Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1895-02-13

fingers have forgot the feel Of the cards,
so glossy and ticklish, I'll warrant. Sit
down, young man, and cut for the deal,
like saint Of senseP'
The momentary silence that followed
was broken by tiny click as the cap
tain cooked a pistol.
The bald young man started slightly
at the sound. the recumbent figure on
the settle opened its eyes, and the two
exchanged glance SO rapid as to ba
scarcely perceptible.
Sir" answered the young man ear
nestly, .syou touch me nearer than you
know. l am naturally eager for social
advertisements, and, own, it seems
hard that single traveller like yourself
must sit and twiddle his thumbs be-
cause his fellow guests chance to be
clergymen. Yet see how it is Before
was man grown gave my word to
my father never again to touch the
cards."
"Johnny, broke in the old gentle
man, 81 give you back your word. Do
as your conscience bids you and call to
remembrance the house of Rimmon.
sonny"
May" said the captain pleasantly,
''say no more, say no more. l would
not be an occasion of stumbling to any.
1t would be thousand pities to risk a
sojourn in hell for the sake of trum-
perry game of cards, and cooking the
other pistol he laid one on either side
of him.
The bald young man, good deal flus-
tered, drew up chair and sat down,
wiping the beads of perspiration from
his forehead with his coat cuff.
''It becomes my turn to entreat the
pleasure, although, I fear, you will find
me but dull opponent" he said, with
CHASTITY attempt at urbanity. Come,
sir, let us tot. am heartily glad of
the opportunity. F"
'No, no." said the captain, shutting
the cards. ''Y ARE forcing yourself out
of sheer good nature. l see it. l will
have no man blacken his record in heav
en- for meP'
''Not jot, not title, returned
the other, with an obsequious alacrity,
"and 4 take it greatly as favor you
should play with SO rusty an amateur. y
"Well, have it as you will, then, ,"
said the captain, "and what shall we
call the stakes?''
''Shall we say Jacobuses?'' said the
bald young man smoothly.
A doubt crossed the mind of Captain
Jacohus, and he looked up sharply at
the speaker But the bald young man
was laboriously dealing the cards, his
white face creased in fatuous smile,
and the captain could make nothing Of
his expression.
''Why, yes. with all my heart, +" re-
turned the captain. ''Jacobuses, GER
tainly," and the two men settled to the
game, the clergyman coming his play
with the most arduous attention, often
clutching his jaw and pausing to con-
slider, and the captain, with scarcely a
glance at his hand, nonchalantly toss
ing his cards on the table.
They played without exchanging a
word. At intervals a smoldering log
broke and fell upon tho hearth, disen-
gaging shower of>sparks, the old cler-
gyman snored in the chimney corner,
and the night wind rustled in the trees
outside. At first tho game went evenly,
but as tho night wore on little heap
of gold began to accumulate at the ell
bow of the bald young man in a man.
ner to the captain quite unaccountable.
The doubt in his mind grew and prick
ed him. He began to watch the other
narrowly and presently detected piece
of very deft manipulation. The high
wayman said nothing, but twisting his
mustache looked the other full in the
eyes. The cheat blinked, went very
white and glanced swiftly round at the
sleeper, who continued to snore placid
ly, but the captain, at the moment Of
choosing a card and without turning
his head, saw the old mans eyes open
wide and shoot an answering look of
meaning at his son. The incident passed
SO quickly that to an onlooker the
pause in the game would have been
barely noticeable Captain Jacobus, un-
der cover Of the table, unsheathed a
short dirk and laid it naked on his knee.
Soon the pile of goldpieces began to
dwindle and change sides upon the ia
BILE, when suddenly, as the bald young
man laid down card, the captain, with
an oath, drove his dagger through the
back of his opponents hand deep into
the oak
"Not again. my Gully" he cried.
The man screamed and fell back in a
swoon, and at the sound the other par
son leaped to his feet with cry, whip
ping great horse pistol from his pock-
ct, but the captain was too quick for
him. Before he could bring the ponder
GUS engine to bear the highwayman had
caught his wrist with one hand and
thrust the muzzle of a pistol into his
face with the other. The clergyman's
weapon exploded harmlessly, the bullet
striking the ceiling.
"Now," said Captain Jacobus, releas-
ing him, "it's my turn. Obey orders!'
he thundered. "Hand up those sad
dles!'
The old man, with shaking fingers
and very Wry race, ne1F2d up tne
baggage and dumped it Oh the table,
where the litter of cards was afoat in
widening pools of blood.
Empty out the saddlebagsl Give me-
but the shadow of disobedience, aid
I'll put a bullet in you'll What's here?
Now, what are couple of rascal par
sons doing with fortune of gold? Won
it at tbs cards, suppose! Ano what
kind of gear is this for clergyn amp
For among a miscellany of personal
effects were two bulky leathersi bags
full to the throat with broad pieces, a
great jeweled watch and handful OF
ladies' rings and trinkets. The sham
clergyman, biting his fingers and look
ing haggardly at the spoil, stood in a
sullen silence. At the other end of the
board the bald young man was moaning
and writhing in his chair, his hand pin
ned fast. The captain, vigilant as a
bird, but thoroughly at his ease and en-
joying himself hugely, leaned against
the paneling eying the pair by turns.