Gardnerville record. (Gardnerville, Nev.) 1898-1902, 1902-01-31
THIEF AND HERO

sight Of one of the players that I al.
most exclaimed.
1T was n young man of some twenty
two or twenty-three years Of age,
whom I knew by sight | was very
much Interested in him, for his father
had fought courageously at Magenta
and had been killed OH the field Of bat
tie. leaving bis widow aud son by no
means well provided for. The young
nan came very rarely to the club and
had never seen him touch card be-
fore. I was stupefed. therefore, to see
hlE' holding the bank, and a good bank
It was. too, for there were plenty of
notes and gold coins heaped up In
front Of him.
How much :. called out one OF the
players.
"'Ohr laughed wealthy farmer.
N. de Mertens is in luck's way. He
can safely keep his bank OPEN
i noticed that tie young mans face
was deadly pale and there was an ex-
cited look in his eyes.
"'Open bank he said. And it seemed
as though tie very words changed the
iuek
sIeu times running Mertens lost. and
In u quarter Of an hour his bank was
cleared. Another man took his place
and the play went on. II got so excited
that |. too. was fascinated and joined
in There was 10 room "a sit down al
the table. 50 continued standing. hold
ing my hat in my hand and throwing
my winnings into Il. | had run of
luck and went Oh playing in the most
excited way until | WAS startled by
some one calling out, You are being
robbed. captain
Il started and .nstinctiyely seized
hand which had knocked against mine
through my sudden movement. IL was
". de Mertens' hand, and lie held the
Gao note which lie had just taken out
of my hat. Tie wretelletl mars face
was convulsed with emotion. Our eyes
met His were dilnted with terror and
there was look in them that seemed
10 hold me spellboBnd
M. de Mertens IS my partner. | said
haughtily to the man who had warned
ne. and am surprised that you should
dare 10 bring such an accusation
against gentleman whose reputation
Is so well known
"Ihe individual who had called out
had never been to the club before and
did not know " de Mertens at all. We
had all been standing round the table
close to each other, aud on seeing
another player put his hand into my
hat It was very natural that the man
should have thought ii lis duty to
warn me. On hearing my explanation
he apologlzed most humbly to NJ. de
Mertens. and several of the aequaint-
ances Of the latter gathered around and
expressed their regret that such an IN.
suit should have been offered HIN.
we then continued our play, and NJ.
dc Mertens soon after left the club.
Three days passed. and | heard moth
ing more Of the young man. In sh eid
ing him as had done. my first thought
had been Of his father. and had deter
mined to save from disgrace the name
Of the brave soldier of Magenta. or
course | could quite understand thai
the young man should now shrink from
seeing me again, but still it strack me
az rather strange that In some way.
either direct or indirect. he did not at
tempt TO express his thanks.
"One evening. however. just as | was
trDfss ~ ont - nav Same N-iaf.S nv ord mr.
ly Informed me that lady wished 70
see me. lWent Into the drawing room
and there | found woman Of about
forty-ilxe years OF age. She was very
digaiaed looking, and there WIS IN
open, honest expression about her face
which fascinated me.
1 am Nine. de Mertens she said
simply. My son told me everything
about the affair at the club. and | have
come to thank YOU with all my heart
for having preserved for us intact the
honor OF CUR 'name.
Madame | began; but she inter
rupted me in her emotion aud nervous
ness.
My son had got entangled in yari
GUS Nha y diii III itNl litIuiltil usu tthtl
10 play. 1t appears he had lost every
penny be possessed that night. You
know the rest, alas"
Il felt very much embarrassed. for
The poor mothers grief was terrible to
witness.
Tie Is young. madame. You must
not take it 10 heart So stammered
Tt was just moments weakness. ]
VIII see your son. and
"'No. captain she said. sllai,ng her
head sadly, he Is no longer here. -
He has enlisted and is already on Ms
way with the regiment =
We had all heen listening nttentlYels
to Captain IoHheFt's story Nad when
he stopped speaking there was silence
fer few minutes
''And what hupaened 10 NJ. de Mer
tens, capHia.
lie is dN.pi. "a" Six months AGO
receives a letter from Kelung pitful
Lt,le letter written with very pale lux
and oa n sheet rr rnnpr that was all