The Holly chieftain., 1902-09-12

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He vas . tribe Aushet and his syss
ssiowed with righteous Hres. but his
hand showed NO sign OF trenhling q
ha calmly added each healthy conttt,
button to his stores.
Although the hour had grown late.
the crowd had apparently doubled
rather than dwindled away. rs was Its
won't. af
Old gamesters rubbed their palms
together and .chuckled-som of them
shook hands with one another after
each glorious success with ~ much
vim a though they had personal
share in the victory.
For the bank was the enemy Of
them all-its Unsuitable nav had
swallowed their flthy lucre, and they
gloated over the fact that its day Of
doom had apparently come at last.
The dealer now began to cast anx-
ious glances up At the clock as though
In hopes the hour for closing opera
lions was close 1t hand
But this was folly, and he knew it.
The EInne must be played to its
conclusion. .s II
Seldom ssdld single soog slip In
Jones' vhssl. and the Sonytction at
last seixe4 Upon those Who looked ON
that Wonder had arrived with. .
system tAat mist .rsvolutioni.e III
games ~ hsSard from ,thaa time 81. & Il 4
The exaMaE1A SiShf, & (. e ~, z. y.
Jones fhsvsr III Up: =
His buckskin bag had . duplicate,
and both were well loaded. = fortune
in each.
He felt that he could. keep up this
business - long hs the bank was able
to stand It; but the losses Of that
hitherto impresnable inatitution were
simply enormous.
Finally the croupier threw up the
sponge. And ~ he showed more gold
across the table; in the direction
whence al the rest had gone, he re-
marked in that metallic voice Of his.
now tinged with real, alarm:
There can be- no further play here
tonight, ladies and gentlemen-for
the second time in its existence the
bank is brokent. .,s. ..
The most tremendous excitement
followed this dramatic announcement
on the part 'of4fhe veteran croupier.
when circumstances entirely beyond
bis control, compelled him to an
nounce the bursting of the bank of
Monte Carlo.
Jones was the cynosure Of all eyes.
He could not complain of any lack
of attention now-this wonderful feat
made him for the time being almost
god.
The old gamesters crowded about
him and wrung his hand with all
manner Of congratuiatory phrases,
which he could Of course accept at
their true value. The man Who sue
ceeds has no lack Of friends. Jones
was human. and rejoiced at the tri.
umphant vindication 81 his work.
The connt and Ills Russian ally had
no reason to complain. since they
were In for -goodly pile; but what
they had won was a mere bagatelle to
what the future. held for the posses
sor Of that magical chart.
And well they knew 1t.
Jones had made all preparations for
Just such an emergency. even as he
had supplied the buckskin reservoirs
for saeking the bxnk, '@
For an amateur bank burglar he had
covered himself. with considerable
glory.
True, there was Merrick, sturdy
enough to stagger under one Of the
sacks. but to reach Nice IN safety
might be problem.
Mark was engaged Just then, hay.
ing found an opportunity to address
Constance, and this in his mind was
far more to be desired than the task
Of guarding = treasure trove.
Little Miss Millions had never
gsmbled cent 10 her life. and yet she
had been drea4f1lly interested in
Jones daring raid she Who had
hunted springbok and hartebeast, per-
haps sven the Cape buffalo In hitE na-
tive Wild, knew what danger and ex-
lcitAmsnt meant, ard her little kAnds
had done thAir best in applaudinS the
bold plunger when victory came.
: Ehe LITTLE chat Mark, had with the
girl rave him some pleasure and he
was giad to know she was now in'the
care of ethA English colonel who ,had
been Z friend during her girihood
days undsr. .ths ftr4fstsnl skiss q ths
Transvaal. s..
II was time they mAds = move II
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