Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1895-10-31

fort--nct
As he ceased speaking he arose and
half dragged me through an arched
doorway into a large room filed with
q mixed crowd of people. who pressed
eagerly about a number of gaming
tables.
Pressing me into corner, he said, in
hurried whispers:
Now, look here, Jack, I am not the
cove to go back on mate-not L; 81
Just you do as tell you, and we'll &c
out of this room rich as Jews
Well, he then went on to tell, in q
rather incoherent and excited manner
how he could. in short time, by the use
of the money he had In his possession,
win enough at the roulette table to
make us independently rich for life.
He had sort of system of playing the
game, he went on to say-a system Of
doubling the bet whenever he lost
that could not help win in the end. II
was as plain as black and white, and
there could be no chance of losing in
the run. My mind was too much mud
died by the wine to follow all he said,
asm was infused into me by his ex-
cited words and manner, and without
stopping to count the cost was ready
tn join him in his mad scheme.
Thrusting a handful of doubloons
into my hand, he signaled me to follow
him. We made our way through the
crowd to a table, around which a num-
Der Of people were gathered, watching
with eager interest the turning of q
large wheel in sunken disk in its CEN
ter. Each player had large pile of
coin before him and the betting was
lively. This was the first game of its
kind had ever seen, and / stood mo-
tionless for some time watching its
progress before I could see into its mys-
teries.
But not so with Rugby. He seemed
perfectly at home at the table from the
start and began betting heavily. j
stood clutching the gold in my hand.
watching with bated breath as he
staked heavy sums-to be either won
or swept away in the next breath. It
was strange and new sensation to
me-this watching of the rapid turn
ing of fortunes wheel, and there was
something in the very uncertainty of
the result that was inexplicably fas-
cinating.
At length ventured to drop a doub-
loon on the red, but turn of the wheel
and it was swept away. Then tried
another, only to see it meet with the
fate of the first. I stopped now, dis
couraged at the result or my first VEN
lures, and fixed my attention on Rugby,
who was winning heavily.
His face was afiame with excitement,
and there was wild light in his eye as
he raked in stake after stake of shining
This continued for nearly
and in short time he lost every dollar
he had.
shall never forget the look of dis
and wild despair that
came over his face as he turned to me.
Its all gone, Jack!" he said, in n
strangely hoarse and unnatural voice.
''God help me-what will become of
me now! 1 took the money from old
cabin-six thousand dol
my witness-but now"
He gave vent to low moan and
leaned upon my arm, his whole form
his face as pale as death.
Come, let us leave the accused
place." / said, attempting to lead him
away; but at that moment his eyes fell
On the gold coins in my hand, and, with
, stifed cry, he seized them and stag
yered toward the table.
Zone more chance!" he breathed, \
fierce light leaping into his eyes. Zone
more chance, Jack, and pray that it may
not fail me!'
He leaned over and dropped the hand
full of gold on the table, then started
hack, a low, agonized cry upon his lips,
his eyes fixed upon some object across
the table. I glanced up and saw old
Modington standing with his restless,
burning eyes fixed upon us.
The next moment 1 followed Ruggy
as he rushed wildly from the room
How we passed the night 1 cannot tell.
It all seems like some strange dream to
me now.
Daylight the next morning found US
in the shadows of deserted
building of the outskirts of the city,
weak and haggard. the damp winds
from the sea chilling us to the marrow.
We were both sober enough now, but
could undo the dreadful folly
Of the night. How I reproached myself
for the part had played in the dreadful
business!
Penniless and fugitives from justice
in strange land, whittier could we go?
My mental agony at that moment could
not have been greater.
BUGGY laid his hand on my shoulder.
SACK" he said, in shaky voice, ''it's
all my fault. deserve to be punished.
Come, we must go back to the ship. I'll
tell the whole story. They shall take
you back. And I-they can send me
to prison"
Tears came into his eyes as he spoke,
and the hand he laid on my shoulder
with emotion.
..No, Ruggy, you shall not do that"
said, touched by his words and manner.
Il, too, am to blame. l should have
saved you from this folly, instead OF
becoming party to it. But we will go
back to the ship, confess all, and share
the blame alike"
We got a shore boat to take us to the
Flying Fish. The captain and mate
had gone ashore, but we found Moding-
ton in his cabin.
He eyed us keenly as we came in.
"Mr. Modington," said Rugby, 'I
stole six thousand dollars from your
cabin and lost it all at the gaming table
asst night. I don't suppose it will