Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1907-11-22
CHAPTER XIV.

CHAPTER XIV.
1t was past three o'clock. The Gordon
OF men in plain clothes which completely
surrounded the house of the Vicomte de
Vallar began to grow impatient. The
first streaks of dawn were already visible
in the east.
A few of the guests, among them the
Colbert-Remplins, had left some time be-
fore. But the majority fingered in the
inner salon watching with breathless in
terest the progress of a game the like of
which none of them had ever before wit
messed. ... ...a
But four men remained at the table,
for the stakes had been increased enor-
mously. Those four were Herr Goldstein,
Jules Chabot, the Vicomte de Valiar and
the Swiss millionaire The faces of the
combatants, for they were nothing else,
afforded an interesting study. The coun-
tenance of each painfully reelected the
intense anxiety of that moment.
Two hundred and twenty-five thousand
francs lay on the table. No one would
yield and there was call for yet an
other increase. Herr Goldstein, with a
sigh, folded his cards before him with
his enormous, trembling hands.
81 avail myself of the privilege" he
said, land withdraw"
Jules Chabot, who acted as banker.
then handed the broker thirty-thousand
francs. 1t was half of his original stake ;
the other half of which lay on the table.
This brings our pool down pretty low"
said the vicomte. Il raise it another
twenty-five thousand francs"
The other two players then each placed
twenty-five thousand francs in the pool.
The spectators could not but notice the
excessive excitement of Jules Chabot His
hands also trembled nervously. He held
good cards, but if the betting continued
he must inevitably drop out.
81 think it is my turn to CALL he said
at last Il have my choice; l challenge
YOU, Monsieur Lazare."
He put down his cards and spread them
out before him, the vicomte, according
to the rules of the game, turning his
head so that he could not see what cards
either of his adversaries held
When he again turned to the table
Jules Chabot had left it and NJ. Lazare
was sitting calmly awaiting him, with a
huge heap of notes and gold at his side.
u
which by right of his superior hand had
passed into NJ. Lazare's possession. The
yicomte was at loss just exactly what to
do at that moment. He knew the kind of
a hand he held was so good there were
Int two other combinations which could
beat it. Was it possible that the man
onposite him held such a combination?
Or was he simply trying to brighten him
into sharing the heavy stakes?
A moments reflection decided him on
his course. He had left nearly one hun
dred and fifty thousand francs as yet I'M
staked. He would bet every sou of this !;
nerhaps NJ. Lazare would be unable to
cover his bets, and according to the rules
of the game he was compelled to do so
or cease playing for the game was what
was known as an unlimited one. He look
ed his opponent sternly in the eye. He
thought he discerned signs of weakening
do you wish to divide, monsieur"
Certainly not. !" came the quiet an
swer. 81 am prepared to back my hand.
It's your bet.
II bet fifty thousand francs"
II raise you one hundred thousand
francs" and he placed that sum also on
the table.
This seemed to stagger the Frenchman.
It was the last money the detective had,
hut the other did not know it. Nj. DAu-
buron's friend was indeed millionaire.
The Frenchman arose from the table.
Monsieur will excuse me for mo-
ment." he said. Il do but go to an inner
room to get some more money"
He shortly reappeared, making his way
+bronob the dense and excited throng
around the table, with huge bundle of
notes in his hand. They were different
from any which lay on the table; they
were of the currency of the second en-
nire. The detectives eye glistened as he
locked at them and his heart beat quick
" as drawing forth one hundred thousand
francs from the bundle, the Frenchman
covered his last bet. Then he added. as
if desperately:
"And I raise 1t one hundred thousand
francs more"