The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1904-02-26
CHAPTER VIII.
A NEW FRIEND.

50. Viii.
A NEW FRIEND.
I raped on the table. called a wait
ress, and ordered a bottle of light wine,
which I knew would not hurt me.
Send for Mademoiselle Florine,"
and before many seconds were gone
that lady,. presented herself, and
percheds upon the edge of the table
where Isat. Her humor was gay. her
laugh was keen; she smiled, and asked.
Has monsieur f~orgiven?" with such 4
ease.
"Mademosielle, sit down, 1 pray YOU"
and she saw by my serious face l was
In no mood for chatting, SO h seated
herself with a pretty air Of attention.
I could see the. fellow at the dice
watching. but now he appeared quite
satisfied I intended to stay and drink
with the girl. She was evidently a
great favorite with the habitues Of the
ly than at the door, and I guess he X
pected Wards return.
Now I grew certain. Ward had
merely gone down the stair to Sc If he
had dropped the papers in the fight.
AS soon Is he found they We're not
there I felt morally certain he
would come and demand them
O1 me. i %udu DeSull lllG gam,
and must play out the hand. So
I reached across the, table, filed the
glasses for myself and Florine, rails
Ing mine high as if I would propose a
toast. I tapped her banteringly on the
cheek, for the benefit Of him who
watched, and said in q low tone, try
ing to maintain my nonchalant man
ner. 4
Listen to me a minute, and l be-.
seech you smile. do not ook SO serious.
You brought me here, and now I trust
o to get me out alive. Is there any
other way than that I came?"
She looked about her apprehensively,
SO I cautioned her again.
For heavens sake SMILE; 1 am close
" watched, and you must laugh and
be merry as il I drank with you and
made love-
She comprehended, and well did she
play her part. The tones OF her voice
were light and playful; h lifted the
glass to her lips, tasting as a con
noisseur, and said between her sips:
Eyes, Monsieur, there is-another way
leading out-on an alley in the ear"
How do you reach it?"
THE. door behind the table-where
they play for highest stakes-leads to
the passage. Do but cast-your Eyes
that Way-and you will see"
Then let US"
wait, Monsieur, not yet. If Mon
sieur would go and seal himself at
that table, as If he desired to play, I
will slip around and max ready the
door for him.. Monsieur was kind to
me, and Florine is grateful. Even we
women here respect a gentleman"
1 pitied the woman from the bottom
OF my heart. I took out my purse, paid
the reckoning, and together we wan
.dered aimlessly toward thai table,
laughing n looking on at the var
ious games. The fellow watched us
a we went, but was pleased, and
seemed satisfied the woman but car.
ried out the purposes Of her employ
ment.
I took a seat at the table, laid a
wager or two and made myself intent
upon the game. Florine stood behind
my chair for awhile, watched my play,
then disappeared. After a little she
returned and again touk her place be-
hind me. Directly she laughed out mer-
rily, and in a one loud enough to be
heard by the man who listened as well
as watched, cried:
Monsieur plays the stakes too low.
ing over h took several gold pieces
from my store, laid them out and
leaned close beside me to watch the
throw. In this position she whisper
ed:
II have the key to the. outer door.
The inner door will be unlocked. Mon
sieur will play twice more, and by that
time I will be in the passage. Arise,
and when you lay your hand upon the
door I will open it from the other side"
I lost the throw.
Double the wager, and better luck
next time" she laughed as she moved
off, and joking lightly to different men
she knew, made her way beyond my
range Of vision. During the play I saw
Ward come in hurriedly and question
the man at the door. He shrugged his
evidently asked who had passed out or
In.
The doorkeeper then r~ecoifected, and
I imagined he was telling of the two
gentlemen who had just gone down the
STAIR. Ward stood an Instant is If
uncertain what to do. He was much
agitated and perfectly sober. He
left me. / was gone. He strobe over
to his confederate, yet engaged in
play, and made no pretense Of conceal
ing the abruptness of his question. The
Z IAN, in reply, indicated my position at
the other table. Ward appeared some-
what relieved. AgaiR he spoke, and
this time the ma at the table gather
gu up LIE LiOISy III 1EOIC OF aim ana
replaced it in his purse. Then he cried
loud enough for me to hear:
"What?"
And sprang up instantly. They both
looked at ms and held a hurried con-
sultation. then separated, and one 60
ing one way, one the other, came over
toward where I sat. BY his time my
second throw was made, and I felt II
Florine played me false the game was
lost. Yet hoping for everything I rose
quietly, and thrusting my winnings in
a wallet-for I had been fortunate
stepped back and land my hand upon
the knob. 1t was locked. I had no
time to think, but 1aw the whole trick;
lured to my destination, hemmed in be-
yond hope Of escape. Bitterly + re-
pented my folly.
I nave heard men say they faced
death without a treRIor, and so for
that matter have i, rel many times,
bur 1t was upon an honest field in law
full fight for honor'p sake or duty's. NY
cheek paled In anirA of me- ri ainhf az