Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1908-09-30

lions, and all the ambitions;
turbulent world, where gold is king,
where millions in hard, yellow ma
poleons dance before the dazzled
eyes of the ruined, where million
aires toss away the maximum as
though it were five-franc piece, and
princes. barons, grand dukes, titled
ladies and ladies Of grande marque ell
bow with the scum of Europe to
'houghtfully place down their stakes
or eagerly grab their winnings. It is
world smitten by an epidemic-the
gold fever; whirling world where
The nerves become mistress of the
heart and spirit, the body and the
brain, where the air throbs with
hVarice and the germ Of an irresis-
tble temptation is ever within the
fcart. Not ore person in ten thou
sand can leave Monte Carlo without
riskinS piece or two. Roulette al
wGys iascinates, and has enticed many
a StrOng-Willed man to ruin-and to
suicide.
Among the professional habitues of
W
louis a day will place the money of
any timid gambler ignorant of the
game-Was one who, although wild
and reckless, was, nevertheless, very
good fellow. He had been an English
officer, and was known to the croupiers
AS Capt. Drummond. although have
reason to believe that was not his
name. Indeed, from what has since
come to my knowledge, there seems
no doubt that he was of very we'll
known English family, the son of a
peer, who, because of his wild ex-
Travagances. had been forced to leave
the army and take to gambling for a
living. He was about IS, tall, spruce,
handsome fellow. with gray eyes, re-
fined features and a well-trimmed,
blonde mustache, typical English
cavalry officer. Although mixing with
the shadiest crowd in Europe, he
never descended to the mean trickery
Usually nracticed upon the unsuspect-
ing, and throughout the several years
Of our acquaintanceship I never once
suspected him of any dishonest act.
We were, indeed, excellent friends,
and on many occasions, when weary,
he would slip into my private room
and gossip over a cigar.
One evening in late autumn he en-
tered. laughing as usual, and, sinking
into the chair opposite me, exclaimed
with a laugh:
I'm in for real good thing now,
Martin. Congratulate me-"
oh" l exclaimed, interested. HAS
somebody died and remembered your
NO, not that" he answered, grim.
". Il only wish somebody would. 1
ran through my little bit too quickly,
or | shouldn't be here. No. Two
girls have engaged me to play for
them. They've got half million francs
over at the Credit Lyonnais. and in
tend putting it on the tables!"
"A slice of luck for you-eh?" I
laughed. "Who are they-pretty
NO, the reckless damsels are
scarcely prepossessing," he answered
slowly. They saw me playing this
morning, inquired of Grenat who
was, spoke to me, and the result is
that we start tomorrow on a regular
big bust The girls won't tell where
they hail from. They're either Eng
lish or American. They gave me their
names as Treherne-Helen and
Mabel"
Well" I observed, after a pause,
its fortunate for them that they've
fallen into your hands, Drummond.
Certainly, nobody else who takes COM
missions could be trusted with a level
half million"
''Ah!" he laughed you're in a
complimentary mood to-day, my dear
fellow. One thing is certain, that the
bank will get some of the money,
and Bornier will rub his hands con-
tentedly.'
What do they intend playing?'
''Roulcttc, of course" the captain
answered, biting at the end of his
cigar. They say there's not enough
excitement in trente-et-quarante'
They'll find both games pretty ex-
citing in about a week, when they be-
gin to lose,' I remarked, for we had
10th seen people arrive with huge
sums of money and in few days de-
part empty away, with very elongated
faces. Drummond was, however, a
pretty careful player, and unlike 9TH
CT men who gave their knowledge of
lhe game to others for consideration,
never threw away the money entrusted
to him rccklessly. If the sisters Ter
herne had fallen into the hands of any
Of the others, they would, in all proba-
bility, find one morning their profess
sional mentor missing, together with
the greater part of their capital. Such
an occurrence is by no means uncOm-
mon. for those well-dressed blacklegs
wha advise the ignorant are about as
INSCRIPTIONS set as that class who
frequent race courses and are tech
nically known as the boys"
Now, DrummOnd was something of
lazy killer. He dressed smartly, al
ways in the latest fashion, although,
be it said, there was nothing 'loud''
about him. He was essentially well.
bred and have more than once seen
men with high-sounding English titles
'nect him in the rooms and shake him
heartily by the hand. Yes, Capt. Jack
Drllmmond was what is commonly
termed by the English IAN outsider"
but he was nevertheless gentleman.
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