The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1888-02-04

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draI. there stood side by side with those
magnaies of tho roulottc table. without
anybody having noticed how lac came.
a gentleman apparently 20 years OF
age. II was sucl, an apparition as
could not but compel instant attention.
He was of middle height. fragile aud
spare body. elegantly proport oned in
form. lis features were almost fcni-
nine and OF classic beauty. and yet at
the very first glance there could be de-
tectcd in them an undciinablc express
sion which gave warning that. under
this mask of softness there lurked
something To be guarded against hard
iron or sharp steel within m envelope
OF velvet or silk Intensely black were
his hair. the beard on his upper lip and
his lustrous eyes. Black was his whole
dress from heal 10 foot. its ncatness
evidenclng the unmstakable cut OF
fashionable artist Black. also. were
his closely fitting gloves. His coat, OF
the finest cloth. was buttoned up TO his
chin. and showed TO advantage his
statucsque bust. Altogether there could
not have stood in any princely hall n
more arisiocratc looking parsonage.
A poet would have called him the god
of darkness.
This stranger--for no one present
knew him-seemed TO abstract himself
completely from his surroundings. and
for while looked intently at the gam
ing board. as IL he meant TO impremate
II with the magnetizng fluld of his will.
Then suddenly addressing Sterlain. in
front of whom he had stationed him
self: Sir" he said in Spanish. with
courteous bow and n musical but some
what metallic voice. 'nre the stakes
limited?" ..No." briefly answered
croupicr. The unknown deliberately
took off his right glove. showing hand
which woman might have envied.
with long nails cxquisltcly shaped and
pearly In color. With IL ho drew out
an apparently we'll filled pocketbook of
black morocco ornamented with gold
clasps. He extracted from II few
bank notes. which he laid on the table,
saying calmly: "My deal is for Sl0.-
000" An electric shock seemed to
have struck the by-standers. and a
thrill shot through every ones heart
that almost stopped its beating.
The wheel turned. The bank lost.
take your plundcrl' shouted Stcr-
lain with an oath.
mo. Let IL stand. go the whole"
The ball was again set in motion.
and again fortune favored the Spaniard.
who by this time had become the only
player, all the rest gazing with absorb
ing interest ut the terrible duel which
had evidently begun between the
two adversaries. Unused to such bad
luck and such crashing loss. Stcrlain
appeared TO DO beside himself. and
growing like an angry mastifl. jumped
up. Excuse me, gentlemen" he
said. IL am out OF funds. and must
apply TO Mr. Davis to replenish the
bank"
A few minutes elapsed. during which
the spectators remained clntered to-
gethcr in profound silence and staring
ut the lucky gambler. while meanwhile,
without taking the slightest notice OF
the surrounding crowd. kept his eyes
stead " fixed on the roulette, as IL bur-
led in the deepest meditation.
Stcrlain returned with his hands full.
'.Why have you no. removed your
trash and cleaned the boardP" he said
grufily to the stranger
because. y replied he. II choose to
leave IL where il is aud stake the
whole"
Slcrlain turned pale and breathcd
heavily as II something pressed against
his chest Again the ivory ball OF fate
twirlcd In the bowl Again il stopped.
The bank had lost. Up started Sterlain
frenzicd with rage. to get another sup
ply from those ample funds which Dav-
Is and his associates always kept in re-
serve. On his coming. back SterIaIn
was SO dcmoralizcd that all he could
say TO his adversary. on whom he cast
bevildercd look. was; in a tone OF
heightened Interrogation; "Well. what
nextp"
II stake all have on the board. I"
was the short reply.
Round aud round went the roulette
and for the fourth Tine tho mysterious
stranger won. The total game was
enormous.