The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1896-10-30
THE CAPTAINS STORY.
BY ALBERT DELFT

1t was Just after the scandal at our
club, and a little group of us were talk
ing in very animated way of the af-
fair Capt. Joubert did not join in the
conversation. and did not even seem
to be listening TO us.
What Will you take for your
thoughts?" 1 said to him-lt last
oh! they are not worth much. |
was thinking just then of an incident
which occurred once at a club in a small
provincial town where / happened to be
staying
Tell us about it," exclaimed one
of the other men. and the captain light
ID cigarette and, putting his elbow on
the mantel-shelf against which he had
been leaning. began his story:
We'll. it was when | was in garri-
son at NJ. one of the dulIest and
most STUPID of provincisl towns. There
was nothing in the world for a fellow to
do with himself there, no theater even,
only low music-hall.
When / was off duty gradually got
into the habit of turning in To the Union
club, which, by-the-bye. was the only
one the town possessed.
1T was called the Union | should
imagine because there was always Il
Dispute of some kind or another going
on there. There was very little Iar
at this club except at the time of the
three annual fairs, each of which last
ed a week. One autumn afternoon.
lj,-St At the opening of one Of these fair,
! happened TO go TO the club rather carly
There were n fair number of men there
that day who were strangers to me.
wealthy farmers of the neigh borhood.
who rarely came into town, ard the
various owners of the country houses
round.
They are playing high to-day said
one of the habitucs of tho club to me
l turned round towards the table to
watch the game. and was so surprised
aJ the sight of one of the players that.
/ almost exclaimed.
1T was young man of some %
or % years of age, whom ! knew
by sight. | was very much interested
in him. for his father had fought cour-
a"cously st Magenta and had been
killed on the field of battle, leaving
his widow and son by no means well
provided for. The young man came
very rarely TO the club, and had never
eocn him touch n card before. | was
stupeficd therefore to see him hold
ing the bank, and good bank it was
too. for there were plenty of notes and
gold coins. heaped up in front of him.
'.lIow much?' called out one of the
players
"-Oh,' laughed a wealthy farmer,
NJ de Mertens is in luck's way; he can
safely keep his bank open
II noticed that the young mans face
was deadly pale, and there was an ex-
cited look in his eyes.
's'Opcn bank, he said, and it seemed
as though the very words had changed
The luck.
Ten times running Mertens lost,
and in a quarter of an hour his bank
was cleared out. Another man took
his place and the play went on. 1t got
so exciting that |, too, was fascinated.
and joined in. There was no room to
sit down at the table, so / continued
standing. holding my hat in my hand
ard throwing my winnings into it.
had run of luck. and went on playing
in the most excited way until | was
startled by some one calling out: You
| are being robbed, captain
J II started. and instinctively seized
hand which had knocked against mine
! through my sudden movement 1t was
| NJ de Mertens' hand, and he held
/ the 10 note which he had just
taken ont of my hat. The wretched
mans face was convulsed with emo
ton. Our eyes met; his were dilated
with terror. and there was n look in
them that seemed to hold me spell
| bound.
m de Mertens is my partner 1
said. haughtily. to the man who had
| warned me; and | am surprised that
s-or should dare to bring such an accu-
sation against a gentleman whose rep
| utation is 50 wei known.
The individual who had called out
had never been TO the club before, and
did not know NJ. de Mertens at all.
| We had al been standing round the
table. close to each ether, and on seeing
another player put his hand into my
hat, it was very natural that the man
should have thought it his duty to
warn me. On hearing my explanation