The Washington times., 1901-08-04

| spoke with some bitterness,
True" said 1; strange one and tn,
| other languishes and dies
which leaves the ground clear for
different crop" cried Captain Montague.
If you will permit me to say so there
you are wrong. 1 doubt whether any vice
can be acquired; it must be in the BLOOD
from the first. 1t may, of course, be cul
tivated"
THE two minutes is up" said Den.
| sham: Monsieur le Comte-''
l had my hand upon the bell when the
landlord appeared, himself carrying the
first dish. He was lavish of his apologies
as my late cook Alphonse Dreux of his
favcrite sauces. We sat down to table,
taking the head at the request of the 9TH
ers. and feb to.
Until you have eaten with a man you
cannot be said to know his character. AT
table some little trait or manner may
shoot a sudden light upon a spot which
before was completely dark; it is not SO
much that he is off his guard as that he
unconsciously gives you clues which. like
the white thread, lead to the heart of the
maze. L watched my three new acquaint-
ances carefully; it may be that they
watched me aiso but as to that neither
know nor care Captain Montague ate
largely and, as l thought, without dis
elimination; he drank little. On the 9th
er hand, Mr.. Colwyn selected carefully,
played with this and that, and drank far
In excess of his needs; not as a cennois-
seur of wine. petting the palate, but as
one drinks to overcome emotion or put a
false edge on shaken nerves Both men,
as 1t seemed to me, had an object the
one to build himself up against fatigue,
the other to catch the false security Of
liquor. The more L observed the Captain
the more strongly the impression grew on
me that L had seen him before.
After the cloth was drawn and two
more full bottles stood upon the table Mr..
Colwyn called for cards. / was not sur
prised at this-indeed, l had almost ex-
pected it. since l had commenced to
search my memory for a record of Cap
tam Montague. Before the cards were
brought Mr.. Densham, who stood with his
back to the light, close to the players,
spoke.
Once more he said, II protest against
this play as senseless folly. l have pro-
tested against it every night for a week;
on this, the last night of the wager, I
protest more strongly still.''
You mean well. Densham," said Col
wyn, "and you have done what suppose
you consider your duty. On the last
night. of ell others, it is impossible to
withdraw"
Quite impossible" said Montague.
The word lies with you, sir" said Dem
sham. You can release my friend from
an undertaking which has already result
ed so strangely in your favor"
IF he desires to be released" the
captain began haushtily.
No. no.". cried Colwyn- "Densham,
you exceed your duty. / ask for no quar-
ter. The end must come soon. thank
God-and then 1 shall Sleep
x would suggest" said the captain,
that you and the count make another
game between YOU" Densham made a
rapid sign to me.
Il prefer to watch" said /. "At one
time played deeply; then was cheated
After that left the cards alone"
AS for me- said Densham, 81 refuse to
play. If the devil can whistle no better
tune than that shall never be one of his
dancers
He drew me aside, far enough from the
table for whispered conversation not
to be overheard, but yet near enough to
keep the game In sight.
You may be surprised at my action"
he said, but have reason for it This
Captain Montague = shall 1 weary
you with word of explanation?"
Your confidence does me honor"
Then 1 proceed. This Captain Monta-
que fell in with US week ago, as we
journeyed from the north. He was agree
able, attached himself to us-proposed
play. I refused; Mr.. Colwyn accepted.
After the first evening my friend, who
had only lost slightly, was foolish enough
to make wager on the result of six
nights play. This is the last night He
has been losing heavily; is worn out, as
you see, whilst the captain is perfectly
cool The fever of the thing has got into
Colwyn's blood
Evidently" / said "a more foolish
story 1 never heard. Who is this Mon
tague?'
Il know nothing of him He may be"
"A swindler?"
II confess l have suspected IT"
"Exactly-so do /, Mr.. Densham Fel-
lows of this type are as common as high
waymen. Also, have a faint recollection
of the man: let US watch Have you OBJ
served any cheating?'
count, SO am useless as a detective"
Let us watch" I repeated.
We drew near to the table and sat down.
The game was ecarte: already Colwyn
had begun to lose, and it was obvious that
the captain was playing to win: but.
though he exerted his skill TO the utmost,
he won more slowly than on previous
nights. as Mr.. Densham informed me,
T
cions had been well founded. AS the play
went on Colwyn plucked up spirit from
the fact that he was not being skinned
as fast as usual-any encouragement is
good enough for a gamester-and he grew
reckless in the doubling and trebling of
stakes. / would have protested If so
slight an acquaintance had permitted it.
Let him go on" Densham whispered;
he's bound to stop presently. Tonight
he had only 200. and 1 refuse to lend The
worst is he can III afford to lose so much"
1 had been observing Captain Montague
very closely, and gradually my memory
recalled the MAJ and the circumstances
in which had met him before. The thing
that fixed the matter was his method of
his gains-the notes folded and
crossed. with the gold in little piles in the
angles so formed 1 rubbed my hands and
smiled with something of triumph.
what is 1t, cornt?'
81 remember him" said: "a rook It's
I pity he plays straight tonight"
Fer my part" said Densham, I'm
glad of it. I've no fancy to have a duel
On my hands"
"A sound kicking would meet the case"
80 much the letter"
SO much the better sir as Won saw.
though have no objection - the duel as
, means of settlement between men of
honor.