Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1901-09-25


singing, gambling and rioting the
whole night through and long after
daylight. Truly the town of Lynn wit
messed more profligacy and wickcdness
during this summer than all its long
and ancient history had witnessed or
could relate.
i The assembly was held twice a week,
on Thursday and on Friday. It WINS on
Thursday night that n certain state
ament WINS made In drunken conversa-
ton which might have awakened sus-
picion OF some dark design had 1t been
recorded. A small company of the said
high fiiers, among whom were Colonel
Lanyon and n young man named Tom
Rising, marched Off to the tavern most
frequented by them after the closing of
the rooms and called for punch, cnrds
and candles. Then they sat down to
play, with the ungodly and profane
discourse which they affected. They
played and drank, the young man
drinking fast and hard, the colonel,
after his custom, keeping his head
cool.
Tom Rislng's estates lay near Swaff-
ham. He was well known US the best
and most fearless rider in the whole
county. He was the keenest sports
man. He knew where to find fox,
hare, badger, ferret, stoat or weasel.
He knew where to put up pheasant
or n coyey Of cartridges. He could play
ut all manly sports. He was a wild, fear
less, reckless, deboshed young fellow,
whom everybody loved and everybody
feared, always ready with blow or IN
oath, afraid of nothing If he set his
heart upon anything. You shall see
that he set his heart upon one thing
and failed. Tom lost heavily and drank
deep.
II will play till l have stripped every
nan among you to the very bones" he
said. 'Why do say this? Because,
gentlemen, after tomorrow night shall
be the richest man in the county.
-D'you hear? The richest man in the
county. You don't know how7 Very
well. Do you think I'm going to tell
you? Flo, no! When you hear the
news, you'll say twas only Tom-only
Tom Rising-had the courage to ven
ture and to win"
''He means the hazard table," said
the colonel.
"No. not the hazard table," Tom
went on. "Oh. know the table and
the woman who keeps the bank and
pretends to weep when you lose. I
know about her. I've heard talk about
her. What is 1t? Don't remember.
Tell you tomorrow"
'He should stop talking" said the
colonel. 1--WE. must not listen to his
wanderings."
"Richest man in tho county," he re-
peated. Colonel, like your COM
pany. You lay down your money like
a man. In week, colonel, I'll have
it NIL. There shan't be a guinea left
among you nll. Richest man in coun-
guineas-fy." His head sank
down again. He was once more
speechless.
His friends looked from ono to the
other. What did Tom Rising mean2
Gentlemen" said the colonel, "he
has been drinking for many days. He
has some kind Of fit upon him.
After sleep he will be better. Just
now he dreams Of riches. I have
known men in such a condition to see
animals and think that they are hunt.
ed by rats and clawed by DEVILS"
Again Tom lifted his head and bah
bled confusedly.
"The richest mantle richest man
in the whole county. After tomorrow
night-not tonight-after tomorrow
night. have found out short way
to fortune. The richest man in the
county,"
So they left him sleeping in his
chair, with his head on tho table
among the glasses md tho split punch.
The next was tho night Of tho as
sembling, and Molly was present.
After dancing with his lordship, who
then offered his hand to lady.of the
county, she stood up with Tom Rising
who was by this time as sober as coult
BIO expected after such night. He, II
tho hearing. Of everybody, loaded hel
with pllments Of the common kind