The Delta independent., 1912-01-12
SYNOPSIS.
ILLUSTRATIONS by
ELLSWORTHIYOUNC


ance and something of a. gambler. is
irsssing for appearance in the restaurant
below when the sound of girlish voice
'inging attracts his attention. Leaning
tut on the balcony he sees beautiful
;irl who suddenly disappears He PUSHES
the corridor to neatly gownec
,orm enter the elevator and pass from
sight.
impressed. O'Rourke could not for,
bear to linger, to cast 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 at
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 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 ITleuu, Sdlu ne VIII d lduSn
so enforced that it sounded unnatu-
raj. He strobe away hastily, search
ing the throng in the lobby for her
with whom his mind was occupied to
the exclusion of all else.
The system-gambler followed him
with a stare of incredulous amaze
ment. What a mani" said he
to himself, If half aloud. A second
later he added: What admirable act
ing!"
But he was mistaken. There was
nothing assumed in O'Rourke's air of
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 o. his fortunes hal all his
life long been trimmed to the wind
of Chance; he was accustomed to see
ing them fall fat and tapping. empty
| just when a venture seemed mos
| 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 thai
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?
"Damnation," he grumbled.
Monsieur" a voice intruded at his
side
He turned with a start. annoyed
"Well?" he demanded CURLY, recogniz-
ing De Trebes.
The Frenchman bowed. 81 have the
honor to address Monsieur lie Colonel
O'Rourke?"
Rejecting that the man might af-
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 a
deprecatory smile. you know me,
MONSIEUR
by sight and reputation only. mon
sieur'
81 am honored."
mo more than meself, II 1t comes to
that"
The vicomte laughed Then I may
presume to ask the favor of word
with your"
Are ye not having 1t. monsieur"
True But in private?"
zone moment. Ye can do me a
favor. II we will. Afterwards-"
Il am charmed"
"'Tis not much I'll be asking ye-
merely 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. believe;
l know her only slightly"
Then We are not Of their party?"
"Party?" Des Trebes appeared per-
picked. What party?"
why, Lady Plinllmmon's, of
course"
II 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 might
expect nothing more helpful from this
man; he had jumped prematurely at a