The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1908-02-08
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 breathless in
terest the progress of 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 call for yet an
other increase. Herr Goldstein, with a
sigh, folded his cards before him with
his, enormous, trembling hands.
II 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"
Nho ofbor fu-o vars fbov, On oh nlcool
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.
Il 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 it 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. Lazares possession. The
vicomte was at loss just exactly what to
do at that moment. He knew the kind of
hand he held was so good there were
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 on
his course. He had left nearly one hum
dred and fifty thousand francs as yet UNI
staked. He would bet every sou of this !;
perhaps Nj. Lazare would be unable to
cover his bets, and according to the rules
or cease playing, for the game was what
was known assan 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. Il 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 on
the table.
This seemed to stagger the Frenchman.
1t was the last money the detective had,
but the other did not know it. NJ. D'Au-
buron's friend was indeed a millionaire
The Frenchman arose from the table.
Monsieur will excuse me for a mo-
ment," he said. Il do but go to an inner
room to get some more money"
He shortly reappeared, making his way
through 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-
pire. The detectives eye glistened as he
looked at them and his heart beat quick
y, as drawing forth one hundred thousand
francs from the bundle, the Frenchman
covered his last bet. Then he added. n
| II desperately:
And raise it one hundred Thousand
francs more.