The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1896-09-02
THE CAPTAINS STORY.
BY ALYS HALLARD.

talking in very animated way of the
affair. Captain Joubert did not join
in the conversation, and did not even
seem to be listening to us.
"What will you take for your
thoughts?" / said to him. at last.
"Oh they are not worth much.
was thinking just then of an incident
which occurred once Mt club in n
small provincial town where l hap
pened to be staying"
"Tell us about it'll" exclaimed one
of the other men, and the captain
lighted cigarette and, putting his
elbow on the mantel-shef against
which he had been leaning, began his
story:-
"Well it was when 1 was in garri-
son at M, one of the dullest and
most stupid of provincial towns.
There was nothing in the world for
fellow to do with himself there, no
theatre even, only low music hall.
"When 1 was off duty l gradually
got into the habit of turning in to
Union Club, which, bye-the-bye, was
the only one the town possessed.
at was called the 'Union, should
imagine because there was always a
dispute of SOME kind or another going
on there. There was very little play
at this club except at the time OF the
three annual fairs, each of which
lasted week. One autumn after
noon, just at the opening of one of
these fairs, 1 happened to go to the
club rather early. There were 1t fair
number of men there that day who
were strangers to me, wealthy farmers
of the neighborhood, who rarely came
into town, aud the various owners of
the country houses round.
"'They are playing high to-day
said one of the habitues of the club to
me. 1 turned round towards the
table to watch the game, and was SO
surprised at the sight of one of the
players that almost exclaimed.
"It was young man of some twen-
ty-two or twenty-three years of age,
whom knew by sight. was very much
interested in him, for his father had
fought courageously at 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
l had never seen him touch a card
before. was stupetied therefore to
see him holding the bank, and good
bank it was, too, for there we're plenty
of notes and gold coins heaped up in
front of him.
"'How much?' called out one of
the players.
"'Oh!' laughed n wealthy farmer,
M. de Mertens is in luck's way; he
can safely keep his bank open.
81 noticed that the young mans
face was deadly pale, and there was
an excited look in his eyes.
"'Open bank he said, and it
seemed as though the very words had
changed the luck.
"Ten times running Mertens lost,
and in 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 and throwing my win
nings into it. / had run OF luck,
and went on playing in the most ex,
cited way until was startled by some
one calling out: 'You are being rob
bed. CaptninP
~ started, and instinctively seized
hand which had knocked agains
mine through my sudden movement.
1t was NJ. de Mertens' hand, and h,
held the forty-pound note which h,
had just taken out of my hat. The
wretched mans face was convnlsed
with emotion. Our eyes met; hi,
were dilated with terror, and there
was look in them that seemed t.
hold me spell-bound.
"'M de Mertens is my partner
said haughtily. to the man who hat