Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1911-05-02

game of poker and had had his expe-
riences, on shipboard and on the ma
tive soil, with that innocent manoeu-
vre, called "bluffing." His expression OF
hostility became tinctured with small
measure of commendation; the young
man was. after all, playing his cards
with desperation, daring, rare sang
froid-poor cards that gave him no
opportunity to win out resourceful and
skiful, though he might be. Sir Arch
ibald, in his own mind, was quite sure
of this, and he felt positive that Bruce
knew it, also; the latter but kept stub
bornly to his place at the green board,
fighting, as it were, until the last,
figuring every chance, preserving a
bold front, blithe, easy one; he would
go down with a gay laugh. The Eng
lishman had the grace to offer him
cigar; Bruce refused courteously.
From somewhere, far below, came a
few notes of music; a thrill, dying In
the distance, was waited in through
an open window. The socially most
popular cantatrice whose actually last
farewell could even summon people to
town, was, no doubt, now engaged in
charming her admirers with one of
her grand arias.
Lets get down to business!" Mr..
Goldberg broke forth, rather explosive
ly. His feet fldgeted.
~,
Yes: this amt no social occasion"
viciously.
The young man allowed his gaze TO
rest once more on the other. There
is little matter of business" he said,
half to himself, musingly. Thanks so
much for reminding me-"
"Little?" repeated Mr.. Goldberg. Il
don't know" with ill-concealed fury,
that I should call 1t very little"
True" murmured Bruce, 1T might
be deemed of some slight Importance
to you, but to speak Of it here"-dep-
recatorily. For your own sake" he
waved a hand slightly, shall we not
take it up later, by ourselves? 1t
would really seem more proper, don't
you know"
Il guess there's no time like the
present" blurted the other, his glance
swinging stormily toward the table
and what lay on it, concealed beneath
the newspapers. He took a hurried
step in that direction, when Sir Arch
ibald put out a OBTAINING arm.
IF you please!" he expostulated.
"All in good time, my dear sir"
Bruce's glance now saw something
peeping out from beneath the white
papers-a bit Of yellow, an end of the
parcel. His figure seemed to stiffen.
Sir Archibald observed the involun-
tary movement. His thick lips relax
ed; his jaw, less firmly set, showed
evidence of returning good humor.
How much longer would the other hold
to his highhanded manner? When
would he cast It aside and break
down altogether?
Sir Archibald had seen pretty stiff
men lose their grit before this, fellows
gone wrong who came Of good sport
ing breed; he had, on occasions, even
acted in the role of disciplinarian and
magistrates in the course of his varied
career i'm the service. To observe to
what depths of funk and white feather
a mettlesome spirit may, in extremity,
Ia nrt w
a rather curious study for him.
You were speaking" he remarked
with grim irony to Bruce, "of a little
matter of business with Mr.. Goldberg.
We are all acquaintances here" there
was a world of righteousness behind
the words, and what you have to say,
you may. with Mr.. Goldberg's permis-
son"-that gentleman nodded over
vigorously-"tell us all"
No; no." said Bruce, recovering on
the instant his debonnaire bearing; Il
really shouldn't, believe me-" Gag
lioni's eyes became more piercing; a
deep breath escaped him. We'll,
since you desire to make a rather un-
important private matter, public" went
on Bruce i'm the same tone, 1T was on
my mind to speak to Mr.. Goldberg
about rendering my resignation, be-
cause"-as that person opened his
mouth to speak-"my conscience (par-
don the use of word, almost Obso-
leteD has for some time suggested to
me the advisability of such a course"
Your" began Mr.. Goldberg with
hulging eyes.
'COnscence.' repeated the young
man, with a certain whimsical, firm
dignity. Il fear it is a somewhat lost
attribute among certain of our bust
ling, striving classes. Be that as it
may. shall l." with quiZZical self-in-
terrogation, constitute myself my
neighbor's keeper? No" Sir Archi-
bald got up: took step back and
forth
However," went on Bruce airily,
we are all our own keepers. Perhaps
| should not i'm this case be too parti-
cular," meditatively; "all the other
houses are in it, However," He
made gesture.
"'It?'" came quickly from Goldberg.
"Or against it," lightly. "A stupid
tribute, forsooth!" There seemed a
pithy pungency in his infections now.
Sir Archibald halted; he did not
quite understands; all this was GER
tainly Greek to him. Mr. Bolger began
to shift about. He, too, did not COM
prehend the drift of the talk, or why
it had been suffered to drift" From
his standpoint. there was but one thing
to do. and that to his official sense.
seemed so simple. Goldbergs face,
however. began to be a study i'm en-
lightenment; some of the red faded
from it; the surface presented rather
notified appearance.
perhaps since YOU force me to speak
publicly" said Bruce to this last per-
son, 1T would be better for yourself, If
we employ the language of your faith
erland." He uttered these words in
German and went on in that same
tongue. Sir Archibald does not nm