The Nevada County picayune., 1908-09-24

tions. and aH the ambHi0H=. turbulent world. where gold is king. where millions in hard. yellow ua- poleons dance before 5he daz eyes of the ruined where jH= aires toss away JHe m8&lH4aW as though ii were 8 Hve-fHaee piece. aud princes. batons grand d.Eza ,t0oa 1ades and ladies 8l H 'e a- bov wish tEa scum af #Ee .a# thuaahefu place down 5Gr stakes or eagerly arab la H5uH.aa
 Among tbe 5se #f the rooms-thaaa #.a8 a@a fora louis day Wit place Ha#
 any tim.d gambler t-a# aI game-was one ala. a.aaaaza s.l and reckless, was good fellow Ee hatbaeo aa officer and vaa known 5a tHeata# as Capt B#ummaa3- -azzGH ham reason 10 haljsT tH H# name. We were excellent fetaada and on many oec4 aua aa8 8e=I he would slip into my private raea and gossip over n cigar.
 One evening in lata autumn bec- tered, laughing a. usaat and. ssHH.az into the char opposite me. exclaimed with a laugh:
 I'm in for a real good thing now. Martin. Congratulate me
 "Oh," exclaimed, interested. "5as somebody died aud remembered Eoa =
 No, not that" he answered gH5al- ly. eI only wish somebody #oa.G= ran threUeh my little 5t 1Na gHizf.E. or I shouldn't be here No T~a girls have engaged #ue fo play =fsH them. They've got ba1l a million flaHe5 over at the Credit EyonHa.5. aHd .H tend putting 1t on the t3ble=."
 "A slice of luck for gou-ehea laughed "Who are they-pretty?s
 No, the reckless damsels are scarcely prepossessing. he answered slowly. They saw me playing this morning. inquired of Grenat who 1 was, spoke to me, and the result is that we start tomorrow on regular big bust The girls won't tell where they hail from They're either Eng fish or American. They gave me their names as Treherne-Helen and Mabel"
 Well" l observed, after a pause, its fortunate for them that they've fallen into your hands, Drummond. Certainly, nobody else who takes com missions could be trusted with level half million"
 "Ah," he laughed. You're in complimentary mood today, my dear fellow. One thing Is certain that the bank will get some of the money. and Bornier will rub his hands con- tentedly"
 What do they intend playing"
 Roulette, of course" the captain answered, biting at the end of his cigar. They say there's not enough excitement in nte-etquarante"
 They'll find both games pretty ex- citing in about week, when they be- gin to lose" I remarked.
 Il expect therell be some fun before we've finished" he laughed as we shook hands. Just now I'm the gay adviser of couple of girls. with half million at my disposal, Last night l had to walk down to La Condamine and get twofranc dinner Coulda't afford the table d'hote at the Paris. By love. this is funny world isn't it?"
 l admitted that 1t was. and. with merry au revor he left me to go to his rooms to dress, for he had prom ised to dine that night with his fair employers over at the Metropole and afterwards to instruct them in the intricacies of the game
 Next afternoon l saw them al the ffVc {,, 4b all three obtained chairs at the open ing of the play. and were engrossed in the chances of the black and the red Drummonds estimate that they were not very prepossessing was certainly correct. They were exceptionally ugly. Both were tall and thin with wilowy figures, narrow, bony faces of un- healthy pallor, their dark eyes burn ing with unnatural excitement as they watched their mentor place their louis in position on the various numbered squares. They were well dressed. in that severe tailor-made style which is peculiarly English, for only an Eng lishwoman can wear tailor.made gown All other nauonalities look positively hideous in cloth dresses of masculine facture. Their faces were alike and their hats were alike, but the shades of their dresses were diff. ferent, the elder one, who l learned was Helen, being dressed in green. and Mabel in dark gray.
 When Drummond, elinking the louis in his hand as he considered what combination of numbers Ae should play. habit of his. had finished pla-