The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1899-02-20


fround gold mine IN The Sahara lately.
Can't we make up third2 Does no
one live in this mystic grove but your
self"
"There's a man In the back room.
Looks as il he broke the bank years ago
and was living on the "Reminiscences. !"
"Trot him out, then"
Don't know him. Go yourself. He
seems surly brute, or your genial elo-
quence would no doubt fetch him."
Nothing loath, Mr.. Lorton proceeded
to the back sitting room, and after long
Absence returned with the other man.
He was swarthy looking individual
with scrubby beard and keen, piercing
eyes.
"Mr. Matthew'S" said Lorton, usher
ing him into the room, "allow me to in
troduoe your neighbor, Mr.. Finnecure
Vandeleur. Mr.. Finnecure Vandeleur,
your neighbor, Mr.. Matthew'S. I"
"Glad to see you, Mr.. Matthew's"
said Vandeleur, shaking hands. "Mr.
Lorton and myself lind time hanging
heavily on our hands. We thought you
would perhaps take pity on US and pre-
vent our. quarreling."
"Oardsi' said the newcomer, glano-
ing at the pack on the table. "Old
friends, I see," he added as he fingered
them.
"Signs Of the times, dear boy, " said
Finneoure Vandsleur. "Some day In the
next few months may be able to afford
new pack. +" b.
"Such old friends, (" continued Mat.
thews. disregarding the explanation,
that you must know most Of the cards
personally"
"Sir," said Mr.. Vandeleur, "do you
wish to Insult a gentleman? If you don't
like the cards you can get out, and be
hanged to you"
MI. Matthews did not take advantage
Of the suggestion. For various reasons
be. was thirsting for any small excite.
ment which would take him out Of him.
self.
He sat down and dealt around, faces
uppermost. The first knave came to
himself.
"Ah" he said, II DEAL"
The stakes were not high. They play
ed for the smallest brown coin but one
which passes current in this realm.
They played keenly. The actors were
adopts at the game. Mr.. Matthews show
ed himself to be no novice.
Once Mr.. Matthews asked for drink.
Mr.. Lorton said that drink was thing
abhorrent to him. Mr.. Matthews said
that he should not have guessed that
from Mr.. Lorton's visage. Mr.. Vande-
leur joined in and said that if the stran.
ger wished for strong liquor be was at
entire liberty to send and pay for it
himself, and the stranger replied that as
be had been providing halfpence for the
proprietor Of the dubious cards he
didn't see the force Of providing the liq-
uor as we'll
Then all of sudden Mr.. Matthews
sprang TO his feet and dashed the cards
in Mr.. Vandeleur's face. The two actors
were we'll wound up for the occasion.
They also ieaped to their feet and the
torrent Of their words clashed into the
middle Of the table.
Endurance has its limits" said Mr..
Matthews. II was fool to play at all
with blacklegs, but when l zoe You fox
q deal three times in succession when
it comes to your turn It's bit too
much. There's only one course left for
me. Here goes for doing it."
With these words he stopped down
and with his arm commenced to scoop
up all the outlying money on the table.
cloth.
In an instant the other two were
pressing eager fingers after their coins
From graphing at the ooppers it was
an easy transition to grapple with one
another Somebody's legs were knocked
from beneath him, and in another brace
Of seconds the trio were in the midst Of
a rough and tumble on the floor
Blows were exchanged with all hearth
ness; the table was overturned; chairs
spun about the room and one crashed