The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1908-11-27

\ oAoup VII lAOuUlcu eyes. ] ueiEu ulI1l
say under his breath:
THE lad can't afford to lose that
amount"
Joined the spectators just as Chad
wick called for another card. Then
felt a thrill pass over me. The blood
rushed to my face, and instinctively I
clinched my fist.
Mrs. Marchand was gently tapping
the back of Chadwick's chair, but it
was no longer h 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 Il hired entertainer against
that Of distinguished guests, people Of
social standing. as any Of Lord Brow
er's friends must be? Then came the
inspiration. With something Of the
captains cynical smile, l, too, com
menced to drum on the back Of a
chair, and this was what reached the
startled couple:
"You-are-caught!"
The captain turned rigid as he grasp
ed the arms Of his chair, and for a sin
gle instant his eyes. expressing rage.
hate and fear. met mine. smiled
grimly, enjoying the situation. The
coup had a different effect on Mrs.
Aarchand. She tainted away, at which
the captains composure returned. He
sprang to 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 I drummed q rhyth-
mic warning. Don't playr
I sat In my Don al hour later, cogi-
tating whether I should inform Lord
Brewer that he was entertaining q
pair of clever tricksteFs, when a ssrv-
ant brought me a message from Mar
chand asking an interview In his
room. I 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 dot"
Nothing" l 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
! en-
I shrugged my shoulders Significant
~.
"And, by the way, 1t might be just
az we'll IL 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 l shall have one more
good after dinner story-to tell when I
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 1, have been driven
She was playing her part well. I'VE
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 met you. and now
With a we'll 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, I
think a trip to London is what she
needs, what we both need. Good
night, my dear sir"
l stepped backward toward the door
which he held open, my glance, which
know must have held some amuse-
ment at he clever acting of his wife,
still iXed on the weeping lady. Then
suddenly ! felt myself going down,
down. | clutched at space, and from
above me came a hooking laugh, then
a shock, a binding light in my eyes
and-blackness!
When ! woke dim rays of light pen-
etrated into a Shiny cellar where l lay,
practically a prisoner. for one leg was
broken and l was bruised from head
to foot. Rats ran along the lodges in
the masonry. and bats hung from the
rafters above.
1t must have been hours before help
came to me, but I lost all reckoning Of
time. When ut last I wal carried to
my room and medical aid was sum-
moned l learned from Lord Brewer
that my being alive was nothing short
Of a miracle. l had fallen three fights
into a stone dungeon. one Of the nu-
merous pitfalls which abounded in this
ancient pile. The captain had skillfully
guided me to the secret door. which
was one Of his characteristic discov-
i cries.
Lord Brewer heard with amazement
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 Of
Tentowers making ample reparation
for my loss of time and suffering.
And the only reason for telling Of the
story is that during my recent trip to
London recognized in one of the
reigning stage beauties Mrs. Captain
Marcland. who Oncp tQlopra nhod