Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1892-12-29

house years before, but never in one so
luxuriously equipped. The colorcd
man looked him over curiously. William
saw at once that without Jim he would
never have been admitted in his present
attire, but he did not feel abashed. lie
had such lofty intolerance and moral
contempt for the character of the place
that even in his seedy and hedraggled
condition he felt superior to his sur
roundings and held his head up proudly.
They went upstairs at once, The
second floor was one long room, bril-
liant with chandeliers, gildcd mirrors
and pictures. A few good statues stood
in several corners; the floor was deeply
carpeted and many handsome rugs lay
about. At each end was faro table
surrounded by men intent on the game.
In the middle of the room, at one side,
was the roulette wheel, its whirring
hum dominating the slight noises in the
room. About this table clustered per-
haps dozen men playing or watching
the play of others. The voice of the
dealer rose and fell as he cried out the
number and color in monitone, and
over all could be heard the steady, con
slant click Of the ivory "chips" as they
were nervously handled by the players.
One or two men glanced at Jim and
his companion, several spoke to him
and an attendant came and took his
overcoat, Parlee preferring, for obvious
reasons, TO keep his on. While Lushing
ton bought chips and began to play
William stood behind him and watched
with great interest the varying fortunes
OF the players.
The rapidity with which the piles of
chips were increased or depleted, the
marvellous quickness and accuracy of
the dealer rs he paid the winners the
many different multlples Of the various
bets without an error or protest, the
dealers imperturbable face betraying no
emotion whatever, all excited his inter-
est and helped to make him forget his
misery momentarily. In about five min
utes Jim rose from his seat and turned
to William, saying Didn't win a bet"
in a careless voice.
Have you lost ?" inquired Parlee,
anxiously,
oh, dropped a hundred" replied Jim.
GOOD Heavens lin that little time "
said William in horror, as he gazed into
his friends face in an endeayor to read
his feelings.
"Pshaw, that's nothing-I'll get that
back and more, too" answered Jim,
ersily. "GOu just watch your Uncle
Eph awhile.
lie then bought more chips, and
while his friend watched him place
them upon the numbered spaces on the
table with far more solicitude than any
player present, he felt touch and
looked around.
Hello, Parlce-what are you doing
here Z"
1t was the voice and the person of one
Sammy Barclay, who 1t a remote period
in his past had been one of Parlee's
Sunday-school scholars, but who had
long ago driftGd away. larlee said,
with slight blush and some confusion,
that he was there with friend.
by the way" remarked Sammy, "do
you remember my borrowing a dollar
from you at the picnic three years ago.
I've never seen you since, you know,
but I'll give it to you now.n lie handed
him silver dollar and turned to look at
the game again.
Parlee held the coin in his hand and
turned it over neryously. Something
whispered, play, play-that's your one
chance and the II over the door seem
: to come before him in urid figures. A
short, stout man with Il checked vest
stood near him, regarding him with an
y interested air. On his watch chain
hung coin with III in enameled
figures upon it. lie looked again at the
table. All Of the chips had"1i'' stamped
upon them, and his eye fell by some
queer chance OH the same figure painted
; upon the "layout" III moment more
l ~ git h, bn a. 4
laid his coin upon the number.
jim, whose shoulder he had touched
, in reaching over, looked at him in sur
i prise, which turned into a smiling com
ment as the dealer sang, "NumbeI
= eleven, black and odd,n and pushed 3;
One-dollar chips toward Parlee.
:, You've won" SAID Jim; take you,
:, pay, and also my advice to cash in a
once"
William was too aStounded at his for
u tune, too overwhelmed by the rush d
y conflicting thoughts to scarce heed him
= lie began to take up his checks as tn,
= man beside Jim rose, saying, "I'n
. through, and Parlee took his seat Il
hear again the dealers voice, eleven
Is black and odd; a repeater" lie Ia,
! left the dollar on the number unwit
u tingly, and won again. He drew tn
:, pay toward him, and taking up til
u dollar, put 1t in his vest pocket, place
u 10 checks upon the eleven, and locke
up at Jim with queer confidence tina
, made him wonder.
Again the dealer called "Elevcn, blac
~ and odd, repeater, at the same tim
), placing $3.50 worth OF ten-dollar check
:, before tile winner and CHANGING toward
:.