The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-11-10

with the Baron. And this ward of your husbands" asked Vivian, "who was he?"
 Violet Fane's brother, my cousin" answered Lady Trevor
 "Come and dine with me tonight" said the Baron few 'hours after as he met Vivian. "A quiet party-only St. George and De Boefieurs."
 ''Will St. George be there?"
 Most certainty"
 q will come,n replied Vivian.
 They had a dinner to delight the heart of an epicure at the Bsron's apartment and then they talked and drank a little. Young St, George was all animation and enthusiasm. Vivian was grave and watchful. The Chava- Her told a story of -playing--one that Saivinski had told him. "The story is true. If you have pack of cards I will illustrate to you" said the Frenchman.
 '"rhere is not such a thing in the house." replied the Baron. But 1t was found that Konigstein's servant hadsa pack, and the Chevalier illustrated" What more natural than that they should drift into a little game of rouge -et-noir? They played on and on. St. Georges luck. which had been good at first, deserted him and he lost heavily. Grey also had a run of bad luck De Boeffieurs won nightly; the Baron greatly.
 The servant, about midnight, brought in refreshments. After these the Chevalier proposed to resume the game Vivian decided that 1t was time to act. He arose. locked the door on the inside, and turning to St. George, said: You owe the Ch evalier about 1000 Napoleons and to the Baron about half Sthat sum. I have to inform you that YOU have to satisfy the claims of neith- CT of 'these genelemen. as they are founded neither upon law nor honor What am I to understand" cried the Chevalier in a voice of thunder. You are to understand that I will not be pulled by blackleg.' replied Vivian. T have in my pocket the marked cards which you have been playing"
 The Chevalier began to get ugly and Vivian unlocked the door and hurled him half down the corridor Then he returned to the Baron and the aston ished St. George
 Konigstein, when confronted by all the knowledge that Vivian had of him, made a full confession. He declared that he was guiltless of turing young Fane to his ruin and gave circum- stantial story of the fatal night in Lon don which had the ring of truth. 1 While he had been at Ems he had played and lost heavily and De Boef- fleurs had tempted him to resort to the trick of the marked cards that night fin order that he might save his repu- tation by meeting his gambling debts with money ''pigeoned" from St. George.
 Here" said Vivian" are my win nings slnce have been in Ems. They will suffice for the payment of your debts By tomorrow night I shall ex- pect you to be on the road to Vienna. Diplomatic business will be sufficient excuse. What has taken place in this room need not be known outside of it. 70
 That ended the incident of the Baron von Konigstein for Vivian. But his sudden departure made political mystery that disturbed Europe and created a panic on the Bourse. In politics and business, however, tre- mendous the effects. the cause Is often as ,tritlnng as this.
 It was Essper George who warned Vivian of the trick of the marked cards. He had seen the pack In the possession of the Baron's servant and knew that Vivian was to be at the Baron's house that night. The mark ing was done in a manner known gem erally only to conjurors and had Ess- her George not explained 1t to his mas ter. Vivian would not have been able to detect the trick. Weeks of happi- ness succeeded for Vivian Grey. In the company of Violet Fene he wan l. dered about the beautiful walks of the