Putnam patriot., 1910-02-18

friend. He's bad loser. | have seen
him lose his temper too. It's my opin-
ion that he's desperate man.
They usually are when they come
10 Monte Carlo"
So they walked round to the en-
trance to the gaming halls. where the
lights, the gowns. the jewels, the spar
king eyes. the natural beauty and the
beauty CT enamel. the vague perfumes.
the low imurmur of voices. the soft
rustic Of silks. the music of ringing
gold, all combine to produce a picture
as beautiful as mirage and as false.
They joined the never ending process
sion which passes in and out Of the
swinging doors day after day. year.
after year.
There's the chap with the scar. He
As q handsome .beggar." Hiilard admit,
ted. II wonder what sort .df blackleg
he -. Hes no ordinary one. I'm GER
tain. begin to recognize the face Of
the man with him. He's q distinguish.
ed diplomat"
The Italian qiayed like an old band
a number once lin awhile. but making
it a point to stake on the coiors. Red
began to repeat itself. He doubled
and doubled On the sixth consecu-
tive turn be played the ma ximum Of
1900 francs and won. The Diplomat
fouchad him ON the arm significantly.
but the player shaak his head Ten
minutes later he had won 10000
francs. Again be refused to leave his
chair.
If he stays now" said billiard. .'he
will lose 1t all. His friend Is right"
Forty thousand france, $4,000
murmaned Merrihew sadly. Why
couldn't he have luck like this?
Hiilard was a true prophet. There
came change ia the smile OF fortune
The game Jumped from color to color
seldom repeating. with zero making
itself conspicuous. The man with the
scar played on. but he began to lose
small sums at first. then larger till
finally he was down TO his original
stake. The scar grew livid. He wetted
five turns Of the wheel. then placed
his stake on the second dozen. He
lost He rose from his chair Sowing
His eye CHANGED to meet Hiliard's. and
their glances held for a moment.
Fool said Merrihew In an under
tone as the man strolled ieisurely past
them. Eight thousand and not con-
tent to quit
Meanwhile the trolleys from Nice
and Mentone had poured into Monte
Carlo their usual burdens Of pleasure
seekers. On one of the cars from Nice
hot
yelled and simply gowned. They sell
dom addressed each other and never
spoke to any one else. Doubtless they
were some sober married women out
for a lark. Upon leaving the car they
lid not at once go into the casino, bui
directed their steps toward the ter
races. for the band was playing. They
nat In the shadow Of the statue OF Mas
senet, and near by the rasp Of crick-
Of broke in upon the music When the
music stopped they linked arms and
Sauntered up and down the wide
sweep Of stone. mutually interested In
the crowds. Once as they passed be-
hind q bench the better to view the
tasaces OF the prince they heard the
voices Of two men.
Az they went on the women neand
something about those bad cigars
The nen were Americans evidently
1t vas only an inconsequent incident.
and q moment later both had forgot
ten II.
AT which table shall I make the
stake. Kitty
The center There IL always
crush there. and we shall not be no
ticed"
Il do not agree with you there How
ever. II shall be the center table What
would you do. Kitty. II should break
the bank p
Die Of excitement trufhfuliy.
You viii live through this event
then" With light, careless hngn "A
Sisnorina pressed her way to IN a
Bile
she lost steadily from the start sss
9ave no sign, however. that her fofces
vers IN fuH retreat nom The enemy
a. played %, and ths had vhscn
A. -