Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1902-09-05
little MISS MILLIONS.
THE WITCH Of MONTE CARLO.
A ROMANCE OF THE RIVIERA.

~ ST. GEORGE RATHBORNE,
author Of "M.s Pauline, of Nev York. "TAI
| Spiders Wto." "kiss Caprice" etc., sse.
Copyright, 1900 Street and Smith, New York.
| CHAPTER Ix.-(Cont,nued.)
mat was only to be expected, and
scores of others did the same thing
some for tidy amounts.
NO one deigned to notice him as
yet, but Jones was not seeking noto
rlety-he would in good time have all
that he cared for, and more, too.
Like other great men, he could be
patient, knowing that everything
comes to him who waits. s.....
Jones won again.
He never touched his stake, but
cast his eyes down to the white cuff
OF his shirt-sleeve, upon which few
apparently hieroglyphic figures had
been marked.
Merrlck swept glance around.
AS usual there were numerous spec
tators back of the players, though nc
great crowd was in attendance.
He quickly discovered the one he
sought, and bowed across the table
to Constance Dare.
The count sat close to Jones, and
followed his play with much small
er stake.
Evidently he believed a half loaf
was better than no bread, and in
tended sharing the coming glory and
vindication of Darragh's system.
Little Jones cared.
1t was not so much the money he
desired as the decentralization of the
gaming faculty, which was yearly
sending it's deadly blight all over Eu
rope, and even reaching out it's ten
tacles across the sea to the young re-
public of the west.
AS time passed and Jones' little
pile upon the table grew in quantity
some of those near by began to show
an interest in his work, being forever
on the lookout for phenomenon.
Still he won, with only an occa
sional setback.
The dealer condescended to shoot
| him a glance of curiosity as he shov
ed glittering mass in his quarter
though at the same time a cynical
smile momentarily fitted over his
sallow features.
He had seen them before, lots OF
them--like the old sexton, it was only
a question of time with him ere he
gathered them in.
OF course, the keen eyes of the deal
er had ere now detected that Jones
was proceeding upon regular rou
tine of play-possibly he had discov
cred the marks upon the cuff, as il
was an old dodge.
When Jones won again he became
interested enough to make some little
remark across the board as he pushed
a goodly heap of gold llither.
For the limit had been reached.
Should Jones be lucky enough Il
win again, he must begin to stow his
gains away.
OF course, this might happen, but
the dealer, in his superior wisdom
rested under the belief that it was
about time q decided change took
place.
He would smile in his usual ironi
cal way when the collapse came, and
that was all.
TO him 1t was an old story.
Another rake off for Jones.
He calmly drew out a formidable
buckskin bag, and ratified the thou
sands of francs into it as nonchalantly
as the dealer passed them over.
Indeed, his very action seemed to
say that he certainly expected more
to follow, for the mouth of the capa
cious bag yawned hungrily between
his knees.
The whisper had gone around, and
all interest was now centered at this
point.
Keen eyes watched the action OF
Jones as he changed to red after win
ming a certain number of times on
black.
Red won, of course-his system had
worked beautifully thus far, and If IL
kept up the ruin of Monte Carlo was
assured.
More intense grew the excitement
all old failures were forgotten and
one more hope revived in hearts that
had grown sick with waiting.
The worst of it was when Jones
won every one raked in with him
since none dared to 60 contrary to
such extraordinary luck.
So that the bank was losing heavily
There was chance that it might
recoup when the turn came, if it ever
did. ..-
Jones played on without tremor
The crowd, pressed five deep
around the table, now took such amaz
ing interest in Jones and his fortunes
that each time he won buzz of ex
element and covetous sympathy
burst out, while an occasional loss ex
cited deepest confederation.
Jones looked like winner.
He was a trifle flushed and his eyes
glowed with righteous fires, but his
hand showed no sign of trembling as
he calmly added each healthy contri
button to his stores. -&
Although the hour had grown late
the crowd had apparently doubled
rather than dwindled away, as was its
won't
Old gamesters rubbed their palms
together and chuckled-some Of them
shook hands with one another after
each glorious success with as much
vim as though they had personal
share in the victory ------- ------