The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1893-09-07

the other slice Of meat from the tureer,
on the point Of knife.
The countess ate as though she had been
lasting for three days. The brigand chief
devoted himself to catching for her with
his pocket knife the most appetizing NOR
sells, all of which were floating in gravy
of red pepper, and placing them on her
bread. She declared that the dish was sa-
worry.
The bandit presumed to remark that
did not eat.
Eat, little old chap. This dish will fat
ten you. 1t is stolen goodsP'
Just as had expected
II thank you," replied II could not
eat. 1t is too peppery for me-"
"All right" said he, and once more left
me alone.
There was no use of even thinking of
glass. The wine was served in wooden cans
According to the customs of the peasantry,
Josgi Fekete drank first, and after having
wiped his mouth on the loose sleeve of his
shirt presented the can to the countess.
She drank. Oh, my friends, what an ev-
traordinary womanl
The vagabond then turned toward me
and offered me drink
| Drink, littleold chap" always the same
epithet), ''or really you will fall asleep"
"Thank you, cannot drink. / am f.
lowing homeopathic treatment"
"Oh, obi" cried he, laughing. "Simi'
similibus." (The rogue knew Latin.)
too, am following that treatment, and
wine made me sick yesterday am Curl
myself with wine today"
Twas perfectly convinced that once druu
they would fall on us. The five emptied
cask among them, and yet when they rose
from the table not one of them staggered.
While the Others were giving supper to
the musicians their chief came to me again
my little old chap, you do not eat, you
do not drink, you do not dance How do
you amuse YOURSELF Are you fond Of
cardsP" And at the same time he drew
pack from his pocket.
| "Ah" thought l, now he wants to know
how much money have with me-"
II don't understand any game of cards.
replied.
II will teach you one in a moment. It is
very easy. Seel Iplace one card here, another
there. You cover one. l the other, and the
first one of us who draws a court card wins"
He went ON explaining to me from point
to point kind of lansquenet as il had not
lost two estates at that camel / was
obliged, however, to relearn 1t from him.
| What could / dor Sit down and play with
him. Ihad in my pocket certain amount
of copper coin, which decided to risk and
which spread out upon the table.
whats thatH You do not intend to play
| with coppers here"
And he took from his pocket handful
of Austrian zweizigers and ducats. also
had some zweizigers in my pocket ]
| placed one of them trembingly on card.
| 1t was court card, and won. The thief
paid. For nothing in the world would
have dared to pocket that money, SO left
! it on the table. won twice, thrice, and
each time 1 left my winnings on the table.
| The fourth, fifth, sixth time it was still
whom fortune favored. began to feel ex.
cessively warm. My position was dread
| ful-playing cards with a brigand and win
ming his money steadily. The seventh time
won again. had whole string of zwei-
tigers spread out before me- The cold per.
SEPARATION ran down my brow. Why had
not the same luck at Pozoni during the sit
tings of the dietP continued to leave my
winnings upon the table, while silently
murmured, Heaven grant that l may lose
this money!
| Vain prayeri For the eighth time won
| again. This time certainly thought that
| was marked for death. The wretch said
to me laughingly:
"You are probably one OF the fair coun
tess unhappy lovers, for you win outra-
geously, my little old chap"
He dared to laugh at mel At the ninth
turn was trembling in every limb. won
again. The robber struck fierce blow on
the table, and still laughing said:
Listen, little old chap; if you go ON at
this rate shall lose province in an hour"
He gathered up what remained of his
money on the table and rose. Ioffered to
return him the sum that had won, but he
eyed me from head to foot with the haugh.
tiness of a hi algo.
"For what do you take mei Put up that
money or will pitch you out of doors with
your zweiziRers."
Then took the whole lot and threw it to
the tsiganes.
1t was only when it was too late that
understood that l had just committed o
foolish act, for had myself declared my
own wealth.
The tsiganes surrounded me, begging me
to let them play the tune liked BEST
got rid of them by sending them to the
countess The madcap soon made bei
choice. With her sirens voice she began
the popular air:
My home is in the desert
In winter and In summer
She sang so well and with such irresist
ible charm that fancied myself in my box
at the Pesth Casino and set to work tc
applaud her, The brigand chief applaudec
also, and was kind enough in his turn t.
regale us with tune. He drew out a flute
and played some rustic melody. What II
was do not remember.
ut is your urn now, my little old chap
Sing us something"
This demand embarrassed me. How could
l sing when | was in state of mortal
anguish
81 do not know how to sing" replied
Generally the countess laughed at me IL
/ happened unconsciously to hum fe8
bars from some opera in my frightful pea
cock voice. But this time, speaking to me
in French, she begged me to sing If did
not wish by my refusal to expose us all "a
some insult.
This request was all that was wanting &c
deprive me of the remainder Of my conf
dence. What could dor With TREMBLING
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