The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1912-02-22

"N'oncie"-, monsieur" he gas3ed,
his eyes, rrotruding. fixed upon the
wheel. Beads of sweat glistereI Oh
his forehead. re trembled as tno"ra
his oNa tGrtGlcs hung Oh the change.
IMPRESSED. O'Pourke could not for
bear 10 l@Gcr, - cast a reluctant
E.lMce at the table.
The size of his pile Of gold and
Noes on the red was a somewhat
startling sight TO him. His breath
stopped in his throat The ivory sDnere
was rafting over the compartments s
to its predcstined place. What If he
were to win? O'Rourke began 10 cal
cutie mentally how much he had at
stake. how much he might win if his
! carc.vss prediction that red would turn
IN tie seventh time should come true
lost his bearings in maze OF intri-
cate computation and was on the
point Of abandoning the problem when
black WIS called.
Great Gcd," painted the Austrian,
WITHDRAWING his hand.
ORourke rose. The fortunes OF
war. me friend" said he with laugh
so unforced tina; it sounded unnatu-
raj. He Strode away hastily, search
ing the th:ong in the lobby for her
18th whom his mind was occupied TO
tive exclusion OF al else.
The system.gambler followed him
with stare Of incredulous amaze
ment. ''Wha; mani" said he
20 himself. if half aloud. A second
later he added: What admirable act
:ng,"
But he was mist3k"n. There was
nothing assumed in O'Rourke's air OF
apathy He was actually quite indif
fv~.nt an1 already preoccupied wifi
lis :."w in;"rC&t-.tha pursuit Of tn;
raH.Hn yunse unexpected appearance
i ..Uat.. ,..:.I en"nieI i.:eiy to upse'
= - e.. r'!'at.Cn>. I'll" sails Of Il.
49,. - o. "a fortunes had all b:
life long been trimmed to the winds
of Chance; he was accustomed to see
ing them fall fiat and tapping, empty,
Just when a venture seemed most
propitious. The loss Of the money
was nothing; the initial amount had
been little enough In all conscience,
though the major part Of all that he
possessed; but to him the woman was
everything-the world and all.
And now she was gone. had disap-
peared with her companions! In that
instant in which he had turned from
her to the table, she had made her es-
cape.
He cursed roundly the weakness
that had lost her to him. and passing
rapidly through the lobby, left the
Casino, pausing before the entrance
to look right and left.
There was no sign Of what he
sought; the party had vanished. And
who should say whittier?
"Damnatfon!" he grumbled.
Monsieur" a voice intruded at his
side
He turned with a start, annoyed.
"Well?" he demanded curtly, recogniz-
ing De Trebes.
The Frenchman bowed. 81 have the
honor to address Monsieur lie Colonel
O'Rourke?"
Rejecting that the man might az
ford him the information he sought,
O'Rourke unbent. II am he, Monsieur
des Trebes."
Surprised, the latter lifted his eye
brows, showing even white teeth in a
deprecatory smile. "You know me,
monsieur"
by sight and reputation only. mon.
sieur."
Il am honored."
mo more than meself, II 1t comes to
that"
The vicomte laughed Then I may
presume 10 ask the favor Of word
with you?"
Are ye not having it, monsieur"
"True But in private"
"One moment Ye can do me .
favor, If ye will. Afterwards"
Il am charmed"
"'Tis not much I'll be asking ye-
merely a question or two. Now that
gentleman ye were talking with awhile
back: isn't he the Honorable BERTHE
Glynn"
''The same, monsieur"
"And the lady who spoke to
him."
Madame Smyth-Herriott, I believe;
I know her only slightly"
Then ye 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, ye have not? But Mr.. Glynn?"
"Is 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 might
expect nothing more helpful from this
man; he had Jumped prematurely at a
baseless conclusion, 1t seemed. And