Camas Prairie chronicle. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1901-1917, 1908-07-10

To any amount" replied the Swiss,
and passing through the fashionable
throng which surrounded the players, he
seated himself at the card table.
CHAPTER XIV.
1t was past three o'clock. The Gordon
OF men in plain clothes which completely
surrounded the house Of the Vicomte de
Valiar 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 GREATNESS in
terest the progress of a game the like of
which none of them had ever before wit
messed.
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 reflected the
intense anxiety of that moment.
Two hundred and twenty-five thousand
francs lay on the table. No one would
| yield and there was a call for vet an
other increase. Herr Goldstein, with a
sigh, folded his cards before him with
his enormous, trembling hands.
Il 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. II 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.
II think it is my turn to CALL" he said
at last. II have my choice | 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 1t and NJ. Lazare
was sitting calmly awaiting him, with a
huge heap of notes and gold at his side.
1t was Jules Chabot's share of the pool
which by right of his superior hand had
passed into NJ. Lazare's possession. The
vicomte was at loss just exactly what to
do at that moment. He knew the kind OF
| h. hold
but two other combinations which could
beat it. Was it possible that the man
opposite him held such a combination
Or was he simply trying to brighten him
into sharing the heavy stakes?
A moments reflection decided him or
his course. He had left nearly one hun
dred and fifty thousand francs as yet un
staked. He would bet every sou of this
perhaps NJ. Lazare would be unable tC
cover his bets, and according to the rules
of the game he was compelled to do sC
or cease playing, for the game was what
was known as an unlimited one. He look
| ed his opponent sternly In the eye. HI
thought he discerned signs of weakening
do you wish to divide, monsieur"
Certainly not !" came the quiet an
swer. II am prepared to back my hand
It's your bet"
II bet fifty thousand francs"
Il raise you one hundred thousand
francs" and he placed that sum also OF
the table.
This seemed to stagger the Frenchman
1t was the last money the detective had
but the other did not know 1t. NJ. D'Au
buron's friend was indeed a millionaire
h. Trnnoh1,a- L.. AnLI
Monsieur will excuse me for a mo
ment," he said. II do but go to an inne
room to get some more money"
He shortly reappeared, making his wa,
through the dense and excited thronj
around the table, with a huge bundle o
notes in his hand. They were differen
from any which lay on the table; the!
were of the currency of the second EN-
pire. The detectives eye glistened as h
looked at them and his heart beat quick
ly, as drawing forth one hundred thousant
francs from the buNdle, the Frenchmal
covered his last bet. Then he added, a
If desperately:
And I raise it one hundred thousan,
francs more"
II cannot meet 1t, monsieur" confesse,
the Swiss, unless you accept my
o. u"
"No, it must be cash. That is onl
fair. / am sorry monsieur has run be
yond his bank. 1t Is the rule of tn
game"
The Frenchman had his opponent fair
ly Outbet. But the temptation to max
more was strong upon him. The Swis
had already scrubbed an l. o. U. 70
fifty thousand francs and pushed it ia
ward him.
The Frepchman was about to play, an
had raised his hand for that purpos
when his eye caught the queer three-cor
nered piece Of paper In front of him.
II can't take l. o. U.S." he said. 81
must have absolute security"
Then they saw the Swiss take froT
the pocket of his vest a small lOcket an
pass 1t over to the Frenchman.
Isn't that good for something, mon
, sieur?"
With his face grown suddenly an ashe
gray the vicomte leaned over the tabl
and almost whispered, as he clutched tn
locket In his shaking fingers:
where did you get thlsT
The detective leaned forward and picl
ed up one of the notes from the vIcomte
bundle.
'From the place where you found thi
: Il It enough. or shall show yea SOM
thing SlssI''