The L'Anse sentinel., 1908-09-26
THE JOLLY ROVERS

pier turned to tho chef de partie,
after swiftly counting the money be-
fore him. and in an instant the eager
crowd OWNED the truth.
Archibald Grant had broken the
bank!
So strangely fascinating was this re-
markable old mans companionship
that felt constrained to accept his
invitation, and we went down the
steps together into the brightly-lit
place. where many people were stroll.
Ing about. and the band was still play
Ing before the gay cafe. We did not
enter his hotel as expected. but kept
on down the steep hill to La Conda-
mine. until l wondered where we were
to eat our meal. The moon was hid
den by a bank Of cloud, and as we de-
scended the hill the great. steep for
tress rock Of Monaco. looming UP In
the darkness across the bay, was
aglow with its rows Of streetlamps.
while In the little harbor the mast
head lights Of one or two yachts looked
like fire-fiies In the distance. The
deep-toned note of the clock on the
Palace Of Monaco struck IL, and at
last, having passed the baths, my
friend stopped at the steps leading to
the water, and said:
Here we are!"
/ glanced down in surprise, and then
saw In the gloom a boat waiting,
manned by four smart sailors, who sa-
luted Without a word stepped in,
followed by my companion, and a mo-
ment later the dip Of the oars sounded.
and we sped swiftly across the bay to
a huge, magnificent. white-painted
yacht, the only light showing being
the one at the masthead, which
cleaned white like a miniature search
light.
First, we'll see how much we've
relieved the Maison de Blanc Of this
time," he said, inviting me to a seat;
and then taking handful after handful
of thousand-franc notes from the pock-
cts of his shabby clothes, he piled
them together on the long table, after
wards counting them, an operation in
which / assisted.
Seven hundred and fifty-two thou
sand francs" he observed. when he
had concluded "Just 5000 more than
last Christmas"
Really, my dear sir!" cried. "You
ought to consider yourself fortunate"
Last Christmas won $4,000 from
the Internal tripot," he observed, in
a strange. croaking voice, and opening
box he took out some great packets
of French bank-notes, adding: "And
here they are!"
"Then you never touch your win
nings?" l exclaimed, amazed, for I had
recognized that In the tiny cabin was
an enormous store of wealth.
"Never!" he answered. "You see
that row of boxes. each with the date
Of year upon them. All my winnings
are there"
"You spend good deal Of your time
yachting, suppose" I said.
"Yes," he answered, 1--we sailed a
good many seas in the Garbino. I run
either into Villefranche or here into
Monaco each December. cruise from
the Constant to Glib through the spring
and run up as far as the North Cape
in June. But you must. be hungry"
and he touched the electric button
suspended over the table, whereupon
there appeared the ugliest and most
gigantic negro that / have ever set
eyes upon.
Grant chatted affably as we fed, and
when referred to the gruesome decor
ations of his saloon he merely laughed
saying:
ITS whim of mine. When bought
this vessel turned her inside out"
The cigar he had given me was un-
commonly strong. AS rule. smoked
cigarettes; but this Havana had sub
tie flavor which l liked, therefore I
consumed It until in the smoke clouds
all seemed to become misty and indis-
tinct, and saw before me the strange
rather grotesque-looking face of my
affable friend, the millionaire, and be-
hind him the black and silver hang
ings, the gruesome emblems of death.
The face seemed slowly to assume q
hideous. repulsive expression. with its
thin lips parted In grin of satisfac-
tion at the mysterious fascination
which that pair of dark eyes exercised
over me. There was tightness about
my chest, and held my breath, feel.
ing that must rouse myself. fought
against the curious, nauseating drowsi-
ness which crept over me, and tried
to announce my departure, but my
Jaws seemed fixed. my tongue refused
to articulate, and with the sound Of
strange voices in my ears a sudden
blank fell upon me and I knew no
more.
How long remained unconscious
Of things about me know not.
rose unsteadily, shook myself. and
staggered upstairs to the deck. The
vessel was Of larger proportions than
had believed. trim and well-kept