The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1903-01-22

""E vas EycAA dES blAlceu IN number. al
men, few beyond the prime of life and,
with hardly an exception, Of dashine
ana capable exterior. They were di.
v1ded into two groups, one about a ro,l.
lette board and the other surrounding
a table at which. one Of their number
held bank of baccarat.
Il see, thought Brackenbury. 81 am
in private gambling saloon, and the
cabman was q tout"
His eye had embraced the. details,
and his mind formed the conclusion
while his host was still holding him
by the hand, and to him his looks re.
turned from this rapid survey. At a
second view Mr.. Norris surprised him
still more than on the first. The easy
elegance of his manners, the distinc-
ton, amiability and courage that an
peared upon his features, fitted very i'll
with the lieutenant's preconceptions on
the subject of the proprietor of hell.
and the tone of his conversation
seemed to mark him out for a man of
position and merit. Brackenbury found
ne mad an instructive liking for his en-
tertalner, and, though he chided him
self Tor the weakness, he was unable
to resist sort of friendly attraction
for Mr.. Morris person and chara cter.
Il have heard of you, Lieutenant
R1ch, said Mr. Morris, lowering his
Tone "and believe me- 1 am gratified to
make your acquaintance. Your looks
accord with the reputation that has
preceded you from India. And if you
will forget for awhile the irregularity
OF your presentation in my house I
shall feel it not only an honor, but a
genuine pleasure besides. A man who
makes mouthful of barbarian caya-
l1ers,' he added, with laugh, "should
not be appalled, by a breach of Ell
quette, however Serious
And he led him toward the sideboard
and pressed him to partake of some re-
freshment.
Upon my word," the lieutenant re-
Elected, this is one of the pleasantest
fellows, and, do not doubt, one of the
most agreeable societies in London"
He partook of some champagne.
which he found excellent, and, observ-
ing that many of the company were al
ready smoking, he lighted one of his
own Manillas and strolled up to the
roulette board, where he sometimes
made stake and sometimes looked
smilingly on the fortune of others. It
was while he was thus idling that he
became aware of a sharp scrutiny to
which the whole of the guests were
subjected. Mr.. Morris went here and
there, ostensibly busted on hospital
concerns, but he had ever a shrewd
glance at disposal. Not man of the
party escaped his sudden, searching
looks. He took stock of the bearing of
heavy losers, he valued the amount of
the stakes, he paused behind couples
who were deep in conversation, and, in
word, there was hardly a characteris-
tic of any one present but he seemed
to catch and make note Of it. Brack-
enbury began to wonder if this were
indeed gambling hell; it had so much
the air Of a private inquisition. He
followed Mr.. Morris in all his move
ments, and, although the man had a.
ready smile, he seemed to perceive, as
it were under mask, a haggard. care
worn and preoccupied spirit: The Eel
lows around him laughed and made
their game, but Brackenbury had lost
interest in the guests.
s'"This Norris" thought he, 'is no
idler in the room. Some deep purpose
inspires him. Let it be mine to fathom
it,"
Now and then Mr.. Norris would call
one of his visitors aside, and after a
brief colloquy in an anteroom he would
return alone, and the visitor in Ques-
ton reappeared no more After a GER
tain number of repetitions this per-
Torrance excited Brackenbury's curl
osity to high degree. He determined
to be at the bottom of this minor mys-
terry at once, and, strolling into the
anterOom, found a deep window recess
concealed by curtains of the fashion
able green. Here he hurriedly en-
sconced himself, nor had he to wait
long before the sound of steps and
voices drew near him from the prin-
cipal apartment. Peering through the
division, he saw Mr.. Morris escorting
a fat and ruddy parsonage, with some
what the look Of commercial travel
er, whom Brackenbury had already re-
marked for his coarse laugh and un-
derbred behavior at the table. The
pair halted Immediately before the
window, so that Brackenbury lost not
word of the following discourse:
Il beg you thousand pardons," be-
gan Mr.. Morris, with the most con-
ciliatory manner, land if I appear rude
am sure you will readily forgive me.
In place so great as London accidents
must continually happen, and the best
that we can hope is to remedy them
with as small delay as possible. will
not deny that I fear you have made
mistake and honored my poor house
by inadvertence, for, to speak openly,
cannot at all remember your appear
ance. Let me put the question without
unnecessary circumlocution-b
gentlemen of honor a word will suffice