Evening star., 1911-08-20

i these were his master s, and that he
should die dishonored, and the ike OF
| that 1 slowed the bag about my
| waist. and was for giving him some
| lessons in truth and honesty.
This learns us. old gentleman" / be-
| gan solemnly, when he broke in. pay
] ing no heed, and, to my surprise, In
quite another voice.
| "Sir, you are a man of your hands,
he said. land one that takes the haz-
| ards. ! suppose.
! "All are one to me-" said. merrily.
Then" he said, earnestly. here is
something for your digestion. You
have a small spoil there, wrested from
| me- after hard years of labor and toll
But what If you had the chance to
| double. nay, to quadruple, ft?" he asked
| pushing his nag close to mine In h4s
| anxiety to be understood
| What mean ye?" i asked.
| "'Tis true" he said. that I am poor
man. But I have labored hard and have
collected some few pieces of gold.
| should lose them with an i'll mind. Yet I
| have, like yourself, heart for hazards,
and 1 will make you an offer" he says: L
stared on him in wonder "You shall
| come with me- he pursued. catching my
| arm eagerly. ito my solitary house, and
there you shall dice against me; and. II
so be l lose, you shall have not only what
you hold now, but all that is mine there
in. which is four times this little. But if
| so be the lot falls to me. then You shall
| surrender what YOU have and leave ME
| in peace
Now I sat looking on this strange crea-
ture with his strange proposal for some
minutes in silence, for what he suggested
perplexed me. And yet it tickled my curl
osity. I could see the perils OF it. but if
| he played me fair there was something
| attractive in the notion. / am not glut-
| ton for a guinea. but l like game of
chance. And so. said /, at last, revolv
Ing it all in my mind:
Lead on, old beetle. and / follow. But
beware lest you play me false
''Sr. it shall be as l say" he answered,
not without some dignity. And so We
logged along together in the direction he
had pointed out, but. as you may suppose,
with one eye upon the lank old rogue.
Presently a twist of the lane brought us
to an open green, in which twinkled a
few lights, and now ! pushed my mare
abreast of the other nag and redoubled
my watchfulness of my shifty companion.
Sir. says he now in a trembling voice.
we are nearly at our destination and l
am obliged to you for your courtesy"
You may quit civil terms,' i said,
shortly, until this occasion is celebrated
Where is your house?"
Straight across the green,' said he,
mildly. and we turned the horses thither.
L was not afraid of mere village, let
alone pulling hamlet. but somehow / dis
trusted my companion, and / was not for
being tricked by an old knave. So 1 was
not taken aback when, our horses swing
Ing into lane off the green, we came
abruptly under the lights of a tavern.
Joshua. Peter! Halp! Thievesr' scream
ed the old man. suddenly seizing my leg.
But the old villain had reckoned with
out Dick Ryder. though there are plenty
that would have been put about by the
unexpectedness of the trick. I seized
his rein swiftly, leaving him to pinch
my leg as he willed. and. giving his nag
sim lfap N in
moment we were in sharp canter
The tavern lights slipped by, and though
could hear the tramp of feet and the
sound OF voices. and guessed that some
within had responded to his shouts,
had old bag of bones safe and sorry.
Well, will own it was an odd business,
this compact with the old trickster. but
1 was In a gameSome mood. and cared
not. And. moreover. L was assured that
he had had a lesson in conduct and would
not attempt his treachery again. In
this / was right for there was nothing
happened until we had pulled up before
a house in a lonely road
This is where I live said he. and
would have descended: but 1 was before
him. and took him out of the saddle my
self, leading him to the door. He open
ed it, and still under my hand, fumbled
for flint and stock. and so struck
light. The room in which We found our
selves was large and gloomy with flag
ged floors. and an old table with two
chairs stood before dying fire / look
ed on with a grin while he made his
preparations, which he did with q shak
ing hand
ing what he would bring forth thence, 1
caught hold of his arm. at which he
turned in a frenzy.
You will get nothing more. 'Tis all
hid he cried excitedly. Know this,
that if you ransacked this house from
floor to garret you would find nothing"
POOH said I. 'stis the dice / want,
and lets see who is master
Twas the dice, after all, that he was
searching for and when these were got
us.
Faith. old man. said /. " tis cherries
hospitality. Where is your bottle?''
He rose mumbling. and went to the
and glasses, and poured forth some eau
de vie. He fumbled with the dice
The first throw. my nobeman," said
]. 'and il We win here's your gxIineas" :"
set 'em on the table, and his eyes
greened o'er with delight. But his
fingers still shook. ratified the box,
and threw two fours. Out went his
talons greedily to clutch the box, and he
ratified and ratified till l thought he
would never cease
Come. venture. / -adjured him.
Launch your ship.''
There was a gurgle in his throat, and
spasmodically the box went over. He
had cast four and three. scream
escaped him, and he sat leaning against
the taLie like a palsied man.
You have no luck" said / grinning
And now for the coffers!''
He made no move, SO l clapped the
pistol to his head
''On my oath, / will fire. said I. "ir
you do not carry out your word like a
man of honor
Stay. good sir. says he auavcring
and clutching of the table. ~ have an
other course to propose-a merry course ;,
Give up. Concede. ! Threatened.
He ciasped at my arm with his claws
tremulously
II will give up. You shall have ALL,
SAYS he. sasping. but there is something
bette. lie gazed wildly about the
stone room. and his eyes lighted on
| -. .iething that seemed to stir him to
-peech. Il have. good sir" he went on
In a wheedling. carneying voice, God
hath blessed me with lovely daughter
peautlful innocent. He held up his
hands as though i'm admiration.
The more is she to be pitied for such
a father said J.
Sir said he eagerly, I'VE will have
/ one more throw Sir, the dice be ready
to hand. And you shall wager your win
nings and all against my lovely daughter,
the beauteous innocent"
| / was taken aback in fair amazemant at
the old goats proposal, hut | was not the
one 10 stay at A good hazard. no, nor
| one to buy pig in a poke, SO says
| Where is this daughter Of yours whom
you rate so highly"
| He started about the room as If listen
ing. 'She should be in bed saws he
| oh. she is pretty innocent, a lamb and
goeth early TO her sleep. She should be
in bed above"
| For moment | said naught. looking on