The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-01-19
A WOMAN WAS THE STAKE.
Her Fate Apparently Rested on the
Turn of Card.

heF rUte Apparently Hesteu on the
Turn of a Card.
From the San Francisco News Letter.
In 1867 there stood an old-fashioned
shanty east of the locality now occupied
by the Presentation Convent, in front of
the graveyard and the people in the
neighborhood used to tell strange stories
about this accommodating dwelling.
For several years its occupancy was APP
parently confined to a decrepit old man.
who used TO crawl in and out about once
day. his arms filed with packages from
the market.
He was known in the neighborhood as
the "Old Dago," though in reality he was
a native of Alsace. For several years
he lived a hermits life, and the nelghbors
got so accustomed to his comings and
goings that even the small boys forgot to
modest him. But one morning all the gos-
sips found food for conversation by the
appearance of a remarkably lovely young
woman, who went out TO- and returned
from, the butchers stall and the grocers
She spoke English imperfectly, and with
a very pronounced French accent. This
little cabin was destined to be the scene
of a very dramatic incident in the history
of California gambling.
1t was natural that a girl as pretty as
Irene should not be long without admir-
ers, so it came TO pass that the windows
of the old house were lighted up every
evening, and the Frenchman developed the
natural hospitality of fhis race, and gave
little dinners and suppers to his exiled
countrymen. But among those, as was
only natural there were some who exist
ed, not by honest industry, but by the
gaming table Among them was a young
man of striking appearance, who had
served in France as sous-officier in
hussar regiment, had gone the pace, ruin
I'd himself and finally drifted out to San
Francisco, where he became the hanger
on of the gambling table
Louis lie Marronais was strikingIy
handsome specimen of the Partisan of his
class. 1t did not take him very long to
gain the confidence of the old Frenchman,
who confided to him the story of his life
1t was not a very eyentful one. He was
member of an old French family, and
could use, if he pleased, a tide which dat
ed back to Charles the Bold. He had been
ruined by the extravaganza of his younger
brother and was then living on the in
come of little property in Brittany,
which he had saved from the wreck Irene
was his only child, and he idolized her.
For her sake alone he wanted to be rich.
He wanted to take her back to France and
reinstate her in the position 10 which her
rank entitled her
The eX-hussar won the old man into tho
belief that his only chance of getting rich
was through gambling SO night after
night old Lascant was found at the El
Dorado or some other gambling he'll los
ing his money under the direction of the
arch mentor. One night Irene followed
him there to bring him back, and her first
visit was a fateful one. Tom Monroe a
Kentuckan, one of the widest and most
reckless characters of that period. saw
her, admired her, and swore that she
should become his property.
1t is not necessary to recite the Incidents
that led up TO the scene, which was re-
lated TO me by an eye witness. 1t is suf-
ficient TO say that lie Marronais had con
WINGED the old Frenchman that Monroe
would stake $4,000 against the hand of
Irene. If he won she was to become his
wife; but if he lost, the money was to be-
come the Frenchman's property, and
Irene was free to bestow her affections
wherever she pleased. Irene was Informed
of this proposition, and she looked resign
ed and rather amused at the transaction
The eventful night arrived. Monroe. the
old man, Louis, Irene and a friend and
countryman Of the host were the only in
mates of the little room. The game was
ecarte, and the cards, which Louis had
marked lay upon the table. The old man
got the deal. Monroe's certified check for
$4,000 was placed in the custody of the
hussar. The old man marked the king
I'm the first deal, and when the pack chang