The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1913-03-08
GAIT. l...oE,.TS BET
By PAUL villiERS.

For more than a year We had held
a position on the frontier Of Yunnan
and the day when We were recalled
was made one OF general rejoicing.
Captain Vincent, who was in com
mand, decided to give a grand recep
ton to the troops that were coming
to relieve us. All the resources Of the
country were drawn urOn to make the
coming supper, the only meal that we
were to partake of together with our
successors. a memorable one. We
were to leave the camp the next morn
Ing at sunrise.
A flare Of trumpets announced the
arrival of the little detachment. An
hour after we were all like old friends.
After quarters were found for the
men Went out for a walk in the out
skirts of the woods, with the lieuten.
, ant who was to relieve me. His name
was Caral. He was small. thin. nerv'
, Gus, but full of fire and energy
Il suppose YOU are not sorry "a
leave this desert?" he said.
did not try to conceal my Joy at
the prospect Of soon seeing France
again and OF meeting all my old
friends.
And your captain?"
IF possible. he feels even more
happy than |. he is going to be mar
ried when he gets home. 1t Is quite q
romance think he has been en-.
gagged for seven years, and during that
time he has seen his fiancee only when
he has been on furlough, but he would
not marry until he has his three gold
braids, his cross and has put aside
enough money TO set up o home In
! good style"
"Then his fiancee has no fortune?"
II do not think SO. but he has near.
~ all the time been stationed on
frontier posts where he could save
practically all his salary and he has
every chance of quick promotion"
The beating OF gong summoned us
back to camp for the dinner. which
proved very jolly affair, for many
were the bottles of good French cham.
payne that We're cmptlrd.
When we loft the table Caral was
very nervous and said that the excite
ment and the heat had robbed him OF
every desire TO steep.
suppose We hay" a quiet game OF
cards" he suggested.
The new captain declined. saying he
was going to try and sleep.
Captain Vincent. however, accepted.
and he and Lieutenant Caral sat In a
corner Of the broad veranda. where
watched the game.
At first Caral lost all the time Be
ing used to play he had made the
stakes rather high. and out OF polite.
ness Captain Vincent had consented
without objection As for me. ] was
| glad to see my captain adding to the
little amount he had saved up for his
marriage.
Then luck turned. Vincent lost not
only all his winnings but every franc
he had in his pockets.
Caral felt rather embarrassed at his
constant luck. His position was in
decd rather difficult. If he stopped the
play he saved the captain from furth'
or losses. but he also prevented him
from winning back what he had lost
already, and this was quite consid-
cradle amount.
At last Captain Vincent, who was
on the verge OF collapse, suggested
that they quit or double the stakes.
The challenge was accepted. and
again the captain lost; but still he
played on doyFedly. 1t was evident
that the game could not last long in
this way In half an hour Vincent had
lost every franc he owned in the
world
heartily cursed this devil OF n
lieutenant, who, in few hours. had
ruined my captains whole future hap
rin"ss.
VinceI.t tried to laugh
81 am dead broke now" he said, but
stake two years salary against the
pile"
hoped and prayed that Caral would
refuse, and watched his face eagerly.
Every trace of passion had left it, Car.
al looked at Vincent's pale features.
thea to me, hesitated a moment and
then said. greatly to my surprise: "All
right--even or uneven!"
Everybody knows this game. which
even children play. One OF the play.
ers holds in his hand a number of
chips and the other Is to guess
whether this number is even or un.
even. II his guess Is correct he wins.
Caral picked up a number of gold
coins from the pile in front Of him
and held them toward the captain.
closing his hand.
Even or uneven- he said again.
1t was a dreadful wager. With one
word Vincent was to decide his whole
future fate. II he guessed correctly he
would get back all Of his savings, and
the events OF this evening would be
like a bad dream. He would be able to
return to France and marry the girl
who had been waiting for him during
these many years. II his guess was