The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, May 31, 1903, Page 2

THE SUNDAY CALL ay. Secret of the Pharaohs, lady; and but faise hair and falser powder, Mary Co huling nynge made good foil for her besom Have ye a parrot, ma'am? Have ye friend: though honesty must admit that o keep ve free and give neither had vet much concern for foils hour? Buy my parrot, since both had their full meed of g ast. He'll talk lants. Much seen together. they were »d city tongue. commonly kmown as the Morning and crowns, and so Eve sometimes as Aurora and Eve the car-ringed Never did davghter of the original Eve who might never have seen a salter have deeper feminine guile than Mary wate e Thames Connynge. Soft of speech—as her friend, Powder-puffs for the face. lady.” whis- the Lady Catharine, was impulsive—slow, e nd weazen-faced hawker, suave amber-eyed and innocent of vis- . g among t rowd wit crecy. age. this young English- woman. with Sce m . made from the t of En- no dower save that of beauty and of wit ghe @ t C all wrinkles, 1ady¥. had not failed of a sensation at the capi- d kee g @s when ve were a whither she had come as guest of es. & g. a shilling. See!” And Catharine. Three captains ar It ense of secrecy the seller to say nothing of a gouty colone v d sidle t age of some dame already fallen victims, and had heard . r the e's foot and take the fate in her low. soft tones, which ng w =t ould whisper a fashionable oath in the 14 see wha e could fa ent of a hymn, and say "no” so sweet- r £ es h 3 at one could only beg to hear the s crowd of nobility and ge word again. It was perhaps of some such S rose . e music ‘ nt that these two young maids of s f fuse Abc don conversed as they trundled e 2 = ghter here v out toward the suburb of the city we hames. In the e Twould have killed you, Lady Kitty; o A re ‘twould have been your end to hear m speak! He walked the floor upon his nd clasped his hands, and fol about like a dog in a spectacle feared he wo e thrown e » d over the tabouret with Rreat feet. And help me, if I k not he had tears in his eyes! My friend,” said Lady Kitty, solemnly, ou must have better care of your con- n my father's old friend which they Youth, the its own way in this nt dusty road, as wed T 1 he dawn but of to laughte gazed impertinently 4 pon the ancl s affairs gained the at- two fairs. *‘Tell me, 1 Lady Catharine. what think ye the fancy of my new dresser? ¥ F the mo in Paris favors deep bow, placed high upon the left e ‘tower.’ Montespan of = the to have given the hurried at her toilet, bow there for tter care. Hence, =0 must dresser from Paris. 'Tis to blending cdge of the pleasant t was, and gladsome was = rt the t. Now I o = ey these long e was disposed to believe at that time A ramb was not said, then or ever afterward, for matters matters which this arrangen ed stened ack of the square which came forwar e -5 w CHAPTER 1 v > been the JHN LAW OF LAURISTON - e looked sciously the coachman obeyed the command of this t from the she just awak ame forward, vet withal erence of the courtier. gure he made as he m the bank and came rolled up forw [ n hand. the yw rising g up his of the hec he imbly. This, ny Lord, the this is tie to whom 1 iy addressga gh she drew up with dignity as alle t ¥ ave « the advantage of us neast &i is f L ware—I d vz a of her adverture now ufier the way of dreami of men und c 1ests arms, ing and bowing of the given with all jage =lep, and wh he saluted ehicle, presented f m E = first moment cast 4+ se a woman whom he s t ex of the Lady Catharir rn- from him.” As hn Laws of Lauriston k t my brother W r ward, hesitatingly, and not d ess of h.s brother, though ach we w0 pa = such as mig th the breeding of a gentleman he eves of Mary Connynge took in They = . as equ with the same look, but her ¢ as did those of the Lady Cathaiine ame mesi concerned with the first d the younger - ese ¢ My brot i 1 are on our first jour- mes s . . sa ! continued he, with a e P which did not consort e ar ach from s t 1w plight in which he showed gentlemen; aud : e & > w we come on foot, like laborers or tace of a ess of conte & [ s Twas my own fault. Yesterday must needs quit the Edinbro' stage d ght our chaise was stopped, an 1 wo ladies, one we were asked to hand our money t t have bee f evil fellows who had made prey s In short—you sec—we fared il rk. we made what Ta t we couid along this road, whers we r angers. At last, not able to ot Soeht dored by many suito beiter quarters even had we proai d them, we lay down to sleep. 1 have t far worse. And 'tis a lovely morn- for ¥ . ing. Madam. | thank you for this happy a supe beg ng of the day ‘ p . s Now b d coach. a dis- ¢ gh. Lost in the ,‘ Fl she Mary Connyr - pointed to the bandage d rat e younger man's arm, speaking a w word to her companion said the Lady Catharine, “you . You did not come off r ed, sir & wed a cut a touched Whole but healtt Ot would hardly suffer the fel- the one blemish upon a » 10b us without making some argu- - oasted i t over i1,” said the first speaker. “In- - ) e e left cheek there deed, | think we are the better off here- in fes size s for @ brace of footpads gone to I made them my duties ay. Will, here, was prick- vou see we have done ented upon it, il Re ere deep-stained bi . this might be forgotten, as very well was ngw The face th- as Will Law hardly offered compe Lady Catharine compiete proof of this assertion. He had e was a young woman, slept ill enough, and in the morning light scarce v more slender. his face showed gaunt and paje. Here, ed much of the then. was a situation most inopportune: her portion, the coach of two ladies, unattended, stop. pper body, free ped by two strangers, who certainly could om the seat-back and erect with youth- not claim introduction by cither friend eng as vet unspared, showed, or feputation showed easily that bere, t0o. was but an *1 did but wish to ask some advice of adler's. Dark. the roads hereabout,” said the elder where her companion was fair. and with brother, turning his eyes full upon those e glossy texture of her own somber of the Lafly Catherine. “As you see, we ks showing in the individual roll which are in i}l plight to get forward to the city. a ck into the absurd fontange of If you will be 80 good as to tell me which ndifferent subject wandering wood ranger, of France, the neat sum of twenty-five pounds for this little shoe. he llked 11l enough to part with it; but he sald, very sensibly, that the twenty-five pounds would take him back to Canada, and once there, he many such shoes, but see the maild who made this one for him, or, rather, made As for me, the price was cheap. You could not replace it In all the ixchange for any money. show my canniness, I've won Its cost a score of times this very night.” extended his hand Wilson was exam- remember it most et T R we should do better, for the rascals have not taken certain papers, gentlemen in the city—Sir Arthur Pem- broke 1 may name as one—a friend of my had some dealings of moneys and make vibrating heart-string. month of May, with the birds singing in the trees and the scent wafted coolly to their senses, they came on apace to the throng at Sadler's Wells. There it was that John Law, finding in a pocket a coin that had been overlooked, to a vendor and bought a He offered his flower with a deep inclination of the body to the Lady. Cath- So in the merry gratefully. Poor fellow, letters which could not only get reached out word for others, once we have got Into town, we shall soon mend our fortune. it for herself. It was at this moment that Mary Con- Moreover, to nygne first began to hate her friend, the Lady Catharine Knollys. later in turn gazed at her. ' sald each to “‘Surely it is our nynge and the He laughingly the mocca ining closely, *'Tis clever made, “And what a tale the owner of it carrled. be true, we do Il to bide 1e other with her eyes. duty to take them in with us; at least the CHAPTER 1V. had sald nothing, though he forward to the road, and, bow- THE POINT OF HONOR. “Tell me, friend Castleton,” said Pem- broke, banteringly, “art still adhering to the country drink of lamb's wool? thinks burnt ale and toasted apple might better be replaced in thy case by a beaker of stronger waters. You lose, and still you If half he say in old England. and follow the horses, \ a tremor of vertigo which selzed him 1t was perhaps the paleness of his face that gave determination to the as he stooc said Pembroke, reflectively. the men at that little table in the gam- ing-room of the Green Lion coffee-house in his fingering Yet each of May a plague take it!" cried Castle- “I've had no luck these four days. 'Tis that cursed lap-dog of the Duchess. Ugh! I saw it in my dreams last night. your own fortune be ill enough, Sir Arthu son, as he pushed back his chair during this little 1ull in the play of the evening. “And tell me why ? “Because of us all who have met here at the Green Lion these last months, not one hath ever had so steady a run of Sure some fairy hath befriended “William," the door for Mr. Law of the ,cards The footman sprang to the ground and Jove must said Beau Wil- Pembroke was first to break the silence and as he heard a footfall at the he called out: “Ho, fellow! coach stepped John Law and his brother, sometime robbed and London in might have Go fetch me another bot- tle of Spanish, and do not forget this time the brandy and water which I told thee to bring half an hour ago.” The step came nearer, and as it did not retreat, but entered the room, Pembroke circumstances coach with thes ana a~~«a of a gentieman born. A took his seat be- entered the He bowed gravely as facing the called out again: ‘‘Make haste, man, and to the corner, not averse sept et le ears to-night, even as C tieton sces the lap-dog. Law sank back ir The footsteps pack quite does when a comes into straight into respectful- you admit that there is some I'll not deny such thing as a that I have had one these last three even- “Pardon me, sir,”” he said, “‘but 1 am awkward in thus intruding. possibilities Enigma and of Edinboro’, one of the handsomest and properest men soil, was surely a might be wavlaid and robbed of my good- luck charm.” “Tell ug, tell us, man, what is it?" cried has nat been He said that Arthur Pembroke, I bear letters from friends of his in the north.” ' sald Pembroke, of yigerous room before here thou comest le va thrice in as many . and in a coach and ave been his own Now all the sweet spring morning came beauties of four which might run of sept et rising and very welcome, ask pardon for my unwitting speec! “1 come at this hour and at this place,” aid the mewcomer, may seem good a little later. Edinboro’, present urose. Pembroke, “‘Well, then,”” continued Pembroke, still make a small Salute ft!" a = confession. gardens came sky was blue Here ts my charm. cast on the table the Indian moc- shown the same ireen Lion a few evenings hands reached for cried Castleton. Du Mesne four pounds for the shoe m The languor of s puised thtough the veins of those those engines sion and desire. the torn garb of the or reasons which man before “F.am de- the acquaintance between your are’ friends of mine, and 1 am delighted to name ye to ¢ Charles Castleton; the one heard and felt keenly as the oth the young man, musical ome deep-seated ‘and Pembroke, Well, the long purs J secretly gave our the voice of s doth it ever. son. We are all here to kill the ancient enemy, Time. 'Tis an hour of night when one gains an appetite for one thing or another, cards or cold joint. 1 know not why we should not have a bit of both?” “With your permission, I shall be glad to join ye at either,” sald John Law. “I have still. the appetite of a traveler—in faith, rather a better appetite than most travelers may claim, for I swear I've had no more to eat the last day and night than could be purchased for a palr of shillings.”" Pembroke raised his eyebrows, scarce knowing whether to be amused at this speech or nettled by its cool assurance. “Some il fortune?’—he began politely. “There is no such thing as ill fortune quoth John Law. *“We fall always of our own fault. Forsooth I must explore Ro- man roads by night. gland hath bulld- ed better, and the footpads have the Ro- man wa My brother Will—he waiteth below, if ye please, good friends, and is quite as hungry as myself, besides hav- ing a pricked finger to boot—and I lost what little we had about us, and we came through with scarce a good shirt between the two.” A peal of laughter greeted him as he pulled apart the lapels of his coat and showed ruffles torn and disfigured The speaker smiled grav To-morrow,” said he, 1 must seek me a goldsmith and a haberdasher, if you will be so good as to name such to me “Sir,” said Sir Arthur Pembroke, “in this plight you must allow me.” He ex- tendgd a purse which he drew from his pocket. *I beg you, help yourself." “Thank you, no,” replied John Law. “T o shall ask you only to show me the gold- smith in the morning, him upon whom I hold certain credits. 1 make no doubt that then 1 shall be quite fit egain. 1 have never in my life -bor- rowed a coin. Besides 1 sh 1 feel that I had offended my good angel did I ask it to help me out of mine own folly. If we have but a bit of this celd joint, and a place for my brother Will to sit in comfort as ‘we play, I shall beg to hope, my friends, that I shall be allowed to stake this trifle against a little of the money that I see here; which, I take it, 1s subject to the fortunes of war.” He tossed on the board a ring, which carried jn its setting a diamond of size and brilliance. “This fellow hath a cool assurance enough,” muttered Beau Wilson to his neighbor as he leaned toward him at t! table. Pembroke, always good nati laughed at the effrontery of the comer. “You say very well; it is there for the fortune of war,” said he.” “It is all yours if you can win it; but I warn you, be- ware, for T shall have your jewel and your letters of credit, too, if ye keep not harp watch " said Castleton, “Pembroke hat warrant for such speech. The man who can make sept et le va thrice in one ev ing is hard company for his friends John Law leaned back comfortabl cha I make no doubt,” said he, “that I shall make trente et le va, here at this table, this very evening Smiles and good natured sneerings met this calm speech. “Trente et le va—it hath not come o in the history of London play for the past four seasons!"” cried Wilson. “T'll lay you any.odds that yo within eyesight of trente et le va these next hi evenings, If you favor us with your ¢ pany “'Be easy h me, good friends,” said John Law, calmly. *1 vet in dition for individual w as my jewel fs my fortune, till to-me t. But If ve choose to make t \ Lan knecht. I will plunge at the bank to best of my capital. Then, if I win, I shall be blithe to lay ve waat ye like The young Englishmen sat looking at their guest with some curiosity. His strange assurance daunted them “Surely this is a week of wonders said Beau -Wilsor with scarce covered sarcasm in his tone “First we have a wild man from Canada. with his fairy stories of gold and gems, and now we Idve another gentleman who appafemtly hath fathomed as well how t6 gain st den wealth at will, and yet Kkeep closer home.” Law took snuff calmly. “I am not ro- mancing, gentlemen he. “With me play is not a hazard, but a science. 1 ought really not lay on even terms with you As 1 ave said, there i such thing as chance. There are s things as recurrences, such things laws that govern all happenings. Laughter arose again at this, though it did not disturb the newcomer, nor did the cries of derision which owed his arncuncement of his system any man hath come to Loadon town with a system of pl cried Pe broke. “Tell Mr. Law, what 1 where shall we send thee when we have won thy last sixpence “Good sir.”” said Law, “let us first of all have the joint “I humbly crave a pardon, sir,” said Pembroke. *“In this new sort of di. 1 had forgot thine appetite. We shall mend that at once. Here, Simon! Go below, and fetch two covers and a bit to cat. Some of thy new Java berry, tuo, and make haste! We haye much vet to do “That have ve, if ye are to see the bot tom of my purse more than oncs sa Law gayly. “‘See! 'tis quite empty now. 1 make ye all my solemn promise that ‘twill not be empty again for twenty yea After that—well, the old Highland Yoothsayer, who dreamed for me, alwa tol me to forswear play after I w foriy. and mever to go too near cunning wuler. Of the latter 1 was born with horror. For play. I was born with a gift Thus 1 foresee that this little féat which you mention is sure to be mine this very night You all say that trente has not come up for many months. Well, "tis due. ard due to-night. The cards never fa{l me when 1 need “By my faith,” cried Wilson, “yve have a pretty way about you up in Seotland! John Law saw the veiled ill feeling and replied at once “frue. we have a pretty way. We had it at Killiecrankie not so long ago: and when the clans fight among themselves we need still prettier ways.™ “Now, gentiemen,'” said Pembroke, “none of this talk, by your leave. The odds are fairer here than they were at Killiecrankie's battle, and ‘tis a of us against the Scotch again We Englich stand together, but we stand to-night only against this threat of the uitimate fortune of the cards. Moreover. here comes the supper, and if I mistake not, also the brother of our friend Will bowed to one and the other ger tleman, unconsciously drifting toward his brother's chair “Now we must to business,” cried Cas- tleton, as the dishes were at last ceare: away. “Show him thy talisman, Pem, and let him kiss his jewel good-by Pembroke threw upon the table once more the moccasin of the Indian girl. John Law picked it up and examined it long and curiously, asking again and again searchinug questions re- garding its origin “I have read of this new land of Amer- jca,” saild he. “Some day it will be more prominent in all plans.” He lald down the slipper and mused for a moment, apparently forgetful of the scene about ~him. “Perhaps.” cried Castleton, the zeal of the gambler now showiag in his eye “But let us make play here to-night. .Let Pembroke bank. His luck is best to win this vaunter's stake."” Pembroke dealt the cards about for the first round. The queen fell.- John Law won. *‘Deux,” he said caimly, and-turned away as though it were a matter of ,course. The cards went round again “Tro he said, as he zlanced stak®s, now: doubled again. t his Wilson murm “Luck ith him for a start,” said he, “but 'tis a long road.” He himself had loet at the second turn. “Quint!” “Seix!" “Sept et le va'" tn turn called Law, still coolly, still re garding with little interest the growing heap of coin upon the board opposite the glittering ring which he had left lying on the table. “Vingt-un, et le va!" od God!"scried Castleton, the sweat breaking out upon his forehad. “See the fellow’s luck!'—Pembroke, sure he hath stole thy slipper. Such a run of cards was never seen in this room since Righ: of the Tenth made his great game f vears ago. “Vingt-cing; et le va!" said John Law calmly. Wiil touched his sleeve. now grown till the money « the board meant a matter of hundreds c which might be removed at an) winner chose. It was there stretching out of the hand strange genius sat there, scar to smile at the excited faces about him. “I'll lay thee f The stake had to one that tr turn sees thee lose!” cried Castleton ‘Done,” said John Law The iciness in the air seemed now a actual thing. Tt was, in the natu of this play, something which no man a that board, hardened gamesters as the all were, had ever met before. It was deed as though fate were there, with h hand upon the shoulder of a favored s “You lose, Mr. Castleton,” sald Law mly, as the cards came again his wa He swe his winnings from the co pushed out to ‘him. Now we have thee, Mr. Law!" cried Pembroke. “One more and 1 kope your-very good nerve will leave the stake the board, for so we'll see it all coma o the bank, even as sheep come home lane turns. And r the next is the e game. But you'll bac at eventide. Here your 'tis at the last stag limit of the rules of t not win it “Anything you like for a little personal wager,” sald the other, with no exel ment in his voice. Why, then, anything you self, sir,” said Pembroke. Your 'little slipper against fifty pounds?” asked John Law. Why—yes- hesitated Pembroke, for the moment feeling a doubt of the luck that had favored him so long tha ing. “I'd rather make it soverelgns, bu since you name the slipper, I even make it so, for I know there is but one chance in hundreds that you win The players leaned over the table as the deal went o Once, twice, thrice, the cards went round. A sign, a groan, a long breath broke from those who looked at the deal. Nel groan nor sigh come from John Law. He gazed indiffegantly at the heap of coir 1 paper tha® lay by the law of like your- eve on the table, sald. “I knew Arthur, 1 half but I shall ask my slipper in hand paid. Par if I chide thee for risking it In play Gentlemen, there fs don me, too shoe, empty as it is. He dandled it upon his finger, hard looking at the winnings that lay befors him. *'Tis monstrous pretty, this little shoe,” he said, rousing himself from his half reverie Confound thee, man!" cried Castleto “that is the only g we grudge. Of sovereigns there are plenty at the co age—but of a shoe like this, there is not the equal this da n Englar 807" laughed I Well, consider. none too easy the r Risk hath by all the or ard was proposed over the little shoe?" br Castleton. “Wilson, here, was a gered when I laid »dds that there was but- one woman In Londop could wear this shoe. 1 offered him odds that bis good friend, nee “Nor had ve offer such bet cried W the doings of the evening “I'll_lay you my n England whom here's no. woman know with foot small enough to wear | ried Castle “Meaning 1o me asked .. polite e fed ¢ auick “but most to thee, I since ‘tis fiow\thy shoe. “I'll lay you v_crowns, then, that I Kilow & disaller foot then Thes ot Medem Lawrence,” said Law, suavely I'll lay vou another forty crowns that I'l it on for the test igh 1 first saw the lady this very m I ay you an er forty crowns Madam Lawrence ot wear this shoe, though her I ha er seen hese words rankled, though they wers said offhand and with the, license of cof- fee-house talk at so te an hour Beau Wilso somewhat un: ad attitude, ang, turning toward Law, ad dressed him with a tone which left smal option as to its meaning “Sirrah I know not who you are, but I would have a word or two of good advice for you!" hse, | “Sir, I th bu,” said John Law, “but perhaps not need advice.” Hs did not “Have it then at any rate, and be civil!" cried the older man. “You seem a swag gering sort, with your talk of love and luck, and such are sure to get their combs cut early enough here among Englishmen I'll not tolerate your allusion to a lady you have never met, and one 1 honor deepiy, sir, deeply!" “I am but a young man started out to seek his fortume,” said John Law, his eye kindling now for the first time, “and I should do very ill if I evaded that fortune, whatsoever it may be “Then you'll take back that talk of Mrs. Lawrence!™ “1 have made no talk of Mrs. Lawrenca ,'* said Law, “and even had I, I should take back nothing for a demand like yours. 'Tis not meet, sir, where no of- fense was meant, to crowd in an offensive remark Pembroke said nothing. The situation was ominous enough at this point. A sud- den gravity and- dignity fell upon the young men who sat there, schooled in an etiquette whose first lesson was that of courage. ied Beau Wilson, “I per- ceive your purpose. If you ove good enough to name lodgings where you may be found by my friends, I shall ask leave to bid you a very go night So speaking, Wilson flung room. A sllence fell upon those within. “8i said Law, a moment ia beg you to bear witness that this is no matter of my seeking or accepting. This gentleman is a stranger to me. 1 t his name fair ‘Wilson .is his name, sir," sa broke, “a very good friend of us a e is of ‘good family, and aoth keep his coach-and-fou ike any gentleman. For him we, may vouch very w “Wilson!" cried Law. sp his feet. *'Tis not him kr Wilson? Why, my dear sirs, his was friend to many of my kin I Why, sir, this is one of those my mother bade m look to get my firs ways of London well laid out “These are some of the ways of Lon- don,” said Pembroke, grimly. “But there no fashion in which this matter can be accommodated?” . Pembroke and Castleton looked at each other rose and passed him. each raising hat and bowing courteously. Your servant, s said the one; and “Your servant, the other. CHAPT. 7 DIVERS EMPLOYMENTS OF JOHN LAW “And when shall I send these garments to your Lordship?’ asked the haberdas! er. with whom Law was having speech FREE-“A PROUD MOMENT,” COLORED AR - — T MASTERPIECE-NEXT SUNDAY'S CAL