Show THE YOUNG GAMBLER j s lie had an hven chance lica pvn ig I 1 remember one handsome young fel low whom I 1 used to meet occasionally on the staircase who captured my youthful fancy I 1 met him only at midday as he did not rise till late aaa this fact with a certain scrupulous ele gance and neatness in his dress to have made me suspect that he was arf gambler in my inexperience it oaly invested him with a certain romantic mystery ono morning as I 1 was going out to my very early breakfast at a choppi italian cafe on long wharf I 1 was rora to find him also descending the staircase lie was scrupulously dress ed even at that early hour but I 1 wa struck by the fact that be was all ln black and hla slight figure buttoned to the throat in a tightly fitting frock coat gave I 1 fancied a singular melan J choly to his pale southern face J nevertheless be greeted me with more than his usual serene cordiality and I 1 remembered that he looked lip with ahall puzzled bialt amused expression at the rosy morning sky as he walked a few steps with me down the deserted street I 1 could not help saying that 1 was astonished to see him up so and he admitted that it was a bis usual habits but added witty smiling significance I 1 afterward that it was an even ac he did it again H As we neared the street corner a in a buggy drove up spite of the drivers evident haste my handsome got in leisurely and lifting his glossy hat to w with a pleasant smile was driven away I 1 have a very lasting a alon of his face and figure as the busst disappeared down the empty street I 1 never saw him again it was not a week later that I 1 knew that an hour after he left mo that morning he lying dead in a little hollow behind the mission dolores shot through in a duel for which he had arlsey so early bret hartes under the bcd woods |