Gilpin observer., 1908-08-20
"And you, madame. are Russian al.

OnAJ RuSsldH can pronounce the
word Petersburg as you have just
pronounced it," answered.
AT that instant noticed that,
at her throat, beneath her domino
of mauve satin. she wore a brooch
with a tiny watch enameled in blue
and set with diamonds. 1t was a
beautiful little ornament, and !
marked its appearance we'll.
Some days later, however, 1 met the
hunchback in thes roulette room. He
was accompanied by a young, dark
eyed, pale-faced lady, whom 1 judged
to be about the same stature as his
companion at the ball; but l could
not tell with any degree of accuracy,
because | had only seen her seated.
She was not more than 25, and her
face was pretty. with a grave, intense
expression, which added to it's attrac-
tiveness. Her dress of dark grey stuff
was not exactly Of that elegance usu-
ally seen at Monte Cairo, yet it fitted
well, and suited her admirably.
AS l stood watching, the pretty
young woman took off one of her
g.oves the more easily to handle her
louis, thereby revealing to me a white
hand with dimpled knuckles, the same
had noticed at the ball. By this one
fact alone l was convinced that she
was Madame de Gouireff, and a few
moments later my interest in her
was increased by dumb motion
which she made to a tall, forid-faced,
fair-haired man, who was sitting at
the opposite side of the table. 1t was
as If she desired him to remain pa
tient. In return, he smiled cynically,
as If tired of waiting, and, resting both
his elbows upon the green cloth, con-
suited the register-card before him.
Suddenly he rose, and, as he passed
her closely without stopping to speak,
she whispered to him:
You're a fool. Be patient. You
know what single blunder would
meant"
I'm sick of the whole thing" he
replied, half turning towards her.
All except Pasquale left the Casino
soon afterwards; but, as the old game
ster knew me so well, l hesitated to
speak to him yet, fearing lest by so
doing it might prevent the truth be-
coming known. That there was some
mysterious system about to be worked
against the bank l felt assured, but
of what nature l could only discover
by vigilant observation.
Several days went by and l saw
them not. One morning l noticed
Remenyi lounging in one of the wick
er chairs in the entrance of the Grand
hotel, smoking and reading a paper.
but he did not enter the rooms. The
fair-haired man apparently lived in
Nice, and in order to find out what
I could. went over there one morning.
Suddenly, an object caught my eye
as 1t passed, flashing for an instant
in the sunlight. I turned and glanced
second time at it to make certain.
Yes. 1t was the little jeweled watch
which the fair masker had worn at the
ball on the Jetee. 1t now hung openly
on the smart. white serge coat Of its
owner. well-dressed, young. and
rather handsome woman, who was
walking alone in the direction of the
Quai Massena. She had passed ere
had time to glance at her, therefore
1 could only catch sight of her pro-
| file. But in an instant / made a
resolve, and turning, followed her.
That she knew more Of the mysterious
Nina de Courier than she had told
| me was evident, and l intended to
make a strenuous endeavor to dis
cover all l could.
AS l got level with her / raised my
hat and claimed acquaintance. At first
she was inclined to repudiate having
met me, but when l explained by what
means l had discovered her identity
she laughed heartily, and we began to
chat as we walked along together.
With infinite care l led up the conver.
sation to the woman de Gourieff, but
in an instant her mouth closed, and
she glanced at me with a quick look
of suspicion. In the course of our
careless gossip she, however. let
drop the fact that she intended going
over to Monte Carlo that afternoon;
therefore, resolving to meet her again
there, as if by accident, I wished her
au revoir, opposite the Hotel des An
glais, and We parted.
About three o'clock that same after
noon l was In the bureau of the ad-
ministration when my fair acquain-
tance entered, and, to obtain her card
of admission, presented her passport,
bound up in one Of those neat little
gilt-edged books which the better-class
Russians carry. Unobserved, / glanced
at 1t as it lay in her hand, and saw
upon the gray paper. headed with the
Russian arms, wise, which caused
me a start of surprise. Her name, 1t
stated, was Vera Severine. and when,
quarter of an hour later, encoun-
tered her in the rooms and addressed
her by the name she looked at me
quickly. with mingled annoyance and