The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1912-02-23

glanced listlessly round to see the
money doubled, and let II rest. turn.
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 whe u 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 II it was impertinent, sure and
were they not staring at him? And
who should gainsay an ORourke the
right to stare at anybody, be he king
or commoner? Furthermore, who
might these men be, and what their
interest 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
type unquestionably Gallic 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 a repose almost
threatening in its lmpassibility.
His companion was shorter of stat
ure, younger man by at least ten
years, rather stout and very nervous,
with fresh red face marred by hall
marks OF dissipation; British. every
inch Of him
That. I'm thinking" mused
O'Rourke, will be the Honorable
BERTHE Glynn Faith. he looks the
part. at least; It's just that kind-in-
bred, underbred. without brains or real
stamina-that would run through a
halfmillion sterling inside a year"
But the other?
Monsieur" the little Austrian STAN.
mered excitedly in his ear. for you the
red had doubled a fourth time"
Thank ye." replied ORourke with
out moving. Twill turn up seven.
this run"
The system-gambler subsided, petri-
fed.
But the other? O'Rourke continued
to probe his memory. Something in
the mans personality was curiously
reminiscent. q. OF a sudden he
remembered. The FrenchmaL had
been pointed out to him. years ago, in
Dn riC uc -,
scandal which had terminated in
duel--a real duel, in which he had
been victorious. He was accustomed
tC anticipate such an outcome of his
affair of honor however; that was
why he had been named to O'Rourke:
Des Treble Uhst was the lame; the
Viscomte des Trebes) was duelist OF
disrepute.
Monsieur" the agitated voice flut-
tered in his ear, you have 5on yet
again-for the sixth time!"
Let it 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.
tlemen whose gay. chattering group
formed their background
Monsieur. the seventh turn!"
Yes. 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 Tyebes.
The latter bowed, lifted his shoulders
and laughed lightly, plainly eycusing
himself. A general movement took
place IN the party; It began to disin.
men and women pairing of,
III moving at leisure toward the lobby. |
Oes Trebes alone remained ORuurke
could see that the personnel. oH the !
gathering was largely British. He
Lady Plnlimmon, whose
,acht the had heard casualty had ar.
lived in the harbor that MORNING. Evi.
lently this was her party Another
figure caught his attention:
Ter back was turned. but she had an
lir a graceful set Of the shoulders. an
Individual pride and spirit in tho poise
Il her head, that O'Rourke could have
worn he knew. He was conscious
hat he flushed suddenly. that his
leart was pounding He made as II to
Use and follow, but was prevented. al
most forced back by a hand which the
Austrian in his feverish interest had
placed on the Irish
mans shoulder
Monsieur, monsieur!" he gasped,
IFS eyes. protruding, fixed upon the
Wheel Beads of sweat glIstened on
lis forehead He trembled as though
lis own fortunes hung on the change.
Impressed. O'Rourke could not for
'ear to linger, to cast reluctant
lance at the table.
The size of his pile of gold and
otes on the red was a somewhat
tartling sight to him. His breath
topped In his throat, The ivory sphere
'as rafting over the compartments
, its predestined place. What If he
Iere to win2 O'Rourke began to cal
ulate mentally how much he had at
take, how much he might win If his
areless prediction that red would turn
p the seventh time should come true
lost his bearings in a maze of intri.
ate computation and was on the
oint Of abandoning the problem when
lack was called.
Great Godlr painted the Austrian.
ithdrawing his hand.