The record-union., 1897-02-28

diately commenced a lively chat with
the managers wife and sister.
The Colonel suggested that the mel
lowneSs of the summer evening should
not be spoilt by the introduction of arti-
fetal light, and carrying the table to the
open French window, seated himself
facing the room with his back towards
the light.
Notwithstanding the game Colonel
Walton did not seem inclined to allow
his friends to monopolize the ladies' So
ciety, and frequently interjected a re-
mark when the conversation allowed
him to do SO without an appearance of
rudeneSS. CASTOR Slater felt his op-
ponent was a terror. In the middle of
a compliment to his hostess he would
turn quietly, make the desired move
and then resume the conversation al
most without q pause, While CASTOR
strove with all his might to break up
that combination which was slowly and
surely driving him into a corner, where
mate lay in wait for the white king
The Colonel chatted of all parts of the
world as one who had travelled greatly
seemed to know the whole of America
by heart, and was as we'll acquainted
with Australia as. with India In fact
ala but ladies know it, Colonel Wal
tons travels might have been traced
through the continents of the world by
a series of audacious robberies which
had marked the past dozen years and
that gentleman's progress in his journ-
eyings
AT length he returned to England
Admired the scenery of Derbyshire.
Devonshire and Wales, his companions
checking off in their minds the partic-
ular affair of each locality. Then
there's Bournemouth," he continued;
pretty little place, but too new" and
the two men grew visibly perplexed in
trying to remember If anything ever did
happen at Bournemouth.
Your move, CASTOR. Don't LET mo
hurry you, though; take your time. nv
boy"
Strange to say. the locality where
notmng had happened seemed to please
the Colonel more than any other. He
dMated upon the gardens, the walks
and drives, and mora than anything
upon the odor of the pines. 'sHow
sweet and refreshing: give him Ma
lures own perfumes far before the dis
titled compounds of the druggists" And
then his hostess, with bewftching air
of surprise, declared he had reminded
her and she must show that delicious
caSket to his friends The Colonel
deprecated, but she insisted. and Gas
ton Slater thrilled as he saw his op-
ponent make a terrible slip in that last
move and leave lMs queen for the mo-
ment unprotected and in danger. Mrs.
Slater walked across the room and the
visitors followed. Then there was a
great amount of rustling of skirts. a
handkerchief was violently shaken.
while lady's voice pettishly ex-
claimed:
How provoking! I cannot have lost
1T; but l distinctly remember putting
why, of course, you have it ON your
ring"
The hand of Gaston's adversary
trembled slightly as he made his next
move, and the bank manager, absorbed
in the game, took no heed of his wife's
remark, and sharply followed. The last
words were repeated, accompanied
this time by tap upon the shoulder,
and the Colonel made another weak
move as the 'thought flashed through
his head, would Castor leave the game
to open the casket for her, or give her
the keys?
Yes, your key is ON my ring"
THAT is what 1 am trying to i'm
press upon you. 1 want to show the
casket to the Colonel's friends"
oh"
Your move, Gasuon."
"Hum-yes.'
With his whole mind absorbed upon
THE board, CASTOR drew the keys from
from his chain and handed them to his
wife, while the Colonel softly whis-
tied through his teeth the opening
chorus of THE Gondoliers.''
CASTOR took the Colonel's queen with
a chuckle, and h1s sister earned the
eternal gratitude of the latter fndivid-
ual by walking to tine piano and softly
taking UP the chorus. Murmurs of ad-
nlration floated across from the
other side of the room, and the chink
Of a bunch of keys as they were laid
upon the cabinet. Then they ratified
slightly again, there was a pause-one
of his friends was talking f1uently
about the city of Cologne, and a
feminine voice thanked some one who
handed the keys to her again.
The casket was locked, Mrs. Slater
the keys to her husband, who
replaced them ON his chain, and, with
an exclamation of triumph, mated
Now, do not forget, Colonel" the
manager cried, as he speeded the part
ing guests; 'it is this day week.
For myself, you may rely upon me,
but 1 leave my friends i'm London"
Are YOU sure your friends could not
return with you?"
I'm afraid not, my dear fellow; but
If they cam look in later"
''They will be welcome"
''Then that is settled. This day week
take my revenge. Ha, lha, what a
sentence. Good night,
dear boy, good night.
The Colonel turned sharply upon his
as they left the bank
"Well?'
''All right, Colonel, we've impressions
IF half a dozen keys between US. Your
lady friend is aus blind as a bat''
She's a deuced fine woman" the
Colonel replied firmly. It's the man
who's the fool"
"
The ensuing week seemed to CASTOR
Slater the longest in his life, and each
lay he found himself checking off so