The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-07-24

die. who had warned him against the dis
reputable ch aracter of Narrow lane. In
him, even more than in Royal, there seemed
a hope of friendship.
Did this man suspect what was wautedi
| Why that look every now and then cast at
him so stealthlyl
Reviewing the matter aft or ward in cold
blood Leonard told himself be must have
been mad. Yet not even in the full tide
OF the misery which came then did he re-
greet for a moment the course he had
adopted.
The game began.
Each of the players were bent on making
It serve a purpose Of his own, which the
others did not suspect. The lad wanted 70
! gain time, Royal TO win the hunchbaok's
money, and the huuchback to match bis
skill against his cousins.
But why did the Rat playl What was
his object in SO suddenly changing bis
minds
Certainly not TO win the money he bad
before vowed he would not touch, for
though he lost little, he won nothing, leav-
ing that part Of the business to Royal, who
was resping a rich harvest.
Had he been less occupied in watching
the lad he-the Rat-might have noticed
that the hunchbaok seemed to be playing
with strange carelessness. Royal saw it.,
but believing that the cripple wished 70
make some PREPARATION to the cousin he had
injured so terribly, merely chuckled in
wardly as the stakes, which his partner
would not win, were swept into his own
swelling heap.
The play went on for some time, and Leo
was just thinking what fool he had been
to get into such den, for already he was
in the hunchback's debt, when he saw a
questioning look in the brown eyes Of his
host.
1t was very fleeing, for Royal. who,
with all his interest in the game, seemed to
have spare eye to watch his servant
looked from one TO the other with suspicion
on his handsome face.
A moment later, however, Royal fell
into hot dispute with the hunchback
about some point in the game, and Leon~
ard siezed the opportunity.
Under pretense Of giving the bunch
back an |. o. u. for some money he had
borrowed, he managed to write on a scrap
OF paper and causally pushed it under his
hosts eyes:
"For heavens SAKE, be my friend, and
help me somehow
To the young mans extreme disgust, the
Rat knocked the note heedlessly off the
table.
Blaming himsslf for not having made
his meaning clearer, he was about to think
Of some other device. when slight touch
upon his hand, as it lay on his Knee. while
deal was in progress, made him pause.
He sat on the same side Of the table as his
host, facing Royal and the hunchback The
communication between him and the Rat
therefore was easy.
He expected a note-indeed, opened his
fingers to receive it. Instead however, he
felt his hosts hand turn his open palm
downward and, pushing up the cuff. run bis
finger in a strange manner from the sleeve
to the lower knuckles of his fingers, repeat
ing the process three or four times, while
he was apparently devoting all his attention
10 counting his money.
The lad was in a maze. This was clearly
the answer to his note, but how was he to
interpret itl
The deal ended Immediately, and he was
obliged TO take up bis cards
During the next hand it occurred to him
that the touches on his wrist were a kind OF
silent language, but how to read the riddle
was quite beyond his comprehension.
1t was fortunately the hunchback's turn
to deal next time, and so placing his hand
on his knee as before he waited for the mes
sage to be repeated. This was done in the
same careless way, but still more intelli-
gibly than before.
At length bright idea struck him.
"Jovew-he could scarcely repress an exc
clamation of delight at suddenly finding the
key to the mystery.
A fresh game was Ia progress, but the
moment the dealing began again he placed
his hand on his knee, and the finger traced
once more on 1t the circles which had
seemed 80 meaningless.
But he had now mastered the secret Of the
thieves silent language.
"Hushp the finger wrote, you are here
to find that girlW
The boys heart leaped as he gave his
answer Yes in the same stealtny way
upon his hosts hand.
"Be cautious above all-she is in the
room above-you can reach it by the door
of the inner room-if you would save her
when l signal to you-go to her-take her
out of the house-as quietly as you can
there must be no fus'-if any one tries tc
stop you-there is pistol on the shelf, you
can use it to threaten-if need be, but for
heavens sake don't fire-there must be- nc
commotion-for her sake.h
This was long reply and occupied two
whole deals. II fully explains the change
Of purpose on the part of the host with re-
gard to the hunchback. He had laid aside
bis quarrel with his cousin In order to save
Madge Brandon.
He had seen the lad talking to her at the
station, and concluded, when be came to
the house In spite of his advice, that he
must have discovered the plot against her.
He was surprised at such an ally In his plans
but none the less willing TO let him help
As for Leonard, realizing truly that the
girl-little Gray cloak, as he, of course, be
lieved-was in danger, he waited resoutely
for the signal which his host had promised
him.
The latter hoped before long to break W
the party. The hunchback away and Roya
off his guard, as he was sure to be with
counting his gains, himself and Leonard to-
gether might induce him to give up the
girl peaceaby.
But suddenly there came an INTERRUPTION
to the game which certainly three of the
players did not expect.
All his money swept into the pile, which
seemed TO spring up, as if by magic under
Royals play, the hunchback put his hand
into his pocket to draw a fresh supply
from his pocket book.
He found 1t had gone.
Royal had calmly helped himself to it
with the same deXterity as he had displayed
in appropriating Nadge's purse, trusting, il
the case of the owner cutting up rough,
to his superior strength, ard above all tC
his knowledge that the hunchback wal
guilty of the crime for which his cousin mac
paid the penalty.
He bad not overrated his power, for on tn,
disco very of his loss, although he broke ou
at first into loud accusations. the huuch-
back seemed to believe Royals explanation
that be must have it about him some
where.p Still he flung down his cards, de
clarIng IL useless TO play without money
clambered down from his chair and said II
must go. Royal, with a satisfied smile
60 g.