Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1901-06-20

s'LEr Us DRINK TO THE-To THE LATE Dn-
CEAsRDP
left good bit OF money, and the way
he made ducks and brakes Of 1t was a
caution. About the time l came into
the club he had run his race and was
tangled up with the note shayers. Six
months later he was known to be fat
broke. The man had a keen sense Of
humor, though obstinate IN mule
about taking advice. and 1t was doubt
less his desperation that drove him
into cheating at cards. The Incident
did not happen at our club. but at
another, though we were specify In
possession OF the proofs. 1t meant his
doom. Even II he had not been down
TO his last dollar he would have been
tabooed everywhere. As II was. with
no hope for the financial future. he
had only to sit down and plan how he
should disappear from the sight OF
men.
Queen had been hot favorits In the
club. and many OF us hoped he might
bring forward a good defense. but N a
matter OF fact he made none. There
was no other way than compulsion,
and while some OF the voters thought
he might drift out TO the colonies and
make a new start others were con-
fdent that a man OF his temperament
would not try to outlive the disgrace
About a week after Queen had been
officially notified OF his expulsion he
met a member OF the club on the street
and through him extended an invita-
tion to five or six others of IN 10 par
take OF little farewell dinner with
him. as he was on the eve OF going
away. II seemed a queer move on his
part. and you may think II queer In
our accepting the Invitation, but we
who had been most chummy with him
could find excuses for him. II was
decided TO drop In on him as individ-
uals and In no way binding the club.
and when the evening came around
five OF us were on hand Queen had
spacious apartments In fashionable
thoroughfare. and he welcomed us
with the utmost heartiness. The Ave
OF us went In together. and we found
ourselves the only guests On arriving
we were ushered into his sitting room.
from which most OF the furniture had
been removed. II was being packed
for storage during his absence. he said,
but we knew that II had gone TO the
auction rooms instead. Had there
been suspicious man among rs he
would have wondered that no odors
came from the kitchen or noise from
the dining room. and he would have
noticed that Queen seemed a bit nsrv-
Gus and uneasy and was doing his
best 10 appear serene. We had gone
In friendly spirit for pleasant hour,
and why should we feel suspicious OF
our host1
We were offered cigars as soon as
we got seated, and as we smok-
ed and waited for the dinner
Queen was bright and chatty and
something like his old time self He
had said that he was going away. but
he did not give further particulars, and
OF course no one asked him. We some
how gathered the idea, however, that
he was going out TO South Africa.
Dinner seemed long time In coming
when Queen himself brought In vino
and glasses and explained that he
wished us 10 drink 10 toast he would
give II struck us as strange, but he
had always been n queer fellow. We
sat In n half circle about the table. and
as the glasses were filed and we wait
ed FOR the signal To rise TO our feet the
aad. stepped back until
y, ,....,. ... !. ais elbow on the mantel
and then quietly said:
"Geutlemon. keep your seats. have
nothing 10 say regarding the action
G. the Pace club or any other club. and
| au proud Of the fact that n few OF
you are here TO see me off. II was kind
OF you to come. and rest assured that
~ appreciate IL. The toast ! pro-
pose is rc'Ner odd perhaps. but every
thing goes. you know. Let US drink
let us drink TO the-to the late de-
ceascdr'
Queen was n left handed man. He
held the glass in his right hand, and
as he hcs.tated over his words his left
went back TO his hip pocket, and out
came n pistol We realized In a fash
what he meant TO do. but Il came so
suddenly that no one could put forth
hand. There was n grim smile on his
face as he placed the muZZle OF the
weapon to his temple. but he did not
pull the trigger. Outside n thunder
storm had been working up over the