Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-04-25

"Don't talk child's talkp' said the other
coldly, drawing back as his victim advanced
''If you do not like the offer you need not
take il.
But the young mans fingers had closed
on the dice Picking them up he dropped
them once, twice, thrice on the table, his
eyes cleaning with the plsy-fever. '1f 1
win?'' he said doubtfully.
"You carry away a thousand crowns"
answered the Captain, quietly. IF you
lose you contrive to leave one of the gates
OF Lusigny open for me before next full
moon. That is ALL
"And what if lose. and not pay the
forfeit?''' asked the Vicomte, laughing
weakly.
81 trust to your honor" said the Captain.
And, strange as it may seem, he knew MS
man. The young noble of the day might
betray his cause and his trust, but the debt
of honor incurred at play was binding on
him.
"Well, said the Vicomte, II agree. Who
is to throw frst?''
"As you will" replied the Captain.
masking under an appearance OF Indlfer
enee a real excitement which darkened his
cheek and caused the pulse in the old wound
on his face to beat furiously.
"Then do you 90 first" said the Vicomte.
"With your permission" assented the
Captain. And taking the dice up in the
caster be shook them with practieed hand,
and dropped them on the board. The throw
was seven.
The Vicomte took up the caster and, as he
tossed the dice into it, glanced at the win
dow The moonlight shining athwart it fell
in silvery sheen on Jew feet OF the hoor.
With the light something Of the silence and
GOODNESS o. the night entered also, and ap-
pealed to him. For few seconds he hes
itated. He even made as if he would have
replaced the box on the table. But the good
instinct failed. 1t was too Late, and with .
muttered word, which his dry lips refused
to articulate. he threw the dice. Sevenl
Neither of the men spoke, but the Captain
ratified the little cubes, and again flung them
on the table, this time with slight air OF
bravado. They rolled one over tAe other and
Law still. Seven againl
The young Vicomte's brow was damp, and
mis- face pale and drawn. He forced 9
quavering laugh, and with an unsteady
hand took his turn. The dice fell far apart,
and lay where they fell. Ski
The winner nodded gravely. "The luck
is still with me, he said, keeping his eyes
on the table that the light of triumph which
had suddenly leapt into them might not be
seen. when do you 90 back to your COM
mand, Vicomte?"
The unhappy man stood like one stunned,
gazing at the two little cubes which had
cost him so dearly. '"The day after to-mor-
row." he muttered hoarsely, striving to col
lect himself
''Then shall we say the following even
ing?" asked the Captain.
VERY we'll"
ave quite understand one another. cou-
tinued the winner, eyeing his man watch
fully and speaking with more urgency. II
may depend on you. NJ. le Vicomte, pre-
sume."
'The Lanthenons have never been want
ing to their word" the young nobieman an
swered. stung into sudden haughtiuess. II
1 live will put Lusigny into your hands,
NJ. le Capitaine. Afterwards will do my
best to recover it-in another way"
81 shall be entirely at your disposal"
replied the Captain, bowing lightly. And
in moment he was aione-alone with his
triumph, his ambition, his hopes for the
future-slone with the greatness to which
his capture Of Lusigny vas to be the frst