The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-03-23
BY CHARLES GARVICE
OU Rv George H. Doran Company

|
 Right you are, sir!" responded Smithers. 'Gam1ng ain't much in my line; though I was rather fond in my
 youth of little quiet pitch-and-toss; but I give it up, sir. Yes; I give it up"-with solemn shake of the head. '"The boy I used to toss with got old of a loaded penny and won every time; so I was woke to the evils O. gambling. I dare say they've got a loaded penny up at that Monte Carlo, for I've 'eard that, 'owever much money you may win at first they 'ave you right and tight enough in the end, an take precious good care not to leave old of you till they've won the very shirt on yer
 back. No, sir; no gambling for me: I leaves it to my betters. I'll just pack a few. things in portmanteau in case you should be tempted to stay the night"
 Ronald went ashore reluctantly enough, got some lunch at one of the restaurants, and strolled iistlessly along the front; presently the tram
 pulled up beside him, and. with no particular desire to go there, he let it carry him to Monte Carlo. The season had commenced, the
 square was fairly crowded, one "t the famous and costly bands was fill- ing the golden air with exquisite
 music, the place looked like an earth ly paradise, smiling innocently in the sunshine, and the serpent, which coil all about, kept itself out of sight. But it was there all the same. Ronald dropped on to one of the
 seats under some palms, gazed ab- stractedly at the sea, and listened to
 the band, but with no pleasure in the scene or the music; for the former
 recalled Cara's island, and in the lat ter he heard her voice like an under tone. Suddenly two men who were passing, talking together, glanced at the moody figure, and one of them,
 exclaiming, "By George, it's Des-
 boroughv' stopped short and laid his hand on Ronald's shoulder.
 Ronald, with a start, looked up, and saw that they were the two in-
 separables. Brandon and Clemson.
 "why, Ronnie' exclaimed Bran don, with all an Irishman's hearti-
 ness. "Is it really you, now. or your
 ghost? Talk of old Nick and you see
 his tail. Here's Clemson and I were
 only just talking of you, wondering
 what had become of you, and here
 you are as large as life"-he was go- ing to say, "and as lively as kitten,' | but he stopped short, for the simili- tude would have been too appalling.
 ly inappropriate applied to the sterr
 and haggard face, the listless attl- tude, of the once debonair Ronnie Desborough.
 The two men exchanged a glance
 and Clemson, carefully ignoring the
 change in their friend, said:
 When did you come?' Where arc
 you staying? How long are you go' ing to put in, Ronnie?"
 "I've only just arrived" said Ron. old. trying to rouse himself and re. i spond to their genial welcome. 'I'vs
 got vanes yacht off Monaco. Tn not staying here-in fact, I'm goinG
 on board again, tonight"
 "Not if we know it." declared Bran.
 don emphatically. "Do you thinl
 we're going to lose you now we'v.
 got you? Not much! You will joir ) us for a night or two, at any rate
 We're staying at the old shop, ths Paris; and you'll send for your thing
 and come on there with us. No; W, decline to take refusal, old man : don't we, Clemson? Come on now
 We've got no end to tell you, and you must have any amount to tell us.'' He linked his arm in Ronalds; an, } Ronald, after a moment or two o hesitation, reluctantly permitted him
 self to be led to the hotel, blamin; |. himself for not reflecting that h. would be sure to meet with some o } his old friends in so fashionable , resort. But there was no escape Brandon sent down to Monaco for tn portmanteau; and Ronald, havin! ? changed. rejoined the two men in tn
 magnificent dining-saloon. Brandol l and Clemson had been holding a kin, ? of conference, and had decided t
 continue ignoring the change in Ron aid.
 , Something serious must have hap 5 pened to him since he left England,
 said Clemson. Looks to me as i he had been down with fever, or som : beastly thing of that kind" NO; it isn't fever, my boy" sai , Brandon, with a shrewd shake of hi g head. "A common or garden Hines l wouldn't knock Bonnie over like thi. . It's mental kind of fever he's had [ and I'll bet my life there's a woma in it. I know the signs; I've see S them more than once"
 r "But Ronnie Desborough is not tha . sort" urged Clemson.
 e Brandon snorted impatiently. l "Ah, that's where you're wrong m l ber," he retorted. Its just this kin
 of man that gets hit hodJx 1,bo, ', 5,