The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1900-07-28

l a. NNIIlClLtIl. Ills eyes met NINE,
We exchanged g.ances more meaning
thaa words. | could see that he wa
sorry to see her losing in that reckless
manner, for her outward appearance
showed that she could III afford to lose
the sum which she had already staked.
Again she folded a bank note and
placed it upon her favorite number
and lost.
Her face changed. She was des-
perate.
Again rose the strident invitation to
play! Again she placed her hundred
franc stake on 30.
Then she stood leaning over the
players seated in front of her. watch
ing the revolving wheel. She held her
breath; her hand clutched the back of
her chair; her eyes seemed starting
from her head.
The ball jumped quickly as it dropped
upon the wheel, and the next instant
i. fell with a final click.
"~Ving-et-un."
Once more she dived into the shabby
little reticule. She opened it wider
with nervous hands and peered into it.
1t was empty,
For a moment she stood glaring at
it, rigid as a statue.
All" she shrieked above the poly
glot chatter. I've lost all-every-
thing. l have not a sou in the world.
And for his sake-for his sake"
She threw UP her arms and. reeling.
fell back writhing in a fit.
Some little commotiOn was caused.
but. assisted by the W men on my
right. | succeeded in preventing her
harming herself. and a few moments
later she was taken out by four blue
coated attendants.
Yet. with that strange perversity Of
fate which ever follows us. just as she
was removed. the ball fell again. and
30. the number upon which she had
ruined herself. turned up.
Bah, What iuck." CALCULATED the
young man in English, with a slight ac-
cent. "She ought to have let it pass
once. Then she'd have won. Poor
woman-poOr woman!"
"She believed. by some omen or 9TH
er. that the number would win" | re-
marked. It's always the same here.
People are not content with the SIM
pie chances"
Not only here, m'sieur, but in every
phase of life" he answered. There is
avarice-the ~avarice that ruins in the
hearts of all. from peasant to king"
Then he sighed. and with 4 pleasant
nod to me turned away with his CON-
panion. as though the sight of the play
bored him.
4 coupe of hours later. having
supped at Ciro's with some friends, l
left them and entered the yellow" X
press. or gamblers train, for Nice. In
the compartment | found the unfor-
innate woman silent. almost statu-
esque. huddled up in a corner alone.
the deathlike pallor of her face only
half concealed by her veil. Just at the
moment of starting. however. the two
men who had stood by watching her
ruin got in. and. after saluting me.
seated themselves.
1t was very curious. thought. They
seemed to be following either her or
myself.
Ere we ran past La Turbie the
Younger man. who had seated himself
opposite her. suddenly raised his hat
and addressed her. saving in French:
IF | mistake not. madam is Rus
siam"
Yes. m'sieur." she responded in a
low. broken voice. Il believe that ii
was You who very kindly assisted me in
the rooms. | have to thank you
oh. that was nothing ut all. Il
only regret that madam had such very
bad fortune"
bad fortune" she cried bitterly.
"M'sier. l am ruined-utterly. | have
striven to save my son-bTt he is lost.
and am ruined. All that l had has
gone"
Your SOM" inquired the sympathet-
ic stranger. Explain to me. | am
Interested"
She hesitated. glancing at him with
some surprise.
Il am Russian" she said at length,
with a sigh. Il come from Markov. a !
village 30 versts from Mini. on the
road to Petersburg. ] kept the inn
there; a poor place, but its scanty |
profit sufficed for my daily wants.
Alas! m'Sieur. most of ones profits in
Russia are swallowed up in xes Ny
husband died ten years ago. and my
son Paul. is the only re!ation-the only
friend-I have in all the world. BY dint
of greatest economy managed to send
him TO the university Al Kieff. and he
there passed with brilliant honors and
became a doctor in the lZaak hospital.
in Petersburg. He returned 10 me Sc
cretly one night. two months ago. and
told me that the police were searching
for him. Within an hour the ispravnik
and his men entered our house. He was
arrested and taken back to Petersburg.
where he is now in the Peter-Paul pris-
awaiting trial. When he had been
taken from me | knew that he must
have money if he was to be defended
by tSe great lawyers.
Il had nothing saved. therefore sold
inn TO a jew: but he gave me 81
little that it was insufficient. | had