The Winslow mail., 1900-05-17

not spread the cards for whole year-what
stakes?"
Simply cutting the cards?"
eyes. 1t is the quickest game know"
"Say crown each turn to begin with"
We cut through four times, and l paid
over two crowns. Baglioni laughed as he put
them on one side; "peddling stakes these,
cavaliere- make them ten crowns cut"
"Agreed-three cuts and shuttle"
He nodded, and l paid ten crowns, feeling
at this rate that my purse would soon be
empty; but l saw that the fever was taking
hold of him, and offered to double the stakes
and won. From that moment luck favored
me, and at the end of half an hours play the
cavaliere had lost all his ready money, about
60 crowns, and owed me 500 besides He
did not take his losses well; all the re-
strained self-command which he first ex-
hibited gave place to wild excitement, and
his hands shook as he shuffled the cards, his
white face paling whittier than ever.
Curse the cards!" he said, Il have no
luck"
The moment had come for which 1 had
been watching. Time after time 1 felt in
clined to strike a sudden blow, but held my
self in.
tNo more to-day, cavaliere,' I said, filling
A red flush came to his forehead; Il can
not pay you at once" he said, in low tone;
is enough-but if you want last try for
your revenge I will cut you"
Double or quits?' he burst in.
"No, cavaliere," and 1 dropped the words
out slowly, "the five hundred against five
minutes interview with the Lady Angola"
cbaiT, in nd
l went on: "Listen to me, [ only want five
minutes speech with her-in your presence
if YOU will-come, shall cut or will you?"
s'Diavolo!" he muttered, eff Carlo hears
of this-well. yes-I will cut first-the ten
a bad card to beat"
1 cut carelessly and faced my card. 1t
was king.
"Hell and furies!" he burst out. "You
have won. Come, sir" and, rising, he ad-
vanced towards the bear.
"a moment, cavaliere. [ said in your
presence. | did not include Messer Pluto
there in the interview"
He gave me an unpleasant look, but
stopped short.
every WELL" he said, and, taking large
KEY from his girdle, went ON before me.
1t cost me great effort to keep cool; up
to now my luck had been so great that every
moment there was temptation to put all
to the hazard of one stroke. l smiled under
nv beard as | thought of the imposing fool
Count Carlo had placed in charge of his
prize, and when saw the huge shaking hand
clutching the key l could not help thinking
that nerves like that would never hold
sword straight, and that for all his size and
courage the cavalere was not very for
midable foe.
In few steps we reached the door he
wanted, and Bagloni, after knocking once,
simply turned the key and pushed open the
door.
Looking over his shoulder l saw a small
but well-furnished room, and standing in the
middle of it, in startled surprise at this sud-
den intrusion, the figure of Angola. Quick
as thought | made warning gesture, and
almost at the moment Baglioni turned round
with:
"a visitor for you, madam"
She did not seem to recognize me, but at
the warning gesture l made faint flush
came into her cheek. She stood looking at
us half frightened, half indignant, and at
last spoke.
'I do not recognize"
"Ugo di Savelli, madam" and bowed
Her lips curled little as she answered:
"Well, Messer Ugo di Savelli-Cayaliere
Ugo di Savelli, I should say-is it not SO?
May l ask your business? If it is any mes
sage from your master decline TO hear it, }"
and she turned away with motion of SUI
preme disdain, thinking no doubt that 1 was
a follower of Count Carlo.
"Ho! ho!" laughed Baglioni at my look OF
discontinue, "the future countess can speak
her mind. 1 pity Carlo. You had best cut
short your five minutes, cavaliere, and come
back to the cards"
At this moment I heard the bear whining
below, impatient for his master, and l knew
his bonds were all too slender to hold him.
There was nothing for it but to save Angola
in spite of herself. All this happened in a
flash, and with my full strength l hit Bag
lioni below the left ear, just where the neck
and head united. So sudden, so unexpected
was the blow that the huge man rolled over
like an OK, and short shrill scream broke
from Angola. My sword was out in mo-
ment, and l stood over Baglioni.
"a cry, movement, and l kill you like
dog" gasped out, my breath coming thick
and fast; throw the key to the lady-pick
it up, girl-quick- run to the door and
stand there-I am here to save you" 1t
was done at once, for Baglioni saw he must
obey or die, and springing back closed the
door quickly and turned the key. Almost as
did SO / heard footsteps hurrying below,
and blew loudly on my whistle. The sound
of the whistle was followed by an angry
shouting that was drowned by terrible
roar, and l saw Pluto before me, rushing up
the stair, with the end of his broken chain
still hanging to him. Baglioni was batter
ing at the door behind me. He was safe
enough, but my companion had dropped in
a faint, and l wanted all my hands and all
my nerve to meet the beast, who was now
on the stairway, not ten feet away from me.
Close to me was heavy stool. ] seized this
and flung it at the animal with all my
strength, and getting between his torefeet
in caused him to stumble and slip back
half dozen steps, but with another roar
Pluto gathered himself together and rushed
up again, his jaws agape and white with
foam. l gave him the point deep into his
neck. 1t might have been pin prick, and
he dented the steel with his teeth. Rising to
his feet he struck at me, tearing my short
cloak clean off my shoulders, and then my
sword was up to the hilt in his side and we
grappled. My left cheek was once touched
by his claws, and seemed to be hanging in
ribbons; but although almost blinded with
blood and choked by his fetid breath l held
my head well down and drove my dagger
again and again into the beast. Angola had
recovered from her faint, and above the
grunting of the bear the battering at the
door and the clash of steel below | heard
her laughing in shrill Mysteries My strength
was failing. l was about to give up all for
lost when there was loud report, and with
howl the bear fell backwards. My hand
somehow fastened itself to the hilt of my