, 1905-12-13

1ronvd to rescue Reggie Yanderpool
from the stern arm of the law that he
discovered the identity of Punchinello.
Manifestly he had not been in a con-
dition to recognize his assailant, and a
subsequent disagreement had driven
the first out of his head. The poor boy
was sadly bruised about the face, and
his arrest had probably saved him
from worse punishment.
81 told you | couldn't wear a mask"
he explained ruefully as Monty led him
home. But how could | know that he
could hear Inc all the timer"
The day after the carnival Brewster
drove his guests over to Monte Carlo.
He meant to stay only long enough to
try his luck at the tables and lose
enough to make up for the days at sea
when his purse was necessarily Idle.
Sw%earengen Jones was forgotten, and
soon after his arrival he began to
plunge. At first he lost heavily, an. it
was with difficulty that he concealed
his joy. Peggy Gray was watching
him and in whispers implored him to
sup, bul MID. IAN tA1ilCbiy u ecu
him - continue until his luck changed.
To the girls chagrin it was the more
reckless advice that he followed. In
SO desperate a situation he felt that he
could not stop. But his luck turned too
soon.
81 can't afford to give up" he said
miserably to himself after a time.
I'm already a winner by $1,000, and
I must at least get rid of that"
Brewster became the center of in
terest to those who we're not playing,
and people marveled at his luck. They
quite misinterpreted his eagerness and
the flushed anxious look with which
he followed each spin of the wheel.
He had chosen a seat beside al Eng
fish duchess whose practice 1t was to
appropriate the winnings of the more
inexperienced players, and he was
aware that many of his gold pieces
were being deliberately stolen. Here,
he thought, was at least a helping
hand, and he was on the point of mov.
ing his stack toward her side when
DeMille interfered. He had watched
lllc uuCAcSS anu udd Ctlitd lnt
croupier's attention to her neat little
method. But that austere individual
Bilenced him by saying in surprise,
"But she's a duchess-what do you
expectT"
Not to be dOwned so easily. DcMIille
watched the play from behind Monty's
chair and cautioned his friend at the
first opportunity.
"Bcttcr cash In and change yo1r
seat. Monty. They're robbing you" he
whispered.
Cash in when Pm away ahead of
the game? Never,' and Monty did his
best to a joyful tone.
At first he played with 10 effort at
system, pillng his money fiat on the
numbers which seemed to have least
chance of winning, but he simply
could not lose. Then he tried to re-
verse different systems he had heard
Of, but they turned out to be winners.
Finally in desperation he began
doubling on one color in the hope that
he would surely lose in the end, but his
particular fate was against him With
his entire stake on the red, the ball con-
timed to fall in the red holes until
the croupier announced that the bank
was broken.
Dan DeMille gathered in the money
and counted $4,000 before he handed
it to Monty. His friends were over
joyed when he left the table and won
dered why he looked SO downhearted.
Inwardly he berated himself for not
taking Peggy's advice.
I'm so glad for your sake that you
did not stop when | asked you, Monty,
but your luck does not change my be
lief that gambling is next to stealing"
Peggy was constrained to say as they
went to supper.
81 wish | had taken you ADVICE he
said gloomily.
And missed the fortune you have
won? How foolish of you, Monty. You
were a loser by several thousand dol
lars then" she objected. with whimsical
inconsistency.
But, Peggy he said quietly, looking
deep into her eyes. lit would have won
me your respect
CHAPTER XXI.
II ONTY'S situation was desper-