The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1899-03-22
CHAPTER XIII.
RUN TO EARTH.


CHAPTER XIII.
Run TO EARTH.
Mr Finnecure Vandeleur was in low
water African interest had ceased to
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 FitzgeraId'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
culiarities of King Cana. He was not
exactly jovial companion at his best,
and Mr.. Vandeleur evinced no particu-
lar pleasure when he entered.
GA charming little den, FinnyH' said
fhe newcomer after minute survey Of
the cheerless apartment. cit 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. "Id
prefer Miss Hastings
''Now, would you? If you'd said the
Western girl, could have understood.
see you have her picture over there.
Do you know, Finny, always thought
you had hand in her disappearance?"
Mr.. Finnecure Vandeleur seemed
grati6ed 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 Isay more:''
A sneer wriggled across Mr.. Lorton's s
lips.
"Your sentimentsdo you honor, sir, "
he said with melodramatic eFusion.
"Allow me to shake hands,
"Don't be an ass, Lorton. Look here
let's do something or other. l 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
silver, ard I don't believe you've
found a gold mine in the Sahara lately.
Can't we make up third? 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 reminiscence. "
"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 wasa swarthy looking individual
with scrubby beard and keen, piercing
eyes.
"Mr. Matthews said Lorton, usher
ing him into the room, "allow me to IN
troduce your neighbor, Mr.. Finnecure
Vandeleur. Mr.. Finnecure Vandeleur,
your neighbor, Mr. Matthews.
"Glad to see you, Mr. Matthews, !"
said Vandeleur, shaking hands. "Mr.
I.orton and myself find time hanging
heavily on our hands. We thought you
would perhaps take pity on us and pre-
vent our qaarreling.
"Cards!' said the newcomer, glanc-
ing at TIE pack on the table. "Old
friends, see, 80 he added as he fingered
them.
"Signs Of the times, dear boy, " said
Finnecure VandeIeur. "Some day in the
next few months 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.. Vancsleur, "do 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 to
himself.
"Ah!'' he said, "I 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.
TO BE CONTINUED