River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1908-10-29

few occupants when he first entered,
but as the night wore on the crowd
increased in size and M Claude, hav-
ing lost few insignificant stakes,
drew away from the tables and sat
smoking placidly in snug corner.
Nearly an hour passed before the man
he expected made his appearance, and
When he did he took seat at a Ia
bic in close proximity to M. Claude,
who viewed his movements with in
tense interest. We're had for his op-
ponent a young man of elegant APP
pearance, who had been playing with
varying fortune for some time before
the Englishman entered the room
The youths extreme eagerness and the
nervous excitement he displayed. as
luck went for or against him, attracted
the chiefs attention and caused him to
augur badly for his chances against
the stolid and cunning Briton. For
awhile, however, fortune leaned
toward the young Frenchman, and
scowl deepened on the brow of his
huge adversary as he saw the pile of
gold coins on his side of the table
dwindle gradually away
Suddenly, just when it seemed that
the Engiishman must lose the last of
his stake, an unexpected revolution
took place in the wheel of fortune and
We're began to win steadily. Repeated
ly he scored over his opponent, the lat
ter becoming more and more agitated
as he lost, until a pile consisting of
10000 francs lay beside the British
player. A crowd, attracted by the high
play, had gathered around the table
and M. Claude, rising, pushed his way
into the front rank. Something sus-
picious in Vere's manner, a faint trace
of anxiety appearing through the
phlegmatic mask he was wont to wear,
had given the chief food for reflection
and he stood watching keenly, never
removing his gaze from the big hands
of the Briton. The young man de-
manded his revenge and producing
more funds, staked the entire sum he
had lost previously-40,0 900 francs. M.
Claude, his whole attention concen-
trated on the Englishman's hands, saw
him slip card from his sleeve and
put it in the place of one he held. In
stantly the chiefs sonOrous voice
broke the silence. I'M. We're, you are
thief" he shouted.
At this startling denunciation We're
turned pale and sprang to his feet AS
he did so a couple of marked cards
fell from his sleeve on the table, and
a roar of anger burst from the crowd.
The victim of the sharper leaped for
ward and in a moment Ver6s colossal
| figure became the center of strug-
Cling knot of men. M. Claude, the
originator of the disturbance, looked
calmly on. 1t was no part of his plan
to become involved in a personal at
tack on We're.
A loud and imperious knocking on
the front door Of the house and
harsh summons to "open in the name
of the law" created momentary lull
in the tumult of the fight that ragged
around the Briton. AS his asSailants
paused to listen, the big Englishman
broke from their grasp by superhu-
man effort and sprang toward win
dow that stood half open in the rear
of the room. Quick as he was, the
youth with whom he had been play
ing when denounced by M. Claude
was quicker. He caught the English
mans coat as the latter reached the
sill and chung to it firmly. We're en-
deavored to shake him off, but In vain,
and seeing that others were advancing
| to the aid of their countryman, he ut
tered a savage curse and picking up
glass decanter that stood on table
close by, dashed it down with terrific
force on the young mans head. He
| fell to the floor with a choking groan,
and We're disappeared through the win
dow, just as a party of gendarmes en-
tered the room.
NJ Claude by a moments examina-
| ton convinced himself that the fug1-
| tive had not taken much risk OF in
jury by his sudden leap for freedom.
The gaming room was situated on the
ground floor of the house, and the dis
lance from window sill to ground
could not have measured over six
feet. The officer in charge OF the
gendarmes made it his first care to
look after the wounds Of Vere's I'M
fortunate victim, who lay senseless
and bleeding profusely from jagged
cut in his head. A physician was sum-
moned and pronounced his condition
serious, the skull having been frac-
tured by the blow it had sustained.
Nine. Alavarda, the keeper of the es-
tablishment, answered the interroga-
lions of the officer with the nervous
haste of one who wishes to curry favor
with the powers above.
Eyes, she knew the English mon
sieur, but slightly. His address she
was informed of by compatriot who
had dined with him. 1t was No. IL,
Rue de Noailles."
Upon receiving this information two
| of the gendarmes, who had returned
after a short and useless search for
the fugitive, were dispatched to his
lodgings with instructions to arrest
and bring him to police headquarters
when found The wounded man was
removed to a hospital and M. Claude,
leaving the house, proceeded with rap
i'd steps to the harbor. Vere's escape
annoyed the chief greatly for he doubt
ed the ability of the Marseilles off GERS
to secure him. We're was sufficiently