Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1899-04-15
Copyright, 1899, by Weatherley Chesney.
CHAPTER XIII

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 oommittal a 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 a jovial companion at his best
and Mr.. Vandeleur evinced no particu-
lar pleasure when he entered.
"a charming little den, Finny" said
the newcomer after minute survey OF
the cheerless apartment. "It 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 Vandelenr. I'D
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, l always thought
you had hand in her disappearance?"
Mr.. Finnecure Vandeleur seemed
eratifed 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 I say more?'
A sneer wriggled across Mr.. Lorton's
lips.
"Your sentiments do you honor, sir,
he said with melodramatic effusion.
"Allov me to shake hands. "
"Don't be an ass, Lorton. Look here
let's do something or other. can't
sit listening to you.
"Then stand, man. I've seen 81 IN
the pit and half the gallery doing that,
when other people have played to empty
benches.
"Ah, that's not my way. never care
to chuck paper about broadcast, Lorton
Well, shall we play nap:"
"For oyster Shells or what? I haven't
q silver, and l don't believe you've
found gold mine in the Sahara lately.
Cant 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 "reminiscences
"Trot him out, then.
"Don't know him. Go yourself. He
seems surly brute, or your genial elo-
auence 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
troduce 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."
"Cards!'' said the newcomer, glanc-
ing at the pack on the table. "Old
friends, see." be added as be fingered
them.
"Signs of the times, dear boy" said
Finnecure Vandeleur. "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 MIR. Vandeleur, "do you
wish to insult 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 QOWQ anu uedII dIOuuuJ 4aCSs
uppermost The first knave came to
himself
"Ahr" 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 he.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 leaped to their feet and the