The Green Forest tribune., 1908-10-30
OF MILE. LECLAxRE

of night had fallen, the chief made his way. The gaming room held but few occupants when he first entered, but as the night wore on the crowd increased in size and NJ Claude, hay ing lost a few insignificant stakes, drew away from the tables and sat smoking placidly in a snug corner Nearly an hour passed before the man he expected made his appearance, and when he did he took a seat at a ta- ble in close proximity to M. Claude, who viewed his movements with in- tense interest. We're had for his op- ponent young man of elegant ap- 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 a 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 Englishman 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 Nj. Claude, rising, pushed his way into the front rank. Something sus- picious in Nere's manner, 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-40,00 900 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, h. stantly the chiefs sonorous voice broke the silence. "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 lcaped for ward and in a moment Vere's colossal figure became the center of strug gling knot of men. M. Claude, the originator of the disturbance looked calmly on. It was no part of his plan to become involved in 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 a 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 NJ. Claude was quicker. He caught the English mans coat as the latter reached the sill and clung 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 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 party of gendarmes en- tered the room.
 M. Claude by a moments examina- tion convinced himself that the fugi- 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 tance 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 un- 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- Mme. Alayarda, the keeper of the es- tablishment, answered the interroga- tions of the officer w 4 the nervous haste of one who wishes to curry favor with the powers above.
 Yes, she knew the English mon- sieur, but slightly. His address she WAS informed of by a compatriot who had dined with him. It was No. 72, Rue de Noailles."
 Upon receiving this information two of the gendarmes, who had returned after 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 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 officers to secure him. We're was sufficiently acute to know that the spies of the prefecture were perfectly informed as to his movements, and would natur- ally be averse to placing himself in position where he could be searched