The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1913-03-09

CAPT. VINCENT'S BET
BY PAUL VlLLiERS.

mand. decided to give n grand recep-
ton to the troops that were coming
to relieve us. All the resources of the
country were drawn upon to make the
coming supper. the only meal tIat 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 we're found for the
men | went out for a walk in the out
skirts of the woods. with the Heuten
ant who was TO relieve me. His name
was Caral. He was small thin, norv-
Gus. but full of fire and energy
81 suppose you are not sorry to
leave this dcs,rt?" 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 l. He is going to be mar
ried when he gets home IL is quite a
romance. think b. has been en-
gagged for seven years. and during that
time he has seen his hancee only when
not marry until he has his three gold
braids. his cross and has put aside
enough money to set up home in
good style"
Then his fiancee has no fortNne?"
81 do not think so. but he has near
ly 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 a gong summoned US
back to camp for the dinner, which
proved a very jolly affair, for many
were the bottles of good French cham
pagne that were emptied.
When we left the table Caral was
very nervous and said that the excite
nent and the heat had robbed him OF
every desire to sleep.
Suppose we have quiet game OF
cards. he suggested.
Ihe new captain declihed' saying he
was going TO try and sleep
Captain vincent however accepted
and he and Lieutenant Caral sat IN
corner OF the broad Veranda, where l
watched the game.
AT hrst Caral lost all the time. BE-
/ ing used TO play he had made the
stakes rather hlgh, and out or polite
ness Captain Vincent had consented
without objection. AS Tor me, was
glad to see my captain adding to the
little amount ne nae saved up 1or 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
deed rather dif1cult. II he stopped the
play he saved the captain from furth'
er losses, but he also prevented him
from winning back what he had lost
already, and this was quite a 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 doggedly. 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
l heartily cursed this devil of a
lieutenant, who, in a few hours, had
ruined my captains whole future hap
piness.
Vincent tried to laugh.
81 am dead broke now," he said, "but
I 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,
then to me, hesitated a moment and
tlor eoid grootIv 70 ,n,, eurprica. oAll