The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1898-12-30
THE CAPTAINS STORY.
BY ALBERT DELPIT.

1t was just after the scandal at our
club, and little group of us were talk.
ing in a 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?" I said to him at last.
ooh! they are not worth much. I
was thinking just then of an incident
which occurred once at a club in a small
provincial town where I happened to be
staying"
''Tell us about it," exclaimed one
of the other men, and the captain light
cd cigarette and, putting his elbow on
the mantel-shelf against which he had
been leaning, began his story:
swell, it was when | was in garri-
son at NJ, one Of the dullest and
most stupid OF provincial towns. There
was nothing in the world for fellow to
Go with himself there, no theater even,
only a low music-hall
when / was Off duty gradually got
into the habit of turning in TO the Union
NiSb, NIiiS.i, Cy was lllC CIuy
one the town possessed.
ut 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 last
ed a week. One autumn afternoon,
just at the opening of one of these fairs.
happened to 60 to the club rather early.
There were fair number of men there
that day who were strangers to me,
wealthy farmers Of the neighborhood,
who rarely came into town, and the
various owners of the country houses
round.
They are playing high to-day said
one of the habitues of the club to me.
l turned round towards the table to
watch the game, and was so surprised
at the sight of one of the players that
l almost exclaimed.
ct was a young man of some %
or % years Of age, whom I knew
by sight. l was very much interested
in him, for his father had fought cour-
ageously at Magenta and had been
killed on the field of battle, leaving
his widow and son by 10 means well
provided for. The young man came
very rarely to the club, and had never
seen him touch a card before. I was
stupefied therefore to see him hold
ing the bank, and good bank it was
too, for there were plenty Of notes and
gold coins, hcaped up in front of him.
'''How much?' called out one of the
players,
"'Oh!' laughed wealthy farmer,
M. de N1ertens is in luck's way; he can
safely keep his bank open.'
81 noticed that the young mans face
was deadly pale, ard there was an ex-
cited 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
and joined in. There was no room to
sit down at the table, so 1 continued
standing, holding my hat in my hand
and throwing my winnings into it. I
had run of luck, and went on playing
in the most excited way until 1 was
startled by some one calling out: You
are being robbed, captain!'
81 started, and instinctively seized a
hand which had Knocked against mine
through my sudden movement. It was
NJ. de Mertens' hand, and he held
the $40 note which he had just
taken out of my hat. The wretched
mans face was convulsed with emo
ton. Our eyes met; his were dilated
with terror, and there was a look in
them that seemed to hold me spell
bound.
IN. de Mertens is my partner l
said. kaughtily, to the man who had
warned re; and / ara surprised that
you saoall dare to bring such an accu-