foolery. We are going to Mr..
Ferguson's; I'm only driving
great card playing gent You'll have the cards
out tonight, reckon
Likely enough"
And what time will you be coming 'ome II
may ask the question ?"
A cold shiver ran down Toms back as he dis
cerned the blackguard's thought.
Not till daylight, should think. Good-by.
"Good-by." cried the two rascals, initiating
Toms voice and then rolling on the grass with
Did / hear voices" said Mr. wiioughby,
when Tom had brought Lightning up TO the
gate.
Yes, Sir; couple of tramps chatting me bit.
They drove on to Mr.. Ferguson s; here master
and man separated, one going 10 the diaing-r0om,
the other TO the saddle-room There were other
together, supper wac provided for them in the
kitchen, and unlimited beer Tom I'm great
REQUEST his stories his songs ana bls straight
Retiring once more 10 the saddle-rOom, the men
talked and smoked. Then one by one they sue
cumbed to sleep. At last Tom was left the only
one awake; he was thinking of his master. What
did this long stay mean? Was he winning, o.
had he yielded to the seduction Of the game and
fingered on though losing? In the middle Of his
specuatons he fell into a doze.
Hullo Sampler, Mr.. Willoughby wants his
trap It's two o'clock; they're all going
front There was his master talking exctedly
among the other guests; they helped him up into
the dog-cart, ana then with many good-nighs
When they had got ont of the avenue and on
the high road, Wioughby turned to Tom.
I've done il" be said Eve won the money.
$50; here it is in my pocket, most of it in notes
No more cards, Tom, swear
He reached out his hand to Tom, and their
fingers closed in grip that meant more than many
full on Toms face; it was radiant with happiness
Lord, how he must love me- thought Viii
loughby
~~Ro yoa carry pistol, moSter'" said Tom.
Il don't think it's safe without one, when you
have all that money, Sir.
Bosh :" and he breathcd in great draughts OF
the fresh night air
They were now nearing n gate. Tom gave up
the rcins to his master, and got down to open il
he was no sooner OH the ground than he saw two
figures behind the hedge lie knew them at once
the men he had met in the Bent Garth. With
swift rush he made for the gate and flung il open
Come on, sir! Quick" he cried.
And then the cart came up to him he gave
a loud yell, and struck the terrified mare on her
Launches. She bounded forward, swerved, and
then bolted down the road
Drive for your life, SIR shouted Tom, drive
like hell
The big rufiian, Of whom Willoughby inst caught
a glimpse darted forward and made a grab al the
footboard Of the dogcart. He held 1t second and
then whirled away to the grass By the
roadside lie unhurt, and, after picking I'D
something that had dropped from his hand,
joined his feow-rnllian. They then advanced to-
ward Tom, who stood leaning quietly against the
gate The big ruiiian was trembling with rage; he
came close up to Tom.