Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1897-09-07
A MANTRAP CAB.
Lost -

I was standing in room of west
end (London) gambling den watching
party of about Is players engaged in
the game of rouge ct noir.
This night my eye had been particu-
larly kept upon short, dark haire
man, evidently a foreigner. He was
playing heavily. From his pocket be
brought up at first single pieces of gold,
then, as he lost-he had terrible luck
he placed down on the table small
handfuls of sovereigns. He had just
now lost 91o at swoop. Then he pro-
duced banknote and laid it down.
Excuse me, sir, inquired the bank
er, chow much do you shaker"
Zone hundred pounds.
"Thank you," remarked the banker
politely.
The game went on, and the cards
were turned up. With an exclamation
the player rose from his seat and pushed
his chair back He had lost once more.
AS he left the place followed him. He
walked swiftly Oh for long time
through the now almost deserted streets,
for it was nearly o'clock i'll the morn
ing. At length he came to house in a
dismal street off the Tottenham Court
road, in one of the top rooms Of which
there was dim light burning. opened
the door with his key and entered.
had an idea somehow that that ad-
dress might prove useful to me, and I
was standing close to the door noting
it's number when the door suddenly
opened and my man again appeared,
bareheaded, CHASTITY pale and breathless.
Help, help" he gasped. "She has
killed herself-she is dying! have
murdered her-murdered herl''
I dashed in, and, rushing up the
stairs, made my way to that dimly lit
room, the man following close at my
heels. In it, sitting in chair beside the
fireplace, was woman, young and
pretty, but now with her face convulsed
with pain. She seemed nearly uncon-
scious and was breathing heavily. On
the floor beside her was small, round,
empty bottle.
Sending him to wake up the people
of the house and dispatch some one for
a doctor, had in less than five minutes
administered an emetio to the girl in
the shape of strong dose Of mustard
and water.
AS she lay there, apparently dying,
the man leaned over her, sobbing, tear
ing his hair and talking in French.
"And that crime was all for nothing.
The thousand poundsl I have gambled
them away. Annette, forgive me. I
thought should make our fortune.
But that scoundrel Repau shall give me
money. I will make him."
What had Despard (that was his
nancy been up to? The arrival Of the
doctor, who saw to the girl and assured
us he would answer for her recovery,
brought my stay to an end.
l didn't sleep wink that night. I
had one eye all through the weary hours
on Despard's door, About O'Clock in
the morning he came out, and, follow
ing him, made his way to house off
Leicester square. He was inside an
hour, and discovered from one of the
servants that he had called upon NJ
Belpard, another Frenchman. Was Bel
pard Repair I wondered. Naturally
enough, I wanted to discover something
about him, and letting M. Despard have
rest I transferred my attentions to
his friend.
Only few minutes after Despard had
left M. Belpard came out with a bag in
his hand. He hailed a cab, was driven
to Waterloo station, and took first
class ticket to Southampton. Unknown
to him, saw him off and was then
driven back to his lodgings. Inquiring
for M. Belpard, I said I was NJ. Bel
pard's particular friend, almost his
brother. Alas, it was most unfortunate
that / had missed him! l would, how
ever, 60 to his room and write letter
to him.
Shown into Belpard's apartment, you
may guess very quickly examined il
when the servant had left me to write
that letter. There was nothing particu-
lar in the place save black leather bag
which I found under the bed, a COM
mon black bag with a mark on the brass
part Of the handle, the mark Of a fire.
An hour later there were keen eyes at
Southampton and at London on the
lookout for M. Belpard, or, rather, for
Repair, for he it was.
For over week every watch was
kept, every search made for that gentle
man. All was in vain. M. Belpard had
disappeared.
Despard was still at his lodgings. ]
called on him one day.
I'M. Despard," I suddenly asked
him, "would you like to earn e100"
"A hundred poundsl,' he gasped. 1T
would be godsend--a fortunel We are
absolutely starving--Annette, my wife,
and L."
"Then," I said, tell me where
Repair is"
"You know all them" he almost
screamed,