The Holly chieftain., 1902-07-18
NANCE OF THE RIVIERA.
st. George Rathbo,.,.e,
6GG66GG0GG0G000GoGGGG0GO
Never fear" laushed Merfick

~ eANCNSA AC0As L8Q8uON xA0G IlGke
am proof against all her charms."
Jones was unable to decide ON the
spot whether his companion intended
to convey the meaning that he was
already In love with another, and that
his heart held NO room for two. or else
that he considered himself one Of those
inveterate bachelors who have sworn
totiive . life Of celibacy, and laugh to
scorn all efforts Of the, gentler sex TO
fascinate and ensnare.
Plainly Msrrick would do to study.
The more Jones saw Of him the bet
ter he was pleased at the prospect Of
enlistinE such cool customer in his
plan Of campaign.
Let me see. 1t Is how many moons
since We said good-hy In Buenos Ayres
In South sAmerica-sbout two years,
guess!" said Jones, rehectiveiy.
How time does fly. have never
forgotten the adventure we had with
the river pirates of the Plata-it was
lucky we were armed and able to hold
our own. believe you sailed for Lon
don, intending to go to South Africa"
"Yes. spent most OF my time there
and saw some adventures, OF which
more anon. What brings you to Paris
this time? Still playing Don Quixotc
to distressed humanity, and. as usual,
paying the freight."M
Jones laughed heartily.
You will have your joke, my dear
boy, I see. Perhaps I have managed
to be Of some assistance to my fellows,
for ~ journey on see cases Of dis
tress occasionally that appeal to my
heart. But havs now settled down
to a determined policy. In fact, /
have found an object in life, unworthy
- 1t may seem In the eyes Of the ma.
3ority. am determined to redress
the wrongs Of thousands who have
fallen before the worst Molloch OF de-
struction existing upon European soil
to-day. Ten me, have you ever been
to Monte Carlo. my boy?"
"Oh. yes for day or two,' care
lessly. aa
Then you never studied life in that
princely gaming palace as have done.
| assure you 1t ia a fearful sight, the
despair OF those who have lost their
all. have seen men destroy them
selves with pistol or poison-I have
seen wretched women go stark crazy
over their disasters, and deep down in
my heart swore, sir, that should the
chance ever come to me would do all
that lay in my feeble power to break
the iniquitous chain that binds these
thousands to this glittering palace
which, in my mind, Is more of plague
to Europe than the cholera could ever
be-" .f4s @
How do you propose to do IT." 81
Listen. In ten years only once has
the bankIof Monte Carlo been broken
by regular system"
"Ah! had not heard of it,"
"a man-let us call him Darragh-
came on, and, pursuing an intricate
days. The widest excitement ensued.
It was understood that II he allowed
his system to become known the day
Of reckoning was at hand. and Monte
Carlos glory was at on end. But Dar-
rash disappeared In q most mysterious
manner, and the event has been almost
forgotten.
His story interested me Intensely.
and I set myself to work. endeavoring
to discover just what became Of this
lucky, yet at the same time; unfortu-
nate devil. ran down each story In
turn, and finally ! got on q warm trail,
and my presence In Paris at this hour
is really to secure the magical paper
that contains Darragh's prescription
TO cure the disease OF gaming. l ex-
pect before another day dawns to have
possession of the magical paper"
"Let me congratulate you: It will
be = big thing
TOO big to handle alone. Truth TO
tell. want partner In the deal, and
when nav you land on that runaway
automobile said to myself, There's
I man Of nerve to stand in with me
in the biggest speculation ever known,
The Joueses ain't stingy bit. What
do you say. Merrick. my boy!"
At another time Merrick might have
shaken his head and denied himself
the pleasure Of participating in the
expected orgies.
Somehow 1t struck him Just at the
hour when he seemed primed for any
harum scArum. venture-whether the
chase Of the runaway vehicle had
aroused this feeling or II lay slumber-
ing in His system bsSors that e1cit-
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