Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1903-01-16

other "a Ills MOI: 81. mere they made
clutches ~ tremuious and ashen
lips. It wns plain that the honorary
member enjoyed his mem bership on
very startling terms.
Attention. gentlemen" said the pres
ident. q:
y And he began slowly dealing the cards
about the table in the reverse direction.
pausing until each man hadrshown his
card. Nearly every one hesitated, and
sometimes you would see players I'm
gers stumble more than once before
he could turn over the mOmentous slip
Of pasteboard. AS the princes turn
drew nearer he was conscious of a
growing and almost suffocating excite
ment. but he had somewhat Of the gam
bler's nature and recognized almost
with establishment that there was a de-
gree Of pleasure in his sensations The
nine Of clubs fell to his lot, the three Of
spades was dealt to Geraldine and the
queen of hearts to Mr.. Nautilus, who
was unable to suppress sob Of relief.
The young man of the cream tarts al
most Immediately: afterward turned
over the ace of clubs and remained fro
zen with horror, the card still resting
on his finger. He had not come there
to kill. but to be killed, and the prince
in his generous sympathy with his po-
sition almost forgot the peril that still
hung over himself, and his friend.
The deal was coming round again,
and still deaths card had not come out
The players held their respiration and
only breathed by gasps. The prince re-
'ceived another club, Gera ldine had a
diamond, but when Mr.. Nautilus turned
up his card horrible noise, like that
of something breaking, issued from his
mouth, and he rose from his seat and
sat down again, with no sign of his
paralysis. 1t was the ace of spades
The honorary member had tritled once
too often with his terrors
Conversation broke out again almost
at once. The players relaxed their rig
i'd attitudes and began to rise from the
into the smoking room. The president
stretched his arms. and yawred, like a
man who has finished his days work.
But Mr.. Nautilus sat in his place, with
his head in his hands and his hands up
on the table. drunk and motionless, q
thing stricken down
The prince and Geraldine made their
escape at once. In the cold night air
their horror of what they had witnessed
was redoubled.
ALAS" cried the prince, ito be
bound by an cath in such matter; to
allow this wholesale trade in murder
to be continued with profit and impu-
nifty! If l but dared to forfeit my
pledge!''
THAT is impossible for your high
ness" replied the colonel, whose hon.
or is the honor of Bohemia, but dare.
and may with propriety, forfeit mine."
"Geraldine," said the prince, iii your
honor suffers in any of the adventures
into which you follow me, not only will
1 never pardon you, but-what l be-
lieve will much more sensibly affect
you-I shall never forgive myself"
II receive your highness' commands"
replied the colonel. ''Shall we go from
this accursed spot ?" 'saSzss. s*s:s: 81
EYES," said the prince. ''Call cab,
in heavens name, and let HE try to
forget in slumber the memory of this
nights disgrace"
But it was noticeable that he care
fully read the name of the court before
he left it.
The next morning, as soon as the
prince was stirring. Colonel Geraldine
brought him a daily newspaper, with
the following paragraph marked:
Melancholy Accident This morning.
about 2 O'Clock, Mr. Bartholomew NAL
thus of 16 Chepstow place. Westbourne
Grove. on his way home from party at a
friends house fell over the upper parapet
in Trafalgar square. fracturing his skull
and breaking leg and an arm. Death
was instantaneous. Mr.. Nautilus. accom-
panied by friend, was engaged in look
ing for cab at the time Of the unfortu-
nate occurrence. AS Mr.. Nautilus was
paralytic it is thought that his fall may
The unhappy gentleman was well known
in the most respectable circles. and his
loss will be widely and deeply deplored.
IF ever soul went straight to hell"
said Geraldine solemnly. ut was that
paralytic MANS"
The prince buried his face in his
hands and remained silent.
VI am almost rejoiced.' continued the
colonel, ito know that he is dead. Eut
for our young friend of the cream
tarts l confess my heart bleeds.''
'Geraldine," said the prince. raising
his face, that unhappy lad was last
night as innocent as you and, l are and
this morning the guilt OF blood is on his
soul. When I think Of the president,
my heart grows sick within me. l do
not know how it shall be done, but l
shall have that scountrel at my mercy
as there is God in heaven. What All
experience. what a lesson. was that
game of cards!'
"One,": said the colonel. ''never to be