The Springfield herald., 1912-12-20


a big haul. Three o'clock struck. the
last bank. small one, had been dealt.
Everybody left. and was on the sofa.
pretending to be asleep.
WHO'S that" heard the vicomte
ask.
"Oh, It's chap from Limoges. He
came tonight for the first time" was
the reply.
jumped up and said to the VII
comte:
II want a few moments CONVERSE
tion with you"
He looked hard at me. and conduct
ed me to the next room. I took on
my wig; but before l could utter a
word, the vicomte placed himself in
front of the door.
Get away from there!" command
ed. Il am M. Goron. Don't attempt
any nonsense, or call up my men.
and have you and your croupier taken
to the depot" a.
He could not suppose that ! had
come unaccompanied, and silently took
a chair.
Perhaps you will tell me what all
this means?" he asked.
Certainly. But first ring the bell
and send away your servants"
My orders were obeyed.
and now" continued, follow me
into the card ROOM
l led the way. and from the mantel-
piece took the fifth pack. left there
when the vicomte had dealt the cards.
The croupier, who had remained be-
| hind Toy ri r.,
Come here!" shouted to him.
Take off your coat and waistooat. and
hand them to me-
He did: SO. trembling with fear, and
out OF several long pockets. lined
with velvet to deaden the sound. I
took handful Of counters.
You scoundrel!" said, II watched
you do this. And now. clear out;
want to talk to your master-and &C.
complete"
handed the vicomte the pack Of
cards l had taken up, and said:
Let me call them over to you with
my back turned. Seven. nought, five.
nine. nought-I forget the rest: but
think this ought to be enough. 1
have seen the Lightning Flash done
before. Do you want any more rea-
sons why came here tonight?"
He seemed stunned. and shook his
head; -
Cannot this scandal bs avoided?'
he asked. - |
Expect nothing from me. until you
have told me the whole truth about
the Allen b affair at Madame
J-'s. What was the object of that
conspiracy. and who is at the bottom
of it,"
He looked at me with cunning ex-
preston.
II think l see your game, Monster
Goron. Allow me to compliment you
on your skill. In other words, you
want me to make certain disclosures.
In that case, It Is but right should"
gave him no time to finish his
sentence. but. selling him roughly by
the arm, shouted:
Il arrest you, you scamp"
What l expected happened. The
coward in him came to the fore. He
cringed and crawled. and then told
me he had instructed Bernard T
to slip the cards in poor Allen BIS
pockets.
Whose orders did you carry out?'
IAN Englishman's."
Harold W, or. in reality, Ed.
ward K-?"
He gave me a surprised glance.
Yes"
For what reason?" az
II don't know You can believe me-
1t is a secret between him and Allen
Il
this thing had not been In Edward
ks hands. He compelled me to
do It,"
He put his statement down in writ
ing. and then took me to his apart
ment, where at my request. he hand
ed me two letters from Edward k.
was on the point Of leaving when
remembered Mademoiselle Marthe.
sit down again. and write note to
the police commissary in your district.
that you wish to withdraw your charge
against Marthe D."
The vicomte, who had given up feel
ing surprised at anything. wrote the
note, and handed 1t to me.
It was six o'clock and broad day
light when l reached home. l at once
sent for Allen b.
who is Edward K-?" asked be-
fore he had even time to sit down.
"a distant connection. Why?"
What object had he In disgracing
you?"
He? Impossible-he belongs to a
first-class county family
$. BLOW your county families! Read
this." and handed him the vicomte's
statement.
never thought It possible that de-
light and horror could be expressed
at the same time on anybody's face
Allen B. performed that extraordi.
nary feat. Then he shook me by both
hands until my arms ached, and ex-
claimed:
What scoundrel! Who could
have dreamed this Monsieur Goron. It
all dawns upon me now. Three years
ago that man proposed to lady to
whom afterward became engaged
She rejected him, and he"
THAT will do. These are family Sc
crets. l don't want to know more
than can help. Leave at once for