Bismarck daily tribune., 1908-12-24

round the table. Lord Brewer stood
on the hearth rug, glancing toward the
group with troubled eyes. I heald him
say under his breath:
"The lad can't afford to lose that
amount. III SA3 sss
l Joined the spectators just as Chad
wick called for another card. Then /
felt thrill pass over me. The blood
rushed to my face, and instinctfvely !
clinched my fist.
Mrs. Marchand was gently tapping
the back or Chadwick's chair, but 1t
was no longer the tattoo Of an absent
minded individual. Each tap meant
something. She was telegraphing
Chadwick's hand to her husband!
My first impulse was to denounce
them then and there, but what was
the word Of a hired entertainer against
that of distinguished guests. people Of
social standing, as 10y Of Lord Brow
er's friends must be? Then came the
inspiration With something Of the
captains cynical smile, /, too, COM
menced to drum on the back Of a
chair, and this was what reached the
startled couple:
'You-are caughtw
The captain turned rigid as he grasp
ed the arms Of his chair, and for sim
gle instant his eyes, expressing rage,
hate and fear, met mine. smiled
grimly, enjoying the situation. The
coup had a different effect on Mrs.
Marchand She tainted away, at which
the captains composure returned. He
sprang 10 her rescue, and the table
was overturned.
When Mrs. Marchand recovered the
guests clamored for the finish Of the
game, but Marchand shook his head,
perhaps because / drummed rhyth-
mic warning, Don't playw
l sat in my room an hour later, cogi-
tating whether / should inform Lord
Brewer that he was entertaining a
pair Of clever tricksters, when serv-
ant brought me message from Mar
chand asking an interview In his
room. found him waiting for me
with an ugly scowl on his face, but
his wife, pale and with her hair in
artistic disarray, was. charming in her
new role Of beauty In distress.
Marchand came directly to the point.
"Well, what do you intend to do?''
Nothing" replied nonchalantly.
ut is your play. If you and your
charming wife are suddenly summon
ed to London tomorrow the matter
ends. Otherwise I think Lord Brow
err ~
shrugged my shoulders significant
ly.
"And, by the way, it might be just
as well If you refunded to Chadwick
the money you've won since he's been
playing with you"
"And then?''
Madam's hands were working nerv-
ously.
'And then I shall have one more
good after dinner story-to tell when /
return to America; that is all. Lord
Brewer shall never know"
''You are very generous" replied the
lady. with tears in her eyes. "You can
have no idea to what straits we, my
husband and I, have been driven"
She was playing her part well. tWe
were raised to love the good things Of
life. Both thought the other had mon
ey, and both have made the best Of a
bad bargain. We have lived upon the
losses of our aristocratic friends until
we net you, and now
With well simulated sob she bowed
her head among the pillows. Captain
Marchand rose and opened the door.
His politeness was elaborate.
"You will pardon Mrs. Marchand's
lack of self control. AS you say, /
think a trip to London is what she
needs, what we both need. Good
night, my dear SIR
I stepped backward toward the door
which he held open, my glance, which
l know must have held some amuse-
ment at the clever acting Of his wife,
still fixed on the weeping lady. Then
suddenly | felt myself going down,
down. I clutched at space, and from
above me came mocking laugh, then
a shock, a binding light In my eyes
and blackness
When woke dim rays of light pen
etrated into Shiny cellar where lay,
practically prisoner, for one leg was
broken and was bruised from head
to foot. Rats ran along the ledges In
the masonry, and bats hung from the
rafters above
1t must have been hours before help
came to me, but lost all reckoning of
time. When at last was carried to
my room and medical aid was sum-
moned / learned from Lord Brewer
that my being alive was nothing short
of miracle had fallen three flights
into stone dungeon, one of the nu-
merous pitfalls which abounded In this
ancient pile. The captain had skillfuIly
guided me to the secret door, which
was one OF his characteristic discoy-
cries.
Lord Brewer heard with amazemeni
my tale of their treachery and trick.
cry, but the scandal never became pub,
lie. British pride stepped In at this
point, the deeply annoyed master o,
Tentowers making ample reparatior
for my loss Of time and suffering
4 a a, -. q -.