Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-04-08

say so without offense?"
 Indeed he is a permanency in very different sense from me-" replied Mr. Malthus. "I have been graciously spar ed; but I must go at last. Now, he new CT plays. He shuffles and deals for the club and makes the necessary arrange ments. That man, my dear Mir. Ham, | mersmith is the very soul of ingenuity. For three years he has pursued in Lon- 1 don his useful and, I think may add, his artistic calling, and not so much as l a whisper of suspicion has been once aroused. believe him myself to be in- spired. You doubtless remember the l celebrated case six months ago of the gentleman who was accidentally poi 1 soned in a chemists shop. That was one of the least rich, one of the least racy, of his notions; but, then, how simple, and how safe!'
 "You astound me- said the colonel. s'Was that unfortunate gentleman one i of the"- he was about to say "vic- tims," but, bethinlzing himself in time, he substituted members of the club?"
 In the same flash of thought 1t oc- cured to him that MT. Malthus him. self had rot at all spoken in the tone of one who is in love with death. and he added hurriedly:
 "But perceive am still in the dark. You speak of shuf1ing and dealing. 1 Pray, for what end? And, since you seem rather unwilling to die than oth- erwise, must own that cannot con- ceive what brings you here at all."
 "You say truly that you are in the dark" replied MT. Malthus, with more animation. "Why, nay dear sir, this club is the temple of intoxication. If my enfeebled health could support the excitement more often, you may depend l upon it should be more often here. It requires all the sense of duty en- gendered by long habit of ill health l and careful regimen to keep me from excess in this, which is, l may say, my last dissipation. have tried them all, sir" he went on, laying his hand on Geraldine's arm, ''all, without excep- ton, and declare to you, upon my honor, there is not one of them that has not been grossly and untruthfully overrated. People trife with love. Now, I deny that love is strong passion. Fear is the strong passion. 1t is with fear that you must trife if you wish to taste the intensest joys of living. l Envy me-envy me, sir" he added, 1 with a chuckle, 'rI am coward!' Geraldine could scarcely repress a movement of repulsion for this deplora- l ble wretch, but he commanded himself l with an effort and continued his in- I quiries.
 How, sir" he asked. lis the excite I yyaxwa 1 is there any element of uncertainty?"
 ''I must tell you how the victim for every evening is selected" returned MT. Malthus, aand not only the victim, l but another member, who is to be the instrument in the clubs hands and deaths high priest for that occasion"
 'sHeavensl" said the colonel. "Do they then kill each other"
 eThe trouble of suicide Is removed in that way" returned Malthus, with a nod.
 s'Merciful heavensr' calculated the colonel. stAnd may you-may I-may the-my friend, mean-may any of us be pitched upon this evening as the slayer of another mans body and im- I mortal spirit !? Can such things be pos l sible among men born of women? Oh, infamy of infamies!'
 He was about to rise in his horror when he caught the princess eye It was fixed upon him from across the room with a drowning and angry stare. Tn a moment Geraldine recovered his composure.
 I "After all," he added, s.why not? And since you say the game is inter- esting, vogue la ga1ere-I follow the club!
 H tha hsd tkeGndy snd ydsg1yy noysd th had the vanity of wickedness, and it pleased him to see another man give way to a generous movement while he felt himself in his entire corruption su- perior to such emotions.
 You now, after your first moment of surprise" said he, fare in position to appreciate the delights of our society. You can see how it combines the ex- citement of gaming table, duel and q Roman amphitheater. The pagans did well enough--I cordially admire the refinement of their minds-but it has been reserved for Christian coun- try to attain this extreme, this quintes- sence, this absolute poignancy. You will understand how vapid are all amusements to man who has ac- quired taste for this one. The game we play" he continued, lis one of ex- treme simplicity. A full pack-but I perceive you are about to see the thing in progress. Will you lend me the help of your arm? I am, unfortunately, par alyzed."
 Indeed just as Mr. Malthus was be- ginning his description another pair of folding doors was thrown open, and the whole club began to pass, not with out some hurry, into the adjoining room. It was similar in every respect to the one from which 1t was entered, but somewhat differently furnished. The center was occupied by a long green table, at which the president sat shuffling a pack of cards with great particularity. Even with the stick and the co1oneps arm MT. Malthus walked with so much difficulty that every one was seated before this pair and the prince, who had waited for them, en- %nrod &Ia rty on1 ip oopSa