The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1899-04-20

boom, and Lost In the Great Sahara
no longer attracted bumper houses.
He was now living in very third rate
rooms off Bond street, and few days
after Fitzgerald's committal brother
actor looked in to pass the evening with
him.
He was the heavy tragedy man of the
company, and in private life he man.
aged to combine the idiosyncrasies OF
the melancholy Jacques with the Pc
ouliarities of King Cana. He was not
exactly jovial companion at his best,
and Mr.. Vandeleur evinced no particu-
lar pleasure when he entered.
"a charming little den, Finnyp' said
the newcomer after minute survey of
the cherries apartment. eft reminds
me strongly of your Melnotte days. We
only require your widowed mother to be
complete.
"You'd make deuced poor Pauline
at any rate, - retorted Vandeleur. "Td
prefer Miss Hastings.
Now, would you? If you'd said the
Western girl, could have understood.
I see you have her picture over there.
Do you know, Finny, always thought
you had hand in her disappearance?
Mr.. Finnecure Vandeleur seemed
gratified by this insinuation, but he
waved his dirty hand.
"No, no, Lorton-'pon my honor, no.
won't say hadn't chance in that
direction, but there was Dick, and he
was my friend. Need say more?'
A sheer wriggled across Mr.. Lorton IS
lips.
"Your sentiments do you honor, sir, :"
he said with melodramatic effusion.
"Allow me to shake hands.
"Don't be an ass, Lorton. Look here
let's do something or other. I can't
sit listening to you
"Then stand, man. I've seen 80 in
the pit and half the gallery doing that,
when other people have played to empty
benches.
'Ah, that's not my way. I never care
to chuck paper about broadcast, Lorton.
Well, shall we play nap?'
"For oyster shells, or what? I haven't
a silver, and I don't believe you've
found gold mine in the Sahara lately.
Can't we make up a third2 Does no
one live in this mystic grove but your
self?''
"There's man in the back room.
Looks as if he broke the bank years ago
and was living on the "Reminiscences.
'Trot him out, then. -
'sDon'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 a 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.. Matthews.
"Glad to see you, Mr.. Matthews"
said Vandeleur, shaking hands. "Mr.
Lorton and myself find time hanging
heavily on our hands. We thought you
would perhaps take pity on us and pre-
vent our quarreling."
"Cardsr' said the newcomer, glanc-
ing at the pack on the table. "Old
friends, see," he added as he fingered
them.
"Signs Of the times, dear boy" said
Finnecure Vandeleur. "Some day in the
next few months I may be able to afford
a new pack. -
"Such old friends, - continued Mat.
thews, disregarding the explanation,
"that you must know most Of the cards
personally.
"Sir," said Mr.. Vandeleur, edo you
wish to insult a gentleman? If you don't
like the cards you can. get out, and be
hanged to YOU"
Mr.. Matthews did not take advantage
Of the suggestion. For various reasons
he 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 tc
himself.
"Ahl" he said, az deal. -
Inc stakes were not h1gn. Ihoy 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 a 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 he was at
entire liberty to send and pay for it
himself, and the stranger replied that as
he had been providing halfpence for the
proprietor of the dubious cards he
didn't see the force of providing the liq-
nor as we'll.
Then all Of a sudden Mr.. Matthew.
sprang to his feet and dashed the cards
in Mr.. Vandeleur' face. The two actors
were well wound up for the occasion.
They also leaped to their feet and the
torrent of their words clashed into the
middle Of the table.
Endurance has it's limits. |" said Mr..
Matthews. IT was fool to play at all
with blacklegs, but when see you fox
q deal three times ia. succession when
IL r.ones Ia vour tuyu ik,a = hit kno