Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1902-05-08

SooE-hlfIe piles Of Soyereigns and notes
apps ared and disappeared at the vari-
GUS tables. Excitement grew apace,
ano thA very faces of the players were
transformed. The greed of gain was
upon them. 1t was my first glimpse of
the English aristocrat at his private
gaming table
Fina 'ly interest centered at the table
where Marchand and young Chadwick
held forth alone. At the beginning
Chadw lex had won, and with a triunl-
pfant gesture he would haul in his lit
tie pile of gold. The liquor had brought
q sparkle to his eye and daring to :sss
tongue, for he kept Mrs. Marchand
close to his side, declaring her to be his
mascot and casting such languishing
glances into her perfect blue eyes that
wondered at Captain Marchand's
calmness. When Chadwick won, she
clapped her hands in girlish glee, and
once or twice caught a cynical smile
on Marchand's lips. Clearly her pres
ence was going to Chadwick's head.
He played recklessly.
''I'll make it f4,OOO!" exclaimed the
captain.
A hush fell on the room. Then rose
Mrs. Marchand's clear, sweet voice:
'.How exciting! On, Mr.. Chadwick,
go him one better! Make it 5,OOOw
The other guests rose and gathered
round the table. Lord Brewer stood
on the hearth rug, glancing toward the
group with troubled eyes, heard him
say u1,der his breath:
''The Lad can't afford to lose that
amount"
! Joined the spectators just as Chad
sick called for another card. Then
felt thrill pass over me. The blood
rushed to my face, and instinctively I
clinched my fist.
Mrs. Marchand was gently tapping
the back Of Chadwick's chair, but it
was no longer the tattoo of an absent
minded individual. Each tap meant
something. She was telegraphlng
Chadwick's hand to her husband!
My first impulse was to ,denounce
them then and there, but what was the
word of hired entertainer against
that Of distinguished guests, people of
social standing, as any Of Lord Brow
er's friends must be? Then came the
inspiration. With something of the
captains cynical smile, I, too, COM
menced to drum on the back of chair,
and this was what reached the startled
couple:
1ou-are-caught!"
The captain turned rigid as he grasp
ed the arms of his chair, and for SIN
gle instant his eyes, expressing rage,
hate and fear, met mine. smiled
grimly, enjoying the situation. The
coup had different effect on Mrs.
Marchand. She tainted away, at which
the captains composure returned. He
sprang to her rescue, and the table was
overturned.
When Mrs. Marchand recovered, the
guests clamored for the finish Of the
game, but Marchand shook his head,
perhaps because / drummed rhyth-
mic warning, Don't playw
l sat in my room an hour later, cogi-
Brewer that he was entertaining pair
of clever tricksters, when servant
brought me message from Marchand
asking an interview in his room. I
found him waiting for me with an
ugly scowl on his face, but his wife,
pale and with her hair in artistic dis
array, was charming in her new role Of
beauty in distress.
Marchand came directly to the point
"Well. what do you intend to do?"
Nothing" replied nonchalantly
1T is your play. If you and your
charming wife are suddenly summoned
to London tomorrow, the matter ends.
Otherwise think Lord Brewer
I shrugged my shoulder significantly.
"And, by the way, it might be just
as well If you refunded to Chadwick
the money you've won since he's been
playing with you"
"And then?"
Madam's hands were working nery-
ously
"And then shall have one more good
after dinner story-to tell when re-
turn to America; that Is all. Lord
Brewer shall never know"
"You are very generous" replied the
lady, with tears in her eyes. You can
have no idea to what straits we, my
husband and 1, have been driven" She
was playing her part well. Eve were
raised to love the good things of life.
Both thought the other had money, and
both have made the best of bad bar
gain. We hare lived upon the losses of