The Lamar register., 1902-07-16
.oner in his

in South America-about two years, l
guess?" said Jones, reflectively.
How time does fly. l 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, l spent most of my time there
and saw some adventures, of which
more anon. What brings you to Paris
this time? Still playing Don Quixote
to distressed humanity, and, as usual,
paying the freight?"
Jones laughed heartily.
you will have your joke, my dear
boy. | see. Perhaps l have managed
to be of some assistance to my fellows,
for as journey on l see cases of dis
tress occasionally that appeal to my
heart. But l have now settled down
to determined policy. In fact,
have found an object in life, unworthy
as it may seem in the eyes of the ma
jority. l am determined to redress
the wrongs of thousands who have
fallen before the worst Molloch of de-
struction existing upon European soil
to-day. Tell me, have you ever been
to Monte Carlo, my boy?"
"Oh. yes for day or two care
lessly.
"Then you never studied life in that
princely gaming palace as have done.
| assure you it is 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-"
How do you propose to do it?'
Listen. In ten years only once has
the bank of Monte Carlo been broken
by a regular system"
"Ah! l had not heard of it,
"A man-let us call him Darragh-
came on, and. pursuing an intricate
method. smashed the concern in three
days. The widest excitement ensued.
1t 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-
ragh disappeared in most mysterious
manner, and the event has been almost
forgotten.
His story interested me intensely,
and 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 l got on a 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. / ex-
pect before another day dawns to have
possession of the magical paper"
Let me congratulate you. 1t will
be big thing"
"Too big to handle alone. Truth TO
tell. want a partner in the deal, and
when l saw you land on that runaway
automobile l said to myself. There's
a man of nerve to stand in with me
in the biggest speculation ever known
The Joneses amt 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 it 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 it lay slumber-
ing in his system before that excit-
ing event was on the tapis mattered
little, SO long as 1t was there.
And Jones. with his usual luck, had
put his finger on the trigger at just
the right time-he had happy facul-
ty for doing that.
by Jove! do you know I've half a
mind to accept, just for the novelty CT
the thing. What you've told me has
aroused deep curiosity SO that I'd
like to see more of you and your
strange game. I'm in the humor for
it."
Consider it settled. my boy. Some
thing tells me there's luck in our un-
ion of forces. Let's shake upon 1t
there's my hand-take that with my
compliments, and Jones, he pays the
freight
The strange compact was duly sealed
by an Anglo-Saxon grip.
There goes your rescued beauty be-
yond the trees yonder. Take the glass
and have another last look at her.
This may be a wretched day for many
pa1lants who will come on their knees
to that fair enchantress. Ihope it won't
have any evil effect on your future"
please don't worry about me-" said
Mark. jauntily. yet the other noticed
that he seized upon the glasses eager