Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1912-01-31

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 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
Bertie Glynn. Faith, he looks the
part, at least; 'tis just that kind-in-
bred, underbred, without brains or real
stamina-that would run through
half.million sterling inside year."
But the other?
Monsieur" the little Austrian stam-
mered excitedly in his ear, "for you the
red had doubled fourth time"
Thank ye," replied o'Rourke with.
out moving. "'Twill turn up seven.
this run"
The system-gambler subsided, petri-
fed.
But the other? o'Rourke continued
to probe his memory. Something in
the mans personality was curiously
reminiscent. .. OF sudden he
remembered. The Frenchman had
been pointed out to him, years ago, In
Paris, as principal In a Boulevard
scandal which had terminated in a
duel-a real duel, in which he 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 Trebes (that was the name; the
Viscomte des Trebes) was a duelist Of
international disrepute.
Monsieur" the agitated voice fut-
tered in his ear, "you have won yet
.again--for the sixth timeI" {,
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 party Of ladies and gen.
tlemen whose gay, chattering group
formed their background.
Monsieur, the seventh turn!"
Eyes, 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 excusing
himself. A general movement took
place in the party; it began to disin-
tegrate, men and women pairing off,
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 Pliniimmon, whose
yacht Che had heard casualty had ar
rived in the harbor that MORNING. Evil
dently this was her party. Another
woman's figure caught his attention.;
her back was turned, but she had an
air, graceful set of the shoulders, an
individual pride and spirit in the poise
of her head, that O'Rourke could have
sworn he knew. He was conscious
that he flushed suddenly, that his
heart was pounding. He made as IL to
rise and follow, but was prevented, al
most forced back by a hand which the
Austrian in his feverish interest had
unconsciously placed on the Irish,
mans shoulder.
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 reluctant
glance at the table.
The size of his pile of gold and
notes on the red aas somewhat
startling sight to him. His breath
stopped in his throat The ivory sphere
was rafting over the compartments
W llS ~ DiSuSSlluSu pioSC. w nat IL ~
were to win? O'Rour!ie began to cal
culate mentally how much he had at
stake, how much ne might win if his
careless prediction thatred 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 friend" said he with laugh
SO unforced that 1t 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 mani" said he