Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1898-02-04
A CAB.

/ was standing in q room cf a west
end (London) gambling den watching
a party Of about 10 players engaged in
the game Of rouge ct noir.
This night my eye had been pnrt:ou-
larly kept upon 4 short, dark hairel
man, evidently a foreigner. rte was
playing heavily. From his pocket be
brought MP at first single pieces Of gold,
then, as he lost-he had terrible luck
he placed down en- tho table small
handfuls Of soyeroigns. Ea lad just
now lest &lO at a swoop. Thon be p-o-
duced a baDknote and laid it down.
Excuse ne. sir, " inquired tho bank
er, how much do you sbakoY'
"One hundred poCnds.
THANK you" remarked the banker
politely.
Tie game went on, and the cards
were turned m. With an exclamation
the player roso from his scat and pushed
his chair beck. &c had Loss once more.
As he left the place l followed him. lie
walked swiftly on for a long tune
through the now almost deserted streets,
for it was nearly 2 o'clock in tho morn
ing. At length he came to q hoaao in a
dismal street of the Tottenham Court
road, in one OF the top rooms Of which
lLare was a dim light burning. opened
the G7cr with his key and entered.
: bad an idea somehow that that cd
dress might prove useful 10 ne, and ]
was standing close to the door noting
its number when the door suddenly
opened and my man again appeared,
bareheaded, CHASTITY pale and b-eathloss.
"Help, helpi" lie pasped. she has
killed herself-she is dying l have
murdered her-murde-ed horl'
/ dashed in, and, rushing up the
stairs, made my way to that dimly lit
room. the man following olcso at my
heels. In it, sitting in a chair beside the
fireplace. was q woman, young and
pretty, but now with her face convulFsd
with pain. She seemed nearly uncon-
scious AID was breathing heavily. On
tho 1cor beside her was a small, round,
empty bottle.
Sending him to wake up tho people
of TIE house and dispatch some one for
a doctor, | had in less than five minutes
administered an einetic TO the girl in
the shape Of a 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 l have gambled
them away. Annette, forgive ne.
thought l should make our fortune.
But that s%coundrel Repau shall give me
money. | viii make him"
What had Despard (that was his
name) been up tor 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 a wink that night. l
had one eye all through the weary hours
ON Despard's door. About 8 o'clock in
the morning he came out, and, l follow
ing him, made his way to a house or
Leicester square. He was inside an
hour, and l discovered from one Of tho
servants that he had called upon NJ.
Belpard, another Frenchman. Was Bel
pard RepauY l wondered. Naturally
enough, 1 wanted TO discover something
about him, and letting NJ. Despard have
a rest j transferred my attentions tc
his friend.
Only a few minutes after Despard hat
left NJ. Belpard came out with a bag il
his hand. He hailed u cab, was driver
to Waterloo station, aud took a frs
class ticket to Southampton. unknown
TO him, / saw him off and was thei
driven back to his lodgings. Inquirinl
for Nj. Belpard, l said l was NJ. Bel
pard's particular friend, almost hi
brother. Alas, it was most unfortunat
that l had missed himl j would, how
ever, go to his room and write a lette
to him.
Shown into Belpard's apartment, yo
may guess / very quickly examined
when tho servant had left me- to writ
that letter. There was nothing particu
lar in the place save a black leather ba
which l found under the bed, a CON
mon black bag with a mark on the bras
part of the handle, the mark Of u fire.
An hour later there were keen eyes Q
Southampton and at London on tn
lookout for NJ. Belpard, or, rather, fC
Repau, for he it was.
For over a week every watch wa
kept, every search made for that gentle
man. All was in vain. M. Belpard ha
disappeared.
Despard was still at his lodgings.
called on him one day.
an. Despard," ! suddenly aske
him, "would You like b earn elOOY'
"a hundred ~poundsl' he gasped. 81
would be a ~godsend-a %fortunel We al
absolutely starying-Annette, my wifi
and l."
"Then," I said, tell me whe'
Repair is"
"Ycu know all then'" he almol
scrsamed.
'I know = great deal."I answered