The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1908-10-02
THE JOLLY ROVERS

]
pier turned 10 the chef de partle,
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 companlonship
that / felt constrained to accept his
Invitation. and We went down the
steps together into the brightly-lit
place where many people we're stroll
Ing about. and the band was stlll play
ing before the gay cafe. We did not
enter bis hotel as expected. but kept
on down the steep hill 10 La Conda-
mine, until / wondered where We we're L
% eat our meal. The moon was hid /
den by 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
Ike hre-flies in the distance. The
deeD-toned note OF the clock on the
Palace OF Monaco struck II. and al
last. having passed the baths. my
friend stopped at the steps leading to
the water. and said:
Here We are"
I 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 d mo
ment later the dip Of the oars sounded.
and We sped swiftly across the bay to
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 sent;
and then taking handful after handful
! OF thousand-frauc 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 ffty-two thou
+ sand francs" he observed. when he
had concluded. Just 5000 more than
3 last Christmas"
Really, my dear SIR cried. You
1 ought 20 consider yourself fortunate.
e Last Christmas I won $4,000 from
e the internal tripot,@ he observed, IN
s a strange. eroaking voice. and opening
/. a box he took out some great packets
Z OF French bank.notes adding: And
s here they are!'
e Then you never touch your win
< nings?" / exclaimed. amazed. for | had
z recognized that in the tiny cabin was
4 an enormous store Of wealth
Never" he answered. You see
G that row OF boxes. each with the date
a OF a year upon them. All my winnings
(. are there.
e aYou spend a good deal Of your time
0 Yachting, I suppose?' said
yes he answered. I've sailed
/. good many seas in the Garbino. ] run
!. either into villefranehe or here int
y Monaco each December, cruise from
n the Constant to Glib through the spring
!. and run up as far as the North Cap'
: n June. But you must be hungry,
.. and he touched the electric buttoE
s suspended over the table. whereupoE
'. there appeared the ugliest and mos
o gigantic negro that I have ever Sc
eyes upon.
10 Grant ebatted affably as We fed, an'
r when I referred to the gruesome decor
4 atoms Of his saloon he merely laughe'
of saying;
e this vessel | turned her inside out.
The cigar he had given me was ur
al commonly strong. As rule. smoke
y cigarettes. but this Havana had a sui
n. tle favor which / liked, therefore
consumed It until in the smoke cloud
~ au seemed TO become misty and indi'
~ tinct and I saw before me the strang
rather grotesque-looking face OF m
n snable friend. the millionaire, and b
II hind him the black and silver mans
Ings. the gruesome emblems of deati
y The face seemed slowly to assume
& hideous, repulslve expression. with II
= thin lips parted in grin Of satisfa'
= ton at the mysterious fascinatio
- which that pair Of dark eyes exercise
= i over me. There was a tightness abot
q nv chest. and l held my breath. Zee
: = ing that / must rouse myself. fougi
: against the curious, nauseating drows
- : ness which crept over me. and trie
= ~ announce my departure, but N
: ! laws seemed fixed. my tongue refuse
{. 10 articulate, and with the sound
\ strange voices in my ears a sudde
- i blank fell upon me and ] knew
in more.
nn How long remained unconscio'
" of things about me know not.
~ rose unsteadily. shook myself, Al
q staggered upstairs TO the deck. AZ
y. vessel was OF larger proportions tbs
I'll | had believed. trim and WeiEkeI