Heppner gazette. [volume] (Heppner, Morrow County, Or.) 1892-1912, 1908-03-05

together. He and the major mad lodged
| in different rooms in another establish
ment until some common leaven Of Bohe-
mianism had brought them together.
! When circumstances had driven them out
of their former abode it had occurred 20
the major that by sharing his rooms with
Won Baumser he would diminish his own
| expenses, and at the same time secure M
| agreeable companion, for the veteran was
sociable soul in his unofficial hours, a I'd
had all the llibernian dislike to solitu !e
The arrangement commended itself to
the German, for he had a profound ad
mlration for the others versatile talents
and varied experiences, so he grunted an
acquiescence and the thing vas done,
When the majors luck was good there
were brave times in the little fourth
floor back. On the other hand If any
slice of good fortune came In the Ger
mans way, the majo had tair share of
the prosperity. During the hard times
which interviewed between these CLEANS of
opulence, the pair roughed i. uncomplain
ingly as best they might.
Have you had your letter. the ma jo-
asked. The German was expecting lis
quarterly remittance from his friends at
home, and they were both anxiously
awaiting it.
Won Baumser shook his head.
They should have sent wake age"
But you-how do you stand for
money!"
Major Clutterbuck took ten sovereigns
out of his trousers pocket and placed
them upon the table. "You know me
law" he said, II never on any considera-
ton break into these. You can: sit dow n
to play cards for high stakes with less
in your purse, and if | was - change one
they'd all go like Whit O. smoke. Bar
this money I've hardly penny"
Nor me- said Won Baumser, despon1-
emily.
Il say, Baumser, I can't stand that
young fellow Girdlestone. III have to
chuck him up. He's cold-blooded, finty
hearted, calculating sort of a cnap."
What for did you make tim your
friend then?"
WELL" the old soldier confessed, 1T
seemed to me that if he wanted to fool
his money away at cards, Tobias Clut-
terbuck might as we'll have tine handling |
of it as any one else. He plays a safe
game for low stakes, and never throws
away a chance think I've been loser |
in pocket by knowing him, wnile as to |
me character, I'm very sure Pm the worse |
there"
Watts the matter NIT him.
whats not the matter with him? 1t
he's agreeable he's not natural and If he,
natural he's not agreeable. | don't pre-
tend to be saint. I've seen some fun
in my day, and hope to see some more
before | die. but there are some things
that l wouldn't do. If l live be cards
its all fair and above board. l never
play anything but games O skill, and
reckon on me skill bringing me out on the
right side, taking one night with another
through the year. Again, at billiards l
may not always play me best, but thas's
You don't want a whole
room to know to a point what your game
IS. I'm the last man to preach, but l
lon't like that chap, and l don't like that
handsome brazen face of his. I've spent
he greater part of my life reading folks
'aces, and never very far out, either"
"Vat did you say his name waswroa
Baumser asked, suddenly.
"Girdlestone."
"Is his father a merchant? One who
rades with the Afrikaner!'
The same"
Won Baumser took a bulky pocketbooA
rom his inside pocket and scanned lolg
ist of names therein. "Ah, It is the
ame," he cried at last triumphantiy,
shutting up the book and replacing it.
'Girdlestone & Co., African merchants
street, City"
Those are they"
"And you say they are rch?"
Yes. Very rich"
Very rich. Ho, ho. Very -.ch ~ he
aughed. Il know dem, not as friends, {
'ut l know dem and their affairs II
What are you driving at? Let's have
t. Out with it, man." t
Il tell you,' said the German, sudden 9
Y becoming supernaturally solemn and >
awing his hand up and down IN the air :
0 emphasize his remarks, in three or
our months. or year at the most. there
viii be no firm of Girdlestone. They ara d
otter, useless-whoo !" He blew an i'm I
gnary feather up into the air rc demou- t
trate the extreme fragility Of the house q
n question.
(To be contnued.)