The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1912-05-29

81 Have the Honor to Address Mon
sIeur lie Colonel O'Rourke."
Monsieur, monsieur" he gasped
his eyes, protruding, fixed upon the
wheel. Beads Of sweat glistened on
his forehead He trembled as though
his own fortunes hung on the change.
Impressed, O'Rourke could not for
bear to linger, to cast a reluctant
glance at the table.
The size of his pile of gold and
notes on the red was a somewhat
startling sight to him. His breath
stopped in his throat The ivory sphere
was rafting over the compartments
to its predestined place. What if he
were to win? O'Rourke began to cal
culate mentally how much he had a,
stake, how much he might win If his
careless prediction that red would turn
up the seventh time should come true
lost his bearings in a maze of intri
cate computation and was on the
point of abandoning the problem when
black was called.
Great Cod" painted the Austrian
withdrawing his hand.
O'Rourke rose. The fortunes Of
war, me friend" said he with a laugh
so enforced that 1t sounded unnatu
raj. He strobe away hastily, search
ing the throng in the lobby for hel
with whom his mind was occupied tt
the exclusion of all else.
The system-gambler followed him
1yA CT oP TN
ment What mani" said he
to himself, II half aloud. A SECOND
later he added: What admirable act
ing!"
But he was mistaken. There wal
nothing assumed in O'Rourke's air oil
apathy. He was actually quite indif
ferent and already preoccupied with
his new interest-the pursuit of the
woman whose unexpected appearance
In Monte Carlo seemed likely to upset
all his calculations. The sails of the
barque OF his fortunes had all hii
of Chance: he was accustomed to SCI
ing them fall fiat and Tapping, empty
just when a venture seemed mos
propitious. The loss of the none
was nothing; the initial amount ha
been little enough In all conscience
though the major part of all that b
possessed; but to him the woman wa
everything world and all.
And now she was gone, had disaI
peared with her companions! In tina
instant in which he had turned from
her to the table, she had made her es
cape.
He cursed roundly the weakness
rapidly through the lobby, left tn
Casino, pausing before the entrance
to look right and left.
There was no sign of what h
sought; the party had vanished. AM
| who should say whittier?
'Damnation!" he grumbled.
Monsieur" a voice intruded at hi
side.
HE turned with a start, annoyed
"Well?" he demanded CURLY, recogniz
ing De Trebes.
The Frenchman bowed. Il have thu
honor to address Monsieur lie Colone
O'Rourke?"
Rejecting that the man might al
ford him the information he sought
O'Rourke unbent. 81 am he, Monsieur
des Trebes.''
Surprised, the latter lifted his eye
brows, showing even white teeth in
deprecatory smile. you know me
monsieur"
"By sight and reputation only, mon
sieur."
Il am honored."
NO more than meself If it comes t.
that"
The vicomte laughed Then | ma,
presume to ask the favor of a wore
with your"
Are We not having it. monsieur
True But IN private?"
"One moment. Ye can do me {
favor, If ye will. Afterwards"
Il am charmed"
TITS not much I'll be asking ye-
merely question or two. Now tina
gentleman We were talking with awhile
back: isn't he the Honorable Bertis
Glynn?"
The same, monsieur"
And the lady who spoke t
him."
Madame Smyth-Herriott, 1 believe;
[ know her only slightly
Then We are not of their party"
"Party?" Des Trebes appeared per
picked, What party?"
why, Lady Plinlimmon's, Of
course"
Il have not the honor of that lady's
acquaintance. monsieur"
"Oh, We have not? But Mr.. Glynn? %
rs here with me, monsieur-a fly
Ing trip. We ran down from Paris but
yesterday. Our meeting with Madame
Smyth-Herriott was quite accidental
"Oh, the divvle." said O'Rourke be-
meath his breath. Plainly he Nigh,
expect nothing more helpful from this