The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1911-12-14


in his seat, reviewing the assent lage.
For some moments, through the mys-
ferrous working of that sixth sense
which men are pleased vaguely to de-
nominate intuition, he had been SUBJ
consciously aware of being the object
Of some persons fixed regard, that
somebody was not only watching, but
weighing him. He sought the source
Of this sensation and, for q little time,
sought it unsuccessfully. Annoyed,
he persisted He heard the croupier's
mechanical Rein ne va plus" follow.
ed by the whlrring Of the wheel, but
cared so little that he would not turn
to watch the outcome. Only an ex-
clamation of the Austrians appraised
him of the fact that red had won. He
glanced listlessly round to see the
money doubled, and let 1t rest TIN
Ing back to his survey of the throng.
A moment later his attention became
fixed upon two men who stood in the
doorway, looking toward him. Again
the wheel buZzed, the ball clattered and
was still. The word rouge among 9th
ers in the announcement told him that
again he had won; this time, however,
he did not turn, but, frowning in
speculation, stared back at the two
Stared? Indeed and he did just
that. If it was impertinent, sure and
were they not staring at him? And
who should gainsay an O'Rourke the
right to stare at anybody, be he king
or commoner? Furthermore, who
might these men be, and what their
.Gterest in himself?
The one was tall and slender, sat-
urnine; an elegant, owing as much to
the art of his tailor and upholsterer
as to his own indisputable, native dis
tinction; a Frenchman-at least of a
type unquestionably Gallo. His face
was very pale, his fine, pointed mus
tache very precise, jaw square, FORE
head high, eyes deep and dark be-
meath brows heavy, level and black,
manner marked by repose almost
threatening in it's impassibility.
His companion was shorter of stat
ure, younger man by at least ten
years, rather stout and very nervous,
with a fresh red face married by hall
marks of dissipation; British, every
inch of him.
THAT, I'm thinking" unused
O'Rourke, will be the Honorable
BERTHE Glynn. Faith, he looks the
part, at least; tits just that kind-in-
bred, underbred, without brains or real
stamina-that would run through a
half-million sterling inside year."
But the other?
Monsieur" the little Austrian STAN.
mered excitedly in his ear, "for you the
red had doubled fourth time"
THANK ye," replied O'Rourke with
out moving. "'Twill turn up seven,
this run"
The system-gambler subsidized, petr4
fed.
But the other? O'Rourke continued
to probe his memory. Something in
the mans personality was curiously
reminiscent. :. OF sudden he
remembered. The Frenchman had
been pointed out to him, years ago, in
Paris, as a principal in a Boulevard
scandal which had terminated in q
duel-a real duel, in which he had
been victorious. He was accustomed
to anticipate such an outcome of his
affair Of honor, however; that was
why he had been named to O'Rourke;
Des Trebes Chat was the name; the
Viscomte des Trebes) was a duelist Of
international disrepute.
Monsieur" the agitated voice 1ut-
tered in his ear, "you have won yet
again-for the sixth time!"
LET 1t stand for the seventh, mon
ami"
Why should Des Trebes be watch
ing him so openly, so pointedly? AS
he watched he became aware that
these two, the Frenchman and the
Englishman, were not alone; detached
though their attitude was, they were
evidently of a party of ladies' and gen.
t1emen whose gay, chattering group
formed their background.
Monsieur, the seventh turn!"
eyes, yes"
Rein ne va plus" croaked the
croupier.
One Of the ladies turned to speak to
the Honorable Mr.. Glynn. Smiling,
he nodded, and offered her an arm.
She fingered, addressing Des Trebes.
The latter bowed, lifted his shoulders
and laughed lightly, plainly excusing
himself. A general movement took
place In the party; it began to disln.
tegrate, men and women pairing of,
all moving at leisure: toward the lobby.
Des Trebes alone remained. O'Rourke
could see that the personnel Of the
gathering was largely British. He
recognized Lady Plinlimmon, whose
yacht Che had heard casualty had ar.
rived in the harbor that MORNING. Evil
IDENTIFY this was her party. Another
woman's figure caught his attention;
her back was turned, but she had an
air, graceful set of the shoulders, an
individual pride and spirit in the poise
of her head, that O'Rourke could have
sworn he knew. He was conscious