Show WA S E STOR 41 41 0 11 the ne pool fool of 0 flame bamme now by LOOTS LOUIS JOSEPH VANCE A 4 illustrations 1 by yowl yeast 10 IW im by ur loula 1001 josep t vane vance 1 2 SYNOPSIS the tory story open opens at monte caru carlo with col terence Ol Rourke a OL military free 06 and something omet liln of a gambler in hl his 1 11 E leaning on the balcony he seen a t ifal eirl girl who suddenly ud denly enten enters the alaya levator tor and paa troi fro fahl sight ot 11 after that bitter disappointment his Inte in fn his personal 0 appease appey se 9 I 1 dwindled to ho tho negligible in u alack temper with himself whom alone be he 1 4 blamed for the deception to which he bad had fallen too facile a victim be he searched ear ched blindly forat reab tie tio found it dodohow BODO how and knotted it round his collar in n the moat most haphazard fashion imaginable then ho he shrugged te drees beott upon his boulders shoulders and marched forth to dine in 1111 this humor bo the propelled himself with determination alno the public res caurant of tho the establishment e and oblivious to tho the allure of many pairs of bright eyes that brightened all too readily to challenge his apon a 11 table all to himself and dinac dinae in solitary grandeur cran deur comporting himself openly as a morose and misunderstood person and to bis ble waiter walter with a roan man ncr eo w near neur rude that the latter began to respect him after some time ho he was disgusted to discover dio cover that he felt better an impulse f toward analysis led him to probo the psychology of tho the change with the result hat that be he aid laid the blame for it at k the door or the neek of a half bottle bottlo of excellent burgundy bur guLdy so go he ordered another and resolutely dismissing from his mind the woman wu had no right whatever to bo be able to sinn sing a certain song the way she had set got his big wits to work on the riddle of tomorrow to iran tran whose whoso trade was world just then visa a roost most die dis r I 1 tresa useful ful place too peaceful entirely over his coffee tho the adventurer nod ded in despair and frowned in dis gust then rousing ho summoned the walter and paid his reckoning with a grin at himself a fifty franc boto and a gesture which splendidly obliterated altogether every trace c that ho be intended to lake take back any part of the change due him trimming and lighting a cigar be he reviewed tho the restaurant with r a liet list less eyo eye discovered no one n let bis his acquaintance therefore with neither basto haste nor waste of time ho be roco rozo and betook himself to to the casino that Is to the one place where one may feel certain of encountering soon er or later everybody every boily who Is anybody within thi th bounds of the principality this bight night more particularly than I 1 m any preceding ik it now that be he had I 1 made up bis big mind to seek betterment 0 of his fortunes elsewhere be he played heedlessly little concerned with the I 1 fate of what money be he had about him ho lad 1 ad set flat aside a reserve fund sufficient to dettlo his hotel bill and b nd carry him a considerable distance into tho the unknown which be he was revolved to bear and was resigned resign fid to lose 1 the remainder it waa was a tenet of his creed of fatal fatalism fam that chance seldom 4 favored hil bli hen be he bad money to in 31 his pockets the tide of his affairs must be at its lowest ebb ere it policy tatos n was obvious childishly plain ho must fling to the winds all that abich he bad had now never wab more a man who wh played to loso who win hie his point colonel ee es case can be cited as no exception to this rule el bow to elbow on one side with en art less old lady frem terre terro haute who risked her with the ferocious cious jealousy of a miser making an unsecured cured loan on the uie other with on an intent little austrian laa gambler absorb jed pd in the workings of bis his system tho the adventurer scattered gold upon the numbered 04 illuminated grid iron as unconcernedly as though be h bad been matching shillings and saw tho coins gat gathered herid in by the greedy rako rake as often KB as the little ivory ball bell ichard d to chatter on the wheel lj for por the better part of an hour this continued and the little group ot of sycophants which bad had gathered be ilni bis big chair to watch his play in A whisper ran through tich the rank ranks of the that thy luck of tie mad irishman bad had turn ad d and forthwith orth with he ceased to be an object of la terest only the little austrian having risked the number of stakes prescribed by his system for one evening evenings play put avay away his notebook and pencil and surrendering bis his place to another lingered behind chair at length inexpressibly bored and too impatient to defer dater the inevitable by niggardly ran sacked ha his pockets and placed too the pro coeds several hundred francs I 1 am AB its ignorant of the amount aa an he wat was indifferent to it upon the red there fell a lull the tho croupier hold ing the wl w cel to permit an unbaked cub of chicago millions to cover the cloth with stakes too numerous for to count of mid ruid the adventurer shifted in bis his sent reviewing the assemblage for some mo moments monts through the my mys gerlous working of that sixth sense which men ore are pleased vaguely to denominate intuition he bad had been sub con aware of being the object of some come persons fixed regard that somebody ome body waa was not only watching but weighing him he ile sought the source of this sensation and for a little time bought it unsuccessfully annoyed bo he persisted lie beard heard the croupiers croup tees mechanical no va plus follow ed by the whirring of the wheel but i cared so go little that he niad not turn to watch the outcome only an ex cla matlon of the austrians appraised aim or of fact that red bad had won he ile glanced listlessly esaly round to see the money doubled and let lot it rest turn tag ing back to hie his survey of the throng A moment later hia his attention became fixed upon two men who stood in the doorway looking toward him again the who il buzzed the ball clattered and waa was still the word rouge among oth ere era in the announcement told him that again he be bad had won this time however ho he did not turn hut but frowning in speculation stared hack back at the two glared indeed and ho he did just bat that if it it was impertinent sure and ero they not staring nt at bin him and who should gainsay an the stare at anybody be be he king or commoner who sho might these men be und what their interest la in himself the one was tall and slender onder ei r cat at arnine an elegant owing a as 3 much to the art of bis big tailor tallor and upholsterer as to hie his on oft a indisputable native die dis unction lon a frenchman at least of a type unquestionably gallic his ills face faco was a very pale his line fine pointed mua mus tache vory precise jaw square forehead high eyes deep and dark beneath brows broa hemy level and black manber marked by a repose almost threatening in its impassibility ills companion was shorter of stature a younger man by at kant ten years rather stout and very nervous with a fresh red face marred by hall marks of dissipation british every inch of him ahat hat im thinking mused will be tho the honorable bertie bertle glynn faith falth he looks the brod bred part at least just that kind in underbred without brains or real stamina that would run half million att aling inside through a year a dut but the other monsieur the little austrian stammered excitedly in bis his ear for the you red had doubled a fourth time thank ye replied without moving twill turn run up ceven ahe III system gambler subsided petrified but the other continued to probe his memory in the mans personality was curiously reminiscent of a sudden be he remembered the frenchman french Pren chmar mac bad had been pointed out to him years ago to it paris parts as a principal in a boulevard scandal emch had terminated in a duela duel a real duel in which be he had been victorious vIctor lous he ile was accustomed accustom e d tc anticipate such an outcome of his affair of honor however that was ho be had been named to ORo urko oes des trebe that was the name the VIs comte ties treats u as a duelist of international cur tho the agitated voice sut gut in bla hi ear you have ron yet again for sixth t time I 1 let it stand for to the seventh mon aal why should dea des I 1 be watch ing him so openly so pointedly As he watched he became aware that these two the frenchman and the englishman were not alone detached though their attitude N was they wen were evidently of a party of ladles ladies and gentlemen whose whoso gay chattering group formed their background monsieur the seventh turn tural I 1 yes yes rein ne up va plus croaked the crouper croup cr one of the ladles turned to speak t to 0 the Hano u rabla mr glynn smiling he nodded and offered her an arm she lingered addressing des the latter bowed lifted his shoulders and laughed lightly plainly excusing himself A general movement took place in the party it began begin to dasin disintegrate te men and women pairing off om all moving at leisure toward the lobby des grebos alone remained OR curke see that the personnel of the catherine gathering afis largely british he a a we oa 01 a I 1 recognized lady whose yacht be he bad had beard casually bad arrived in the barbor harbor that mor morl ning icing evidently this was an her party another woman womans figure caught bis his attention her back wa was tv arned ned but ebo she had an air a graceful crace ful set of the shoulders an individual pride prida and spirit in tho poleo polso of her head that could hao ha worn sworn bo he knew he fie was conscious that be hushed flushed suddenly that ble his heart was pounding ho ile made as if to rise and follow but was prevented almost forced back by a band hand which the austrian in bis his feverish interest had unconsciously placed on abo irish mane mans eb monsieur he gasped ble his eyes protruding fixed upon the wheel beads of sweat glistened on his forehead he lie trembled as though his own fortunes hung on the change impressed could not forbear to linger to cast cut a reluctant glance at the table the size of hie his pile of gold cold and notes on the red was a Pome somewhat what startling sight to him his breath topped stopped in hie his throat the ivory sphere wae was rattling over the compartments to ita its predestined place what if be he were to win i began to cal mentally how much be he bad had nt at stake bow how much be might win if hia his careless 1 prediction that red would turn up the seventh time should come true lost hie his bearing bearings in a maze maza of intricate computation and was on the point of abando abandoning Ang the problem when black wax was ca llod great god godl I 1 panted the austrian withdrawing his band hand ORo urko rose the fortunes of ot war me friend said he with a laugh so unforced that it sounded unnatural he ile strode away hastily hae search ing the throng in the lobby for ber with whom bla big mind was occupied to the eXCIL clon of all else the system gambler followed him with a stare of incredulous amazement what a mani said he to himself if it half aloud A second later be added what admirable act ingi dut but he was mistaken there was wits bought sought the party bad had vanished and who should may whither damnation be he grumbled monsieur a voice intruded at bis his elde side lie he tur turned tied with a start annoyed well ho be demanded curtly a ing de the frenchman bowed 1 I have the honor to address Mona monsieur leur ie le colonel reflecting that the man might afford him the inform information atlon he be sought Ollo urko unbent 1 I am he be monsieur des surprised the latter lifted bla his eyebrows showing even white teeth in a deprecatory smile you know me monsieur dy by sight and reputation only mon bleur 1 I am honored no more than if it cornea comes tc to that the laughed then than I 1 presume to ask the favor of a word with your are ye not having it monsieur true but in private one moment ye can do me favor if ye will afterward afterwards 1 I am charmed tie not much ill be asking ye merely a question or two now that gentleman y e were talking with back be he the honorable bertie bertle glynn the same monsieur and the lady who poke spoke to him ul madame adame smyth herriott Herr lott I 1 bellere believe 1 know her only slightly then ye are not of their party party dee des appeared perplexed what party why lady ot of course c C ur a e 1 I bare have not the honor of that ladys acquaintance monsieur oh ye have not but mr glynn Is here with me monsieur a flying trip we ran down from part parts but yesterday our meeting with madame i smyth herriott wae was quite accidental oh the said beneath his breath plainly be he might i ott A e aim IL r k aa it L e 14 ft 1 I have the honor to nothing assumed in ea eLl air of apathy he was w aa actually quite indifferent and already preoccupied with his nev interest the pursuit of the woman whose unexpected in monte appearance carlo all bis his seemed likely to upset calculations the sails of the barque of life his fortunes had h via all his long been of chance he trimmed to the th a winds was a ins ing them th e in fall fiat flat and accustomed to see napping flapping just empty when a venture seemed see ened most propitious the loss of the money was nothing the tb 0 initial been amount bad had little enough in all conscience though the major part of all that be he possessed but to him the everything the world and woman all waa was and now she was gone bad had disappeared with her companions compan tonal dinst 1 in that instant ant in which be he had turned her to the table she a he bad had made her from escape he cursed roundly the that had weakness lost her to him hi M and rapidly through passing the lobby left casino the pausing before lo 10 look right and left lett the entrance there as no sign of hat what h boo monsieur le colonel OTI ourka expect nothing more helpful h from fro M this man he bad had jumped baseless prematurely premature ly at a conclusion it seemed se emed and by now it waa was M much too late of C f further urther f to think pursuit Pur sult that Is wished to all I 1 know monsieur rion he admitted lamely lar nelY there WM a lady in th group whom I 1 thought I 1 I 1 recognized wished to find her and a n d fancied might perhaps direct df ye yo cc me ye by any chance chan ce happen sruth herriot to hear mrs say where sho ghe waa was with mr glynn going unhappily no monsieur mons leur very well then the happiness what can I 1 have ane to serve ye an fn jur frenchman this hesitated briefly Is a trifle public he ed baggen buggen will you not be walk with kind elou enough gh to me no a little distance wo we converse converser while gladly monsieur des produced a cigarette ind and together case their backs smoking the two turned turne upon the dered casino and wan oft along al olig the paths of raced the ter garden gardens ever came at length to descending they the secluded little and less frequented portions of 1 ar the ground a which 1 l ot front and presently Preen fly th 1 I 1 ld upon a bench looking lookin ride f harbor out 0 then i and hen n 17 approach his hl thing which h ho 0 had I 1 11 J ir 17 avoided distraction distracting dietr acting until in 0 a patient irishman by a 1 enot banalities nt ore tr 1 I dare say bay colon colonel ea abandoning u his tongue for tt excellent english ED say you are wondering fl it I 1 am that 1 feared ao no out but it that thata we should hould peak speak in a tax en taff yes dut but before I 1 a question proceed bordean may m 7 I 1 put or t to 0 bordering upon impertinence berh yet nn solved r dot not go what a long ion winded wl tided bet Ono urko cOm commenced for that eald bald bo he nen Inen tall |