New-York tribune., 1909-09-12

there flashed upon me the intelligence that he PLAYED
TO win. He did,-slowly at first and then with
steadiness as the stakes increased, Absorbed in ou
losses, We forgot all else n the effort 10 recOup: for
got that were playing a gentleman game and
that the wagers We're running absurdly high; almost
forgot the girl outside
Leopard, always reckless and imperuous when
losing, was the FIRST 70 drop out He drew back from
the table with an exclamation of disgust and real
lusted his collar and cuffs though they restricted
his purpling flesh.
I'm brokeT he said and the Count stared at him
without change Of expression. Watching his ewes /
saw neither pity nor elation in their hard gray
depths With Leopard as the only spectator. We
played another hand. NillalOn's last goIdpirce was
lost, and ne too Strengthened w. his serious face
troubled and his eyebrows drawn into q i-own.
MeSSieurS the Count said in his most even
voice, among gentemen-ah-V urders-aut-
Your words are good If YOU wish % continue The
game There was soft insinuation IN his voice. an
invitation that nearly lure.
Leopard started 70 draw his chair % The table
again, but N1llalOn caught his eve and seoNed dis
approval. He answered for both
No, monsieur L. coUlts | think our fortunes are a.
too low ebb, We cannot play more
Leopard, checked drew back with q luesrioulzg
look in his eyes and for an instant the Count flushed
He passed it of with laugh while I was wondering
at the shade OF red that had flashed across his lean
white face.
Then, Captain Dunois. he said. turning 10 ne
suppose We finish the evening play with eca--c,
which l have always considered the best OF tU1-
YOU the voice died IN a question ana there vas
something of challenge in It which a-coyed ne
ASarn N1iIalOn tried 70 bring the game 90 . close
but after that covert sneer l should have PLAYED
Laurler had the game involved life and death. >
We rose and went to a smaller table for ~uverea,e
1t was old and appeared more MT for The -Ur,,5
room II had a veneered top which was loose on III
side and distracted me by occasionally catching my
sleeve And these trivial details the ones III.
struck me IN that time when was boiling with SUI
pressed anger
'Nilalon and Leopard as if anxious % stand BY
me deliberately pulled their chairs over until they
could oversee the play. The Count need II 4nl
trOwned and NIlalon said IN his calr.s- tone. j
trust the Count does not object TO our r-cSence
Laurler was put IN position where. had r
wished. he could have made no Ob1eCrl.r Not n
the least, he answered. or. # YOU gerle
men are tatigued with the cIosereSS OF ne
room and wish. You may md AaternoiSe4'
vette IN the outer salon, and -crhaqS SIC
VIII serve YOU coffee, OF which She Is 81
proud.
q" If he intended that for means Of gel
ting them out OF the room, his ruoIeTi@sS
was ignored. each asserting tha- he was 'o3
much Interested IN the outcome -o thuN e-
leaving at the time. Laurier sh ed no us
appointment, for his emotions were asa@l
masked behind a set face that nothing cor|
disturb and nothing betray.
IT is difficult for me To recall the vhirl d,
play that followed Hand after mana
passed. and, whatever the Coun, u,N N~-
been IN the previous game, III -htS u W.
noticeably bad. He PLAYED with the >Si. &.
a veteran and imperturbabN .sycsted nS
losses which gained in proportion IS D'
doubled the stakes. He began o. ,Ay VIZ .
certain hard desperation as he ,,.. anced t1s
wdgerS until they had risen 90 hc-r-hreaNi15
heights. and still chance favored mc and ll5
kings were as II hyprotized 10 my hands 1I5
bent running the man who -ll rropo'0c
the game. Vt last, when the gl"a.e Was u
such proportions that none bUt ,,-lion-.-,
could afford 10 lose, l remouStvatc3- For t-'
hrSt time the Count openly showed anger,
can II be that the winner @, 81 aUnd,,'~
thousand francs he snarlcd IS afraid topaz