The Kenna record. (Kenna, Roosevelt County, N.M.) 190?-1924, 1912-03-15

ed and forthwith he ceased to be an
object Of interest. Only the little
Austrian. having risked the number
Of stakes prescribed by his system for
one evenings play. put away his note
book and pencil and. surrendering his
place to another. fingered behind
O'Rourke's chair.
AT length, inexpressibly bored and
too impatient to defer the inevitable
by niggo " wagers. O'Rourke ran.
sacked his pockets and placed the pro.
ceeds-several hundred franes-I am
as ignorant of the amount as he was
Indifferent to it--upon the red.
There fell lull the croupier hold
ing the wHeel to permit an unbaked
cub of Chicago millions to cover the
cloth with stakes too numerous for
his half-c eveloped intelligence to kesp
count of; and the adventurer shifted
in his seat. reviewing the assemblage.
For some moments. through the mys-
terious working of that sixth sense
which men are pleased vaguely to de
nominate Intuition, he had been sub
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 little time.
sought 1t unsuccessfully. Annoyed
he persisted He heard the croupier's
Diechanieal Rein ne va plus" follow
ed by the whirring of the wheel. bul
cared so little that he would not turn
to watch the outcome. Only an ex
clamation of the Austrian's appraised
him of the fact that red had won He
glanced listlessly round to see the
money doubled. and let 1t 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 Il 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 O'Rourke 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; Frenchman-at least Of
type unquestionably Gallo. His face
was very pale. his fine, pointed mus
tache very precise, jaw squarN, fore
head high. eyes deep and dark be-
meath brows heavy. level and black, !
manner marked by a repose almost
threatening in its 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 marred 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; It's just that kind-in-
bred, underbred. without brains or real
stamina-that would run through a
nalf-mlllion 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"
fact fdreplied o'Rourke with
!, = ineSiiss. Twill turn up seven,
this run"
fed.
But the other? O'Rourke continued
to probe his memory. Something in
the mans personality was curiousIy
reminiscent -. OF sudden he
The Frenchmar had
been pointed out to him, years ago. in
Paris, as a principal in a Boulevard
scandal which had terminated in a
iuel-a real duel. in which he had
been victorious. He was accustomed
e anticipate such an outcome of his
affair OF honor, however; that was
why he had been named to ORourke;
Des Treble Chat was the name; the
Viscomte des Trebes) was a duelist of
International disrepute.
Monsieur" the agitated voice fut-
Tered In his car, you have Von yet
again-for the sixth timel"
Let it stand for the seventh, mon
ami"
Why should Des Trsbes be watch
ng him so openly, SO pointedly? AS
he watched he became aware that
-hese two. the Frenchman and the
EngIishman, were not alone; detached
though their attitude was, they were
avidanflv of q nart,r % l.ai.. -. -