The morning times., 1897-01-17

'sIll come in atsfive rupees?'
"Now,'' I asked-I was dealing-''do
you want any cards?''
mo- from Fleechy.
no from Mokely.,
"Ohor' said the colonel 1.-TWO pat hands.
Now for a fight.
Mokely made the first bet, tentatively.
II bet ten rupeesy''
Fleechy raised hiseyes for the first time.
He looked steadily at Mokeiy. The mask
was Off m ttss-
''You better not play" he said. quietly.
The onlookers knew at once that Fleechy
meant what he said. But Mokely had bril-
liant hand, and his Judgment was upset.
why shouldn't play, old stick-in-the-
mud?"
Because you will lose''
You don't bluff me, you old fox! VIII
you raise my bet?"
Fleechy shrugged, his shoulders.
Il ave warn you / go a thousand bet
ter VIII you see that?"
Mokely almost leaped off his chair with
exuitation. Then the onlookers knew that
Mokely must have practically invincible
hand, and they pitied FIeechy.
Ten thousand better!" shouted Mokely.
81 make it twenty tEousand,' FIeechy
continued, calmly
"Thirtg"-from Mokely.
Forty from Fleechy
"Fifty''-from Mokely
''Sixty''-from Fleechy
"Seventy''-from Mokeiy
Then the colonel Interrupted
"Mokely, you're not in my regiment. and
I've no business to interfere; but you know
you can't afford to pay that if you lose
Mokely blazed.
What do you mean, sir2 1 can afford
to pay. | tell you L can! Do you wish to
insiuuate-''
Never mind, never mind; 1 apologize.
Go on" replied the colonel. But il ever
saw an unhappy man / saw one then in
the colonel, when he realized that Mokely
was stalking his wife's little fortune.
Cant you stop it," he whispered to me.
in agony.
Il objectto this" one of the players said,
"Our rule is that the pool shall not be raised
more than 600 rupees at time. These
| bets go for nothing
Mokely laughed ugly, sneering laugh.
"0h, you want TO save me, do you? I'm
not going to be stopped by any man, let
alone damn civilian. / tell you can pay
| if / lose, and l also tell you that ] am
| going to win
Then the player who had demonstrated
| had an inspiration. He pretended To lose
his temper and junped to his feet, upsetting
| the table as if by clumsy accident. Ash
| trays, cards, glasses, counters, were split
ON to the floor. Bat Fleechy and Aokey
| had snatched up their cards from the ta-
| BILE and sat there, facing each other, ready
| to continue the betting.
Eighty thousand said Fleechy.
Ninety Mokely.
"Nnety-five' '-fTOm~ Fleechy.
| lone hundred thousand from Mokely.
| Fleechy was never SO calm in his life
He smiled an innocent smile.
wat a charmingI A lakh OF rupees?
Wy, you viii be rich man-oh, if you win?
Eh? L see you at wan hunder' thousand
rupees Wat you got?"
straight flushl'' 'Mokelys voice trem-
bled with triumph.
Fieechy smiled his placid. innocent smile.
Yes, wat a Jolly! Wat is your highest
card?''
King"
"oh, also ave straight flush, 'eaded by
| the ace
He laid down hisearls slowly, one by one.
The ace OF hearts tlio King of hearts, the
queen of hearts. the knaSe of hearts, the
ten of hearts Weleanea over the table to
look at this marvellous -t4mbination.
| But Mokely had left. I
The colonel gnawed his mustache He
would get into trouble himself over this
but he did not think OF that It was Moke-
ly's wife he thought OF.
GOOD God, he's, ruined!" he said, half
involuntarily.
"W'at you say? Mokeiy. is ruined? WY
he bet if he cannot pay?"
He can pay. He can just pay and no
| more, but it will take all his wife's for
tune to do it"
Fleechy pondered for moment. Then
he growled like tiger.
"Ze r-r-rascall Ze dam r-r-rascal, To
gamble his wife's nlonnaie."
He'll have to leave the service He's
| over head and ears in debit the colonel
added.
Fleechy pondered momentlonger. Then
he leaned over toward me. He. whispered
i "Say it was a Joke. Tell MokeIy We
make joke wiz him. Tell i'm we ear your
lorse comm up and we arrange the cards
so that you get n straight flush: All for
fun, so as to see re betting"
Then you will lose your money" tht
colonel said.
Damn ze monnaie! Go and tell hin
as tell you. Tell him we mex joke wiz