Los Angeles herald., 1906-08-26

leaned back and closed his eyes.
Sikh cried Madame.
Allah be prased" said the Turk, sobered
for second by his narrow victory.
The Count opened his eyes and smiled. Again
we are quits, my friend, though | hoped to
have earned hundred thousand pounds" he
said gently. "Well now for little rest, surely
we have earned It. Miss Elliott"
Francine got to her feet and slowly came for
ward. "Yes?"
"Obtge me by standing there a little to the
right; no., step forward-sol Now, Jibaoff-"
The Turk swung round and gazed at the girl
embracingly. "a good face" he said. What
is your price,"
Five thousand pounds"
Too much, far too much"
Francine stared at her enemies with eyes
atiame, her cheeks paing to the hue of milk.
Slowly she drew up her right hand until it rest
edon the bosom of her gown. then inch by inch
she fell back towards the wall. But the Counts
penetration was superhuman.
While watching her with apparent calm he
was signing rapidly with his hands to the dumb
slaves behind his chair These made sudden
dart and threw themselves upon the girl She
gave wild scream and drawing the knife flash
ed it before their eyes. Next second it was
wrested from her grasp, and she sank half be-
side herself to the floor, covering and shudder
ing in an abandon of terror and despair
"Cowards! cowards!" painted Miss Elliott; "un-
manly, Internal towards that you arel"
Desire started forward. Grandfather" she
cried, her face crimson with passion. "If you
insult Miss Elliott | shall kill YOU"
The Count glanced quizzically at Jibaloff.
your daughter needs correction he said
"And she shall have i'll" The Turk sprang
at Desire and, graspng her before she could
eude him, dragged her roughly to the door, then
kicked her with brutal force into the corridor
without He had resumed his chair, and re.
turned the Counts smile of appreciation before
the girls shrill screams of pain had died away
Madame looked at him fxedly. you will
regret that, Jibalof" she said
Jibalott, mutterng curse, approached Fran
cine The Engishwoman threw back her head
with gesture of magnificent dsdan and look
ed him full in the eyes. She uttered no word
she was helpless in her gaolers' hands, but so
great power was in her glance that the brutal
Turk encountering it, writhed. paused and fal.
tered. He stood dubious and abashed, and pres.
emily his eyes fell before hers
Suddenly he did graceful thing He bowed
reverently, almost humbly. 'Mademoiselle,' he
said, Il beg thousand pardons. You are beau
tiful. You shall be the queen of my harem."
He then swung his heel and addressed the
Count. Monsieur said he, 81 shall pay you
your price"
The Count uttered a low sardonc chuckle.
lis the triumph of mind over matter" he
said grimly, 'and the mind faints" He
pointed to the girl.
Francine was swaying to and fro Suddenly
she tottered and fell to the floor in deep and
merciful swoon, and there her gaolers permitted
her to rest.
The Turk stared at her as if unable to wrest
his glance from her graceful FORM II shall
pay you your price," he repeated
Pardon smiled the old man; 81 warned
you what to expect, my friend. My price has
What is t?"
"Ten thousand pounds
81 agree"
The Count smiled 1T is almost midnight"
he said; "let us resume our play"
No, | am sick of it, cried Jibalof.
But am not" returned the Count
My dear Count, ] must go Hark! what is
that" As he spoke there came to their ears
hollow. rumbling echo that seemed 70 issue
from beneath their feet. The castle for second
trembed and vbrated and the library windows
ratified as though shaken by a sudden gust of
wind.
The old man paled little. and nervously clutch
ed at the arms of his chair. But in moment
recovering hrimself he smiled. at is nothing.
my dear Yussef or almost nothing. This house
is built over old Mines as you know the water
trckling through the passages often eats away
supports, and then follows crash of stone. There
is no danger though"
Jibaloff appeared uneasy in spite of this ex
planation. and he got to his feet Really he
said. cit is time for me to GO"
you shall not leave her until midnight" said
the Count codly, and he turned to one of the
negroes who stood at the door on guard. "Goi
find out if any steamer has been sighted from
the lookout yet"
"Excellency" returned the man; "a message
has this second arrived there is none"
"The more time for us to play" said the Count.
"Come Jibaloff!"
II tell you am sick of it."
Come"
well, then, let us fix limit; I am sick to
death of it. Let us say three throws for the
same stakes we played for last"
"Ten throws"
"No, three III dice no more"
well, three You throw first"
The Turk threw six, the Count three
Jbaloff drank glass of wine, and took up the
box again "Six!" he cried. He was right.
The Count threw an ace.
"One hundred thousand pounds!" cried tn,
Turk, for the third time taking up the box. ~
shall win again, / cannot lose tonight" But il
spite of his confidence his hand trembled vic
lently as he threw.
"Six." The word was a yell of triumph
The Count eyed him with evil smile ant
scarcely rattling the dice thfew. The numbe
was again
,Jibaloff sprang to his feet. 1T is my luck.
night" he muttered hoarsely. 81 have bough
a Sultana among women, a priceless pearl o
beauty, and | have won a hundred thousan'
pounds
He met the Counts eyes at the last word, an
suddenly faltered his face paling little, for tn
gaze he encountered was full of menace
But the Count dropped his eyes and smiled
my dear friend, you are indeed fortunate" h
drawled. "Shall | pay you now"
"HowV Ayarice struggled with the man
fears, for he feared the Count that moment lilS