The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1912-03-29


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 II buzaed, the ball cla'trred 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, irowning in
speculation, stared back at the two.
Stared? Indeed and he did just
that. II 1t was impertineut. sure and
were they not staring at him? And
who should g~ainsay 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 indisputabio, native dis
tinCtion; a Frenchman-at least of a
type unquestionabIy Gallo. His face
was very pale, his fine, pointed
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 impassibility.
! His companion was shorter OF stat.
ure, a 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" 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
half-million 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 O'Rourko with
out moving. Twill turn up seven,
this run"
The system-gambler subsidized, petri.
fed.
But the other? O'Rourke continued
to probe his memory. Something in
the mans personality was curiously
reminiscent. =. or a sudden he
remembered. The FrenChmaE had
been pointed out to him, years ago, in
Paris, as a principal in a Boulevard
scandal which had terminated in a
duel-a real duel, in which be had
been victorious. He was accustomed
to anticipate such an outcome of his
affair of honor, however; that was
why he had been named to O'Rourke;
Des Treble, Chat was the name; the
Viscomte des Trebcs) was a duelist Of
international %dlsreputc.
Monsieur" the agitated voice fut-
tered in his ear. you have Won 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.
tIemen whose gay, chatterlng 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 Trebes.
The latter bowed. lifted his shoulders
and laughed lightly, plainly excuslng
himself. A general movement took
place in the party; 1t began TO disin-
tegrate, men and women pairing of,
all moving at leisure toward the lobby.
! Des Trebes alone remained. O'Rourke
could see that the personnel of the
gathering was largely British. He
recognized Lady Plinlimmon, whose
lyacht Che had heard casualty had ar.
rived in the harbOr that MORNING. Eyi.
IDENTIFY this was her party. Another
woman's figure caught his attention:
her back was turned, but she had an
air. a graceful set Of the shoulders. an
individual pride and s.irit In the poise
Of her head, that O'RouTke could have
that he flushed suddenly, that his
heart was pounding. lie made as II TO
rise and follow, but was prevented, al
most forced back by a Rand which the
Austrian in bis feyerish interest had
un~consciously placed on the Irish
mans shoulder.
Monsieur, monsieur" he gasped,
his eyes, protruding, fixed upon the
wheel. Beads of sweat glistened on
! bis forehead. He trembled rs 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 mach 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 a " of intrl.
cate computation and was on the
point of abandoning the problem when
black was called.
Great God!" painted the Austrian,
withdrawing his hand,