Jasper County Democrat, Volume 13, Number 28, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 July 1910 — CAMEO KIRBY [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

CAMEO KIRBY

By Booth Tarkington and Harry Leon Wilson

Adapted From the Play of the Same Name by W. B. M. Ferguson ,

Subtle humor, tear impelling pathos, dueling, lynch law, suicide, attempted murder, gambling, heart entanglement and realistic character drawing combine to make “Cameo Kirby” an unusual play and an unusual novel—a cameo of modern fiction finely graven, richly set; a word cameo by those master craftsmen Booth Tarkington and Harry Leon Wilson, whereon are shifting pictures of the old-days along the Mississippi when the Natchez and the Robert E. Lee raced to New Orleans with fortunes at stake; old days when gamblers, amateur and professional, won and lost almost unbelievable sums on the river steamers; days when Mark Twain was a pilot and when the real life prototype of Jim Bludso of the Prairie Belle held “her nozzle ag’in the bank till the last galoot” was ashore. A well bom, well intentioned young man through association with bad companions becomes an accomplished gambler. Falsely accused of murder, he meets a young girl, with whom he falls in love. How vital complications baffle him, how conspiracy places his life in the balance, how the love of a pure woman may work wonders in the regeneration of a man—these themes and others give “Cameo Kirby” its thrill, its fascination, its powerful heart interest.

CHAPTER 1. •*/ |NE card," said John Randall quietly, extending a hand IBffffffii as firm as was his voice. (nflCDl For the first time in twen-ty-four hours the debt of intoxication was paid solely by his eyes. Perhaps the pile of double eagles strewn before him on the green baize table conveyed a fugitive and sobering realization of the present; drove home the fact, as only hard earned money can, that this delightful levitation of the senses, this genial warmth of body and soul, this Impression that he was a nabob who IBight hazard with a care ,free hand. Was purely fictitious and that the morning would find him a sepulcher filled with the decaying bones of dead emotions and the living worm of remorse. That pile of gold twinkling under the oil lamps in a private stateroom of the John W. Shotwell repre seated one-tenth of his yearly income, and yet he was blithely staking it on

the turn of a single card at poker, for that was the game that was being played— staking it as indifferently as be had staked and lost its predecessors. He pulled himself together with the air of one who. guilty of a false start, to but the more confident of the future. while he reflected with some pride that his extended hand was as steady as that of his impassive opponent. As the cards lay he was beaten, act tack must eventually change, and ■ four card inside straight” was his •ws'-i weakness and strength, for when he drew to one he ' filled.**-' 'Here’# tack!” said Colonel Moreau ptormv extending the pasteboard-

“It'sbound to change some time, suh. and even a niggah could beat a measly pair of deuces. I’ll take three.” Randall glanced at his card and as he laid it face down on the table strove' to keep the sudden exultation from his eyes. But as Moreau spread out his draw, disclosing trash, the planter lost his momentary self control.

“Drew to an inside straight and filled it. by gad!” he cried excitedly. “There's the turn in the tide, colonel! It rarely ever goes back on me. That’s what I’ve beeri waiting fob. Let me draw to a four card inside straight and I'll bet my immortal soul that I

fill her. Yes, suh.” A satiric gleam flickered in Moreau's black eyes as lie indifferently shoved his lost bet across the table.

“Qne thousand to yoh. suh,’’ he said courteously, stifling a yawn—"a most remarkable example of good fortune

and one that was a-coming to yoh. Allow me, suh, to drink to the turn in the tide.” And. filling the other’s glass, be bowed with the most admirable courtesy and good feeling. •‘Yoh health, colonel,” replied the other thickly, mopping his face with an Immense silk handkerchief, “and my compliments fob the sentiment, suh. I can return them by adding that the tide had already turned even befoh I had the pleasure and good fortune of making yob acquaintance, suh. I reckon that, all in all, my trip to New Orleans this year has been very lucky—very lucky, suh—fob I have sold my sugar crop fob ten thousand, a much higher figure than I reckoned, considering the poh price of Cane. And my luck still follows me by permitting this indulgence of my favorite game with a gentleman, sub, of yoh standing. My plantation is at Plaquemine. and”— “The Randalls are well known, suh," interrupted Moreau, with delicate deference. which went to the point of refilling the other's glass—“the Randall, I presume, suh, who so distinguished himself at the defense of the Alamo?” This was stated as a known fact rather than a chance shot, which in reality it was. “My brother, suh,” gravely replied the planter, tapping his ample breast as if in order to convey the sentiment that the same noble spark of heroism smoldered therein, but a fitting opportunity of burning its owners name on the immutable pages of history. “Peace bath her victories no less renowned than war,” be added oracularly, instinctively reaching for his glass, “and it was my fortune to I stay at home and look after the planta- , tion while my brother had it out with the Mexicans. If the Randalls are i well known, suh. it is not through me. I My yearly trip to New Orleans is the , extent of my traveling, and my children. sub. have the felicity to regard • me as the most guileless creation that . the Almighty ever turned out. Bless ' uheir innocent hearts! They never sus- ■ pect what a thoroughpaced man of the world I am. Why, suh; the advice they give me when 1 start out on these trips would cover the late Lord Chesterfield with confusion, suh. They warn me especially against gambling. My son Tom. you know, is just at that age when bathinks his father an amateur in sin. suh. and. according to him. the river is a paradise fob pirates”— “Well. 1 don’t think he is far wrong.” interrupted Moreau, idly shuffling the cards. “Naturally, this is the greatest wat rway in the world. Did-toh ever tliirU; of the wealth that passes down, aere from St. Louis tb New Orleans;, -'ln- fortunes that Are lost and won?”

“Every one gambles op the Mississippi. sub. fbh here the ladies— my compliments to rbeui—must temporarily r dominion. And of co’se. as a thoroughpaced matt of the world, suh. and, one who has lived on the

river rob over fifty years, 1 recognize that yoh professional gamblers are an institution; but, bless “fee, I don’t take my son Tom’s view, of them. They gamble fob a living, yes, but I believe they do so honestly, as yoh or I. We gambling nation, sub. foh we are young, red blooded and prosperous, but our country is incapable of giving birth to a man who deals off the bottom of the pack, who is afraid to fortune eye to eye Yoh agree with me, sub?” '

“As a fellow patriot, yes—gs a Sane man. no,” replied the other, the satiric gleam again smoldering in the dead slag of his eyes. "Yoh have yet to be picked by a brace of these river vultures—they generally travel in pairs —but as a man of the world, of co’se, yoh would instantly recognize them.” “Of co’se. sub,” heartily agreed the other. “Aside from all else, yoh professional gambler may be remarked foh his lavish display of diamonds.” “Yoh pardon, suh. but not always. I calculate that as a man of the world yob have heard of Cameo Kirby?” smiled Moreau, again paying attention to his companion’s glass. “Kirby?' That’s an old arid honored name in Plaquemine, sub.” replied Mr. Randall, opening his coat and fanning inflamed cheeks with bis huge slouch hat. “Kirby was my neighbor, suh. and I knew his folks well. I had the honor to be of some slight assistance when he went under during the panic tears. Crops failed, banks went to smash, but yoh remember, I reckon. Well. sub. Mr. Kirby’s

son. Eugene; came home from school to find his poh father dead and a bankrupt everything swept away. That was a bard homecoming, suh Very sad case. 1 Lave often wondered what became of the boy. fob lie had all his father's pride aid refused to let me exert my privilege of an old neighbor and friend That was twenty years ago, and since then I have

heard in a roundabout way that he had become wild, drifted in with bad companions and taken to the river for a livelihood. In fact, become a common gambler. But of co’se 1 don’t believe it, for no Kirby could ever do that, sub—fall so low. Yet the name is uncommon. Have you ever met this gentleman of whom you spoke?” “Not socially, suh.” replied the other dryly. “I calculate he is no relative of the folks you mentioned, fob his reputation, sub. is the worst on the river; known from New Orleans to St, Louis and back again. He and his side partner, suh—a dam carpetbagging Yankee by the name of Bunce—are the most reckless characters on the river. It is scum like them, suh, who give our fair Mississippi her evil name. Yoh speak of no man dealing off the bottom of the pack. Why, suh. I assure yoh on my honor they’re so crooked they have to sleep in a roundhouse. 1 merely mentioned Kirby’s name because of the fact that, man of the world as you are. suh, you would never pick him fob a professional gambler. Never wore a diamond in his life. The cameo is his favorite stone, foh they say it once saved ips worthless life, and from it he gets his name. suh. But shall we continue the game? 1 am still five hundred ych master, and we have foh hours to kill befoh we make yoh landing.” Randall accepted the cards with unsteady bands. “I assure you, suh. yoh are betting against a foregone conclusion.” he said, “fob there is no stemming the turn in the tide. I’ll bet you five hundred on this showdown, and then we’ll pull stakes, suh. all square, foh fun her play would be sheer robbery. You can’t beat the Randall luck when once it has turned.” “1 never believed in luck," replied Moreau, “foh life has demonstrated 'to me that there is no such abstract. Foh instance, if a coin falls head ten times out of ten it is still an even bet foh heads or tails on the next toss. That is the law, suh. and all the superstition in the world cannot revoke or change it,” “My dear suh,” replied the planter, waving an impatient hand, “that is all nonsense, for I bold that our entire existence is greatly controlled by luck and not I believe in a Supreme Being, sub. and I attend church regularly, but I do not believe, suh, that our poh mundane affairs are regulated by a celestial corporation, especially such affairs as card games. Yoh know yohself, colonel, that the best playing in the world can't stand against a run of blind luck, and as a man of the world I’ve seen moh fortunes lost on high hands—foh barmaids topped by foh kings every trip—just because their holders hadn’t sense enough to realize that the tide bad set in against them. And I give yoh my word, suh,” he finished, thumping the table, “that when I fill a fdh card inside straight the Randall luck is sitting into the game right with me. and yoh simply can’t win. Oh, yoh may get one or two little pots, but yoh’ll finish dead broke. Call it what yoh like —luck or the shuffling of the devil.” "Now, suh. yoh’re bucking right against my pet hobby,” replied Moreau. leaning across the table and growing as earnest as his companion. “Of co’se I accept yoh word fob past experiences, but it is the.old case of the coin. Though yoh may have turned beads a hundred times in succession, as I said, the chance of it being tails is still an even bet. Yoh luck may have changed, but I’m willing to lay ten thousand that 1 hold the best hands in two out of three. There’s a sporting offer, suh. that will test yoh theory.” Randall blinked at his glass. Again he was momentarily sobered. “No. suh.” be said decidedly, plucking at his frilled shirt “Those are high stakes, colonel, for. as wealth goes nowadays. I am not a very rich man. and I cannot afford to jeopar-

dlze the welfare of my children for tbe sake of proving my point. Again, sub, I consider it would be taking an unfair advantage of yoh”— “Come; Yoh statements don’t agree, Mr. Randall.” laughed the other. -Wigit do yob jeopardize, sub, if yoh consider the' advantage entirely with yohself? However.” he finished. With some coldness;: •‘this is but a game, sub. and I had no idea that yob were ar .-t 11 imperiling yoh wel fare” — "The Randalls, sub. never incur an

o ization; vchh h they cannot meet,” L ily interrupted tbe other, tbe drink •Wing in his eyes. “Yoh pardon, stifc if 1 have touched on personal matters. It is not my custom. I assure yoh. to do so with strangers”— "Now. now. Mr. Randall, suh,” intcrrupted the other, patting the planter's arm. “Yoh pardon, sub, if I have Offended lam an old soldier.” twirling his mustaches, “and perhaps own an exaggerated and touchy sense of honor. When yoh" mentioned imperiling yoh Welfare it seemed as if we were no longer indulging in a gentlemen's game merely fob the 'sake of passing the time. 1 have a. very deli cate sense of honor, suh. apd perhaps 1 am too ready to back my opinions with sums which I consider mere trifles. I hope this difference of opinion will not impair our but newly formed friendship. Mr. R:u da 11.” "I was *oo hasty, colonel.” replied the other, “foh 1 reckon my pride is as tencliy as yoh own Come, fill up yob glass, sub. Yoh'r-• a g >od fellow, and riii a good fellow. Were l oth good : W -ws. suh A Randall never yet re-fp-e<i to Lack his opinion. and ten »!: u-and is as much a picayune affair to me as to yoh. If yoh persist in going broke. I'll take yoh bet. suh. The l ost two out of three. My cards. I reckon. There’s my money, sub.” tn.’ he thumped a buckskin bag on the table. "Covered, suh." replied Moreau, carelessly peeling off ten SI,OOO bills. By now the unconcern which Mr. Randall displayed was entirely authentic, for his incessant attention to his glass had lent him a bibulous courage and defiance of tbe future, in which lurked no wholesome leaven of caution. Moreover, bis pride had been delicately touched to the quick, and rather than appear a “piker” before this magnificent acquaintance he would readily have hazarded his entire estate. Pride of family was his fetich, and a Randall, he considered, was an Admirable Crichton, who could be beaten at nothing. All this was quite aside from his desire to uphold his self bestowed reputation of man of the world and the immutable conviction that his luck bad turned. There was no doubt that if be had not sold his sugar crop for such an unexpectedly high figure he would not have embarked on his subsequent gentle carouse, nor, although of a jovial nature. so quickly formed a friendship with the magnificent and highly estimable Colonel Moreau, owner of the very delicate sense of honor. Although in that [teriod, a decade or so before the war which severed the country, but to ultimately knit it the more firmly together, the punch bowl was an institution in every southern household. Mr. Randall was not what is termed a drinking man. and it was

solely on his” yearly business trips to the Crescent City that he permitted himself any latitude in that direction. Meanwhile Mr. Randall had shuffled, dealt and lost the first showdown The next, however, he won, only to lose the third and last. . “I Calculate.” observed Moreau, carelessly sweeping toward him the buckskin bag. "that I have proved my theory, sub. Yoh tide has not turned, except fob the worse. An even bet that yoh lose -the best out of the next six hands. We'll make it that number in order to give yoh Randall luck a chance to come in. fob it really seems as if it was very bashful, sub. Do yoh take me? Of eo’se yoh are the doctor, sub. as I am the winner.” The-bird being plucked, the vulture was no longer scrupulously careful regarding its deportment, and. in fact, if Mr Randall had been himself he could not but have noted the contempt and derision in the estimable colonel's voice and eyes. •“Yes/T/um the doctor, sub. ' replied the planter thickly, ”gnd a Randall never quits. Never, sub! I take yoh. and I raise yoh bet. Fifty thousand

-- - ’ ' that I beat yob fob • 1 hat*« tbe way I' play. suh. x • . u*< you take me. Colonel Moreau?” A momentary astonishment flickered In the others £yes- for it seemed as if the bird had not been picked so cleanly as be had supposed. “I reckoned yoh cleaned out. sub.” , he said cautiously. “If yob ’-e serious, of co’se I take yoh.” '' ‘ Mr. Randall, swaying unsteadily, promptly srammed a green morocco wallet on the table “That and a deed to my plantation, colonel, against yoh winnings and fobty thousand. I am about to show yob. sub. bow a Randall plays, poker. 1 stake everything I own on the fact that yob leave this table dead broke, stih. Here’s to the Randall luck, and to the devil, suh, with everything else!” And. drinking to. this admirable sentiment, be raised his glass, drained it at a draft and sent it crashing to th«» floor. A lupine twist came to tbe other’s lips as he produced pen. ink and paper. “Yoh just make out that deed new, suh,” he said suavely “My name

is Colonel Jacques Gaspard Deschamps Moreau, and very much at yoh service, suh”—' ■ He stopped and whirled about, the pen extended in his hand, as the-door of the private stateroom opened, giving admittance to a man of perhaps thirty-five, who exuded a certain debonair and rakish atmosphere. At the neck of this gentleman's elaborately frilled shirt there gleamed a huge cameo, and companion stones fastened the cuffs at his wrists. “Gentlemen, your servant, and my humble apologies,” he said, with an elaborate bow. “I trust this is not an untimely intrusion.”

(To be Continued.)

CAMEO KIRBY EXUDED A DEBONAIR AND RAKISH ATMOSPHERE.

A SATIRIC GLEAM FLICKERED IN MOREAU’S BLACK EYES.

“CAMEO KIRBY—THE WORST ONE ON THE RIVER.”

“I TRUST THIS IS NOT AN UNTIMELY INTRUSION."