The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-03-31
Cbe Magic Bit OF Silver.

Adapted for the San Francisco Argonaut
from the Spanish.
Il want to ask you a question. Gomez y
well, my dear boy, what Is it?''
Where did you get your money!"
The question was an abrupt one-it was
almost impertinent. But Gomez de Bon
lila was an intimate friend Of mine, a
good fellow. and-we had dined. To say
truth, we had not only dined but wIned,
and 1t was over some excellent post-pran-
dials In the shape Of further wine and
fragrant cigars that 1 had asked the
| question. But L had long wished to do
so, and I will tell you why
Some Two years before, Gomez was poor
as church mouse. He was always a
good fellow, but then, you know, there is
difference between good fellows rich
and good fellows poor. And, to my
shame be it spoken, think I liked him
better rich than poor. Well, as l said,
he was almost destitute. He had q pro-
fession, 1t Is true-he was journalist;
but In Spain the gains of the fraternity
of the pen are not large. What little he
did earn went to the bad. for he was an
inveterate gambler.
But from poverty stricken journalist
he suddenly blossomed out into man
Of wealth. He had the finest horses, he
had the most luxuriously fitted town
house, he had purchased the country seat
or decayed grandee, he had the best
cook III Madrid and he moved in the
best society-for alas! even in Spain the
golden key is beginning to open all
portals. But do not think from what l
say that Gomez was not a gentleman. for
he came Of an excellent family
Well, as 1 said, we had just finished an
excellent dinner, and over the walnuts
and wine / put nv OuastiOn.
Gomez, where did you get your
money!"
He looked at me thoughtfuIly and
knocked the ash from his cigar. where
did l get my money!" he repeated, slow
ly' And what says Dame Rumor con-
corning it. Pedro?"
There are all sorts of Stories" I re-
piled; some probable, some wildly i'm
possible; some good-humored, more i'll
natured. You will pardon my frankness
If tell you that I have heard some peo-
pie call your wealth Ill-gotten gains
whisper Of retired highwaymen. and the
like. There are others who hint darkly
at counterfeitlng. Among the lower
classes there is a widespread belief that
you have sold yourself to the devil And
I have even met intelligent people who
limited at supernatural means
Perhaps they were right" was his la
COMO reply.
[ stared at him.
"Lsten, and you may perhaps tell mo
whether the means were supernatural or
no. have never been able to decide.
The reason that the source of my for
tune has never been discovered was be-
cause the only man who knew Of it left
the city the day after
He paused.
1.-THE day after what?" inquired
"Well. I will begin at tho beginning.
Tho story is a curious one, and should
be told In sequence"
He Lit fresh cigar. and then began:
You knew me two years ago, when
1 was poor. You ALSO knew. as did all
my friends, that I had a passion for
gaming. You would all Of you chorus.
when speaking of me. Poor BoniIlal He
has the worst of vices-he is a desperate
gambler You were all wrong. did not
play simply for love of It. I played be-
cause I was poor I was not gambler.
was a Spectator. I had fixed upon
a certain sum which I considered q
competence. saw no way Of acquiring
1t by my profession. so I devoted my
self to the green cloth-how assiauously
you know"
He smiled at the expression of assent
which involuntarily fitted over my
countenance, watched the smoke wreaths
curling over his head for q moment and
continued.
Zone evening I was feeling unusually
blue. I never drank, as you know-that
is, never to excess-and certainly never