The Atlanta constitution., 1896-06-22

Berkeley Craven. "a woman comes ana
she coaxcs this young man out or ms
room DO you know any young woman
who had an influence over him..
My uncle looked at me.
mo" said he, 81 know Of none
'WeIl, we know that she came s"''
Berkeley Craven. There can be no ques-
ticn as to that She brought some plteouS
tale, no doubt, such as gallant youre
man could hardly refuse TO listen TO- ne
fell into the trap, and allowed hlinseil 10
be decoyed 10 the place where these ras-
Gals were waiting for him. we may tahe
all that as proved, should laiicy'
TreSellis''
Il see no better explanation" said my
uncle.
"Wen then st Is obviously not the in
tention of these men to kill HIM. wan
heard them say as much. 1ney coulu Hot
make sure, perhaps, of doing so tough
young fellow an injury which would Ger
tainiy prevent him from fighting. Even
with broken arm he might pull the hSht
off, men have done before. There was.
too much money on for them TO run any
risks. They gave him a tap on the nead'
therefore. to prevent his making too mucn
resistance. and then they drove him OIL
to some farmhouse stable, where they
will hold him a prisoner until the time
for the fight is over. l warrant that you
see him before tonight as well as ever he
was"
This theory sounded so reasonable that
it seemed to lift a little of the load off
my heart. but / could see that from my
uncle's point of view it was pocr conso-
lation.
Il dare say you are right. Craven" said
he.
'I am sure that / am"
"But it won't help us to win the hght.
That's tho point, sir.'' cried Belcher
| "By the Lord. / wish they'd let me take
his place, even with my left arm strapped
I behind me-
II should advise you. in any case. to
go to the ringsidc," said Craven. GU
should hold on until the last moment In
the hope of your man turning up
81 shall certainly do so. And shall pro-
test against paying the wagers under such
circumstances"
Craven shrugged his shoulders.
You remember the conditions or the
matsh' said he. II fear 1t Is pay or play
No doubt the point might be submitted TO
the referees, but ] cannot doubt they
would have 10 give it against you"
We had sunk into melancholy silence.
when suddenly BeIcher sprang up from the
table
'Aiv God.' he cried: listen to thatr'
what As it," we cried all three.
1.-THE betting! Listen again"
Out of the babel Of voices and roaring OF
wheels outside the window single SEN
tence struck sharply upon our ears.
"Even money upon Sir Charles nomi-
neer'
EVEN morey?" cried my uncle. 1T was
to I yesterday against me. What is the
meaning of thi5?"
'Even money either way" cried the voice
again.
''rhere's somebody knows something
said Belchcr. land there's nobody has
better right to know what ii Is than we.
come on. sir. ana Wen set to the bottom
OF it,"
The village street vas packed with peo-
pie for they had been sleeping twelve and
fifteen in . room. while hundreds OF gentle
meu had spent the night in their carr ages
So thick was the throng that it was no
easy matter to get ont of the door Of the
George. drunken man, snoring horribly
in his breathing. was cUrled up IN the pas
sage, absolutely oblivious To the stream
who flowed round and occasionally over
him.
Even money. Jim" cried several voices.
1T was long odds on Wilson when last
I heard. -
ayes but there canc man who laid
freely the other way. and he started others
taking the odds, until now you can get even
money"
who started it?'
why that's he! The man that lies
drunk in the passage. He's been pouring il
down like water ever since he drove in at
8 o'clock. so it's no wonder he's like that
TO be Continued.