Rocky Ford enterprise., 1908-08-21

"OIu ISteiSDuIS us YOU nave just
pronounced it," / answered
At that instant noticed that,
at her throat, beneath her domino
Of mauve satin, she wore brooch
with a tiny watch cnameled in blue
and set with diamonds. 1t was a
beautiful little ornament, and I
marked its appearance well.
Some days later, however, met the
hunchback in the roulette room. He
was accompanied by a young, dark
eyed, pale-faced lady, whom l judged
to be about the same stature as his
companion at the ball; but I could
not tell with any degree of accuracy,
because I had only seen her seated
She was not more than 25, and her
face was pretty, with a grave, intense
expression, which added to its attrac-
tiyeness. Her dress of dark grey stuff
was not exactly Of that elegance usu-
ally seen at Monte Cairo. yet 1t fitted
we'll. and suited her admirably.
As stood watching, the pretty
young woman took of one of her
gloves the more easily to handle her
louis. thereby revealing to me n white
hand with dimpled knuckles. the same
I had noticed at the ball. By this one
fact alone I was convinced that she
was Madame de Gouireff. and few
moments later my interest in her
was increased by dumb motion
which she made to a tall, fiorid-faced,
fair-haired man. who was sitting at
the opposite side of the table. 1t was
| as II she desired him to remain-pa.
| tient. In return, he smiled cynically.
as II tired of waiting. and, resting both
his elbows upon the green cloth, con.
suited the register-card before him.
| Suddenly he rose, and, as he passed
her closely without stopping to speak.
she whispered to him:
you're a fool. Be patient. You
know what single blunder would
mean!"
| I'm sick Of the whole thing" he
replied, half turning towards her.
All except Pasquale left the Casino
soon afterwards; but, as the old game
ster knew me so well. ! hesitated tc
speak to him yet. fearing lest by &c
doing 1t might prevent the truth be
coming known. That there was sOmt
mysterious system about to be worked
against the bank l felt assured. but
OF what nature / could only discover
by vigilant observation.
Several days went by and I saw
them not. One morning ! noticec
Remenyi lounging In one Of the wick
er chairs In the entrance of the Crane
hotel, smoking and reading n paper
but he did not enter the rooms. Th'
fair-haired man apparently lived II
Nice. and in order to find out wha
could. went over there one morning
Suddenly. an object caught my ey'
as It passed. flashing for an instan
In the sunlight. l turned and glance'
a second time at 1t to make certain
Yes. It was the little jeweled watc
which the fair masker had worn at tn
ball on the Jetee. 1t now hung openl.
on the smart, white serge coat Of IL
owner. n well-dressed. young. ant
rather handsome woman, who wa
walking alone In the direction OF tn,
Quai Massena- She had passed or
had time to glance at her. therefore
II could only catch sight of her pro
file. But in an instant l made I
resolve. and turning. followed her
That she knew more of the mysteriou,
Nina de Gourief than she had tolt
me was evident, and I intended Il
make a strenuous endeavor to dis
cover all l could.
As l got level with her I raised my
hat and claimed acquaintance. At frs
she was inclined to repudiate havint
met me, but when explained by wha
means I had discovered her identit,
she laughed heartily. and We began I,
chat as we walked along together
With infinite care led up the conver
sation to the woman de Gourief, bu
in an instant her mouth closed. ant
she glanced at me with a quick lool
OF suspicion. In the course OF oul
careless gossip she, however. lei
drop the fact that she intended goinl
over to Monte Carlo that afternoon
therefore, resolving to meet her again
there. as If by accident. wished hel
au revoir. opposite the Hotel des An
glaIs, and We parted.
About three O'Clock that same after
noon I was In the bureau of the ad
ministration when my fair acquain
tance entered, and. to obtain her card
of admission, presented her passport
bound up In one OF those neat little
gilt-edged books which the better-class
Russians carry. Unobserved, glanced
at it as 1t lay in her hand, and saw
upon the gray paper, headed with the
Russian arms, a wise. which caused
me a start Of surprise. Her name. II
stated. was Vera Severine, and when
quarter OF an hour later, l encoun
tered her in the rooms and addressed
her by the name she looked at me
quickly, with mingled annoyance and
surprise.
Madame has no necessity to dis
guise her identity from me-" I ex
ciajmed meaninply in n low voice 81