New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-01-10

His preOccupation could not be imagined But
# deepened during the final rubber and, far
away in thought from PiccadiIly. he heard the
Strid roar at Bolton. in lovely Wharfedale That
was a place where man might easily seem TO
die by misadYenture.
The game being ended, he pushed the cards
away with smile. Some sense of embarrass-
ment lay upon the other players. His luck had
been worse than common. he was pleasant
officer. and everybody knew him to be 'hipped'
He wrote in his neat hand upon the back of
visiting cards an Il L" for each member
Of the party while they were paying cash or
checks His refined and tranquil face was
flushed a little; the act brought home to him
very disagreeable sense Of his position
He reverted 10 a conversation which had
passed before the game began. You are all
very good fellows wait he said. I'm sorry
/ haven't at all the same faith in my chances.
His sensitiYeness provoked a friendly muTmur
and some light encouragernents. When man
is of his luck" he cannot do better than go
away and forgot it. In the high priced club
where the colonel played above his purse worse
luck than his had been known 10 right itself
Colonel Arthur Sale a man Of no excuses
but this Of gambling; middle aged, a good sol
der with some reputation as a traveller and
sportsrnan While yet a lieutenant he had
made two independent Journeys in the Soudan
about the time of the first Mahcis rise TO power
His resolute courage had been attested then ana
since; the regularity Of his life was of late con-
frmed by a happy marriage, and men knew
him for a nice sense Of honor and excellent tenn
per, taste and social tact These last qualities
were best observed in his duller moods. when
special gentleness appeared in him.
Few men were better liked, and, as commonly
happens, not the most imaginative among his
friends could suspect what he had il in mind
TO do He was going TO Yorkshire for q
months fishing" But. for some time now, the
position must have seemed TO Colonel Sale TO
have a hopeless look. He had lost hard upon
5000 in few months; his means were mar
row and. after calling in all but insuTances he
was in debt for three impossible thousands still
To give up honor and life douby futile
But what had determined him the necessity
of saving something for his wife and boys. He
said goodby 10 them in the morning. Let those
who share his temperament be Colonel Sales
judges. Granted his point OF view, there must
have been something beautifully tender and
brave in the light farewell, and yet one does not
care 10 think Of il
Pass to certain reflections Of the journey
They had some bearing on the sequel. With
only few days to live and with the sense Of
mastery which every calm resolution gives,
Colonel Sale was ore than usually clear headed
although his heart labored and scenes from the
old past ran mostly in his thoughts In partic-
Mar he was struck 10y recollections Of a college
friendship and Of a boys conversation which
pointed TO his present case II was the most in
innate and lasting friendship he had known,
and he would have liked to say goOdhy TO Jack
AIleyn. Dear old ndus Achates matter Of fact
and gay and kind. What in these last few years
had become Of him? He might even have
shown a better way with debts of honor He
ALWAYS did know the right thing 10 do, and did
II with turn OF the hand When they were
mere boys Jack boosted lightly that he
would undertake
An happy tmei In a fash the scene returned
II was in the great holidays, on night Of SEN
timent and philosophy. things they did not
know by any such names. and talked neVeTthe-
less on all occasions There a badger.
While il was out they had stopped the earths.
and they lay among bracken and rocks on the
edge OF a Yorkshire moor waiting for it The
rnoonIit dale VAS romantic. but not Jack, and
they were talking ghosts Touching TO remem-
her how the dear fellows chaf had never hurt
birrlt But Jack provoked him to say-he
called quite freshly the mood in which he spoke,
bautering but still with delightful, creepy
sense of committing himself 10 something risky:
All right, Old chap but If ever 1 get into
Queer Street'-innocent word in those days
land have TO shuttle off this mortal coil III let
Won see III be an apparition myself and make a
friendly call in search Of sympathy Co away
saws YOU you're imposition Besides,