The Holly chieftain., 1902-10-24

W0AI . QOUOtS FOt0 Joooo u8Q D000
playing; but - happiness had bean
granted to him, such outside events
only created momentay ripple In
the steady current Of his life.
A strange thing had happened,
however, the magic cryptogram, the
wonderful paper bearing the intricate
formula whereby the chances Of the
gaming table could be Invariably
thrown against. the bank, was lost!
Jones. fearing lest he might b
robbed Of the priceless document,
had sewn 1t under the lining Of Mer-
rick's coat for safe keeping. and ~
luck would have 1t, the paper was In
the half that had been torn from the
back Of that individual during his
desperate struggle with the royalists
who obeyed the viii of Count Leon.
Jones searched for the remnant OF
that coat far and wide. but It was
never found.
And thus Monte Carlos doom was
indefinitely postponed; the day OF
wrath failed to appear, since NO liv-
ing man possessed complete CODY
Of Darragh's intricate and wonderful
system that had wrought SO balsful
. terror in the minds Of the usually
iron-nerved croupiers of the bank.
Long would the doings Of those two
nights be the theme Of eager conver-
sation over the green-baize tables,
and while the illustrious name Of
Jones might not 60 laundering down
the ages" as . liberator Of enthralled
mankind, 1t would ever be held in re-
membrance as belonging to the man
who, aided by some astonishing good
fortune. together with magnificent
system" had broken the famous bank
at Monte Carlo two nights in success
sion.
Perhaps the actual result trended
the other way, and there was more
-extravagant play the balance of the
season than ever before; since prac.
tical demonstration had proven that
the long-sought system was possible,
every one who had ever bucked
against the tiger returned to the
charge refreshed and invigorated, and
many a unique set of figures, Iona
since discarded as hopeless, was made
to do duty again. bs
Jones. in his ofncial capacity,
might have retoiced to lay hands on
villebois, but the count vanished
from the scene. and was next heard
of in equatorial Africa, where he
Joined his fortune as an exile from
France with the two daring captains
who aspired to found a new nation
among the refugee blacks of the
great Soudan.
Merrick having endured SO much
for the girl he loved, was very urgent
with regard to speedy, wedding;
perhaps he still entertained some
faint fear lest his old dread of seem.
ing to be a fortune hunter should
overwhelm him. and bring about
fresh troubles.
Nor could Constance, whose very
existence was now wrapped up in his,
say him nay; so when they reached
London. in company with the genial
old colonel. the knot was tied secure.
ly that made him the happiest man
on earth.
Having followed their fortunes thus
far. and witnessed their safe arrival
in the harbor Of matrimony after q
stormy voyage over the uncertain sea
of courtship, 1t would be folly to
spend any further time over their
Joys and their sorrows, from which
even the most favored individuals
may not be wholly free.
While doing the great city Of New
York some months later, Nerrick re.
ceived communication from an old
friend 30 characteristic of Jones in
his happiest mood that It afforded
him more than = little amusement,
even while he mourned over the
weakness Of poor mankind. The let.
ter was extremely brief and pithy,
being directly to the point:
Your prophecy. my dear boy, was,
alas! fulfilled. The wonderful prin.
cess charmed me a. she has done
many . better man, wound me around
her finger like piec6 Of silk, made
love to me one day and laughed ss
me the next, until fell into q fever
and threatened to cross the styx, only
for once Jones. he wasn't able 70
pay the freight. The Cossack and I
fought . duel. do you mind, and I'm
nursing the poor devil even yet in .
hospital; we've sworn eternal friend.
ship, and plan to go to China to win
fortune there. Confession il good for
the soul. dear Mark, 80 hear Tae out.
Every naDoIe0n I won n Monta C.rio