The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1914-02-27
An American
Lady Of Lyons
BY RUTH GRAHAM

The celebrated play THE Lady Of
Lyons is based on the theme that the
heroine's discarded lovers palm off
| upon her eountryman as prince.
Something similar happened recently in
Paris to Betsy Baker Of South Dakota.
Betsy. who hadn't much idea of
+, proprieties except such as she had
| learned in Dakota, went abroad all by
herself and. rather liking Nice, spent
good deal of time there. She fell
| in with some very nice persons and
| some who were not very nice. They
! were all pretty much the same to
| Betsy--at least, they appeared to be-
for she seemed to have no power of
discrimination between classes.
Two young Parisians, jacques Gau-
tier and Edmond yilliers, comparing
notes, discovered that they had both
proposed to Miss Baker and had been
turned down, Whether or not they had
seen the Lady of Lyons" played and
taken their cue from 1t doesn't appear.
but they concluded TO foist spurious
nobleman on Betsy. They selected
croupier at gambling house who had
found his employment on account of a
very distinguished appearance and a
mellifluous voice, the latter being
advantageous in calling upon players
to make their bets and the winning
numbers. They introduced him to Bet
sy as Count Charboulier, member of
one OF the oldest families In France.
1t is quite possible that had Betsy
been fancy free the croupier might
have deceived her as to his real posi-
ton and won her; but, unfortunately
for the plan, she was already pledged
to Jack Rowland, a young New Yorker,
who had taken fancy TO ranching
and had spent much of his time on his
property in the neighborhood of Bet
sy's home in Dakota. He had fallen
desperately In love with her, and, while
aware OF the fact that she was not OF
the conventional type Of girl TO whom
he had been accustomed In the east, he
was only too happy when she consent
ed to marry him. She therefore re-
fused the croupier, and since he had
nothing to gain by persistence and
must have living he went over to
Monte Carlo, where he had been en-
ployed before being introduced to Bet
sy, and resumed his calling,
Rowland joined his fiancee at Nice,
and the two made trip to Monte
Carlo, where they saw the bogus count
presiding at the gaming table. Betsy |
recognized him at once and told her
lover OF the trick that had been played /
on her by the Messrs. Gautier and
Villlers.
That's the best joke ! ever expert
enced," she said, laughing merrily.
'Jokel You don't call such a viii
famous scheme joker
"Of course do. But ! must get Il |
back on them. Let me see. How shall
manage itf'
For heavens. sake, I'd let them
alone"
''Not till have paid them in their
own coin"
Leaning on her lovers arm, Betsy
approached the crouper, giving bis
monotonous call: MAKE your bets,
Make your bets. Red or biack?"
How do, countT she said.
The croupier looked up and, seeing
her, turned red as cocks comb.
"Come and see me, count"
The man looked as II he would break
for the door, but made no reply. |
"Come tomorrow morning at 10
o'clock. Don't fail me. You have
nothing to fear and something to earn
quite easily"
The next morning Antoine Boyer,
which was his real name. presented
himself to Betsy and was offered 1000
francs to aid her in turning the tables
on the men who had introduced him to
her. Returning TO Nice, she sent word !
to Gauher and vf1liers that If they
would come and see her she would In
troduce them to her fiance. They, be-
Ing ignorant of what had recently
wondered IL their game had
Repairing TO Miss Bakers
hotel, they found her with an Ameri- .
can. whom she introduced to them,
and the croupier.
you know the count, of course, and
there is no use for me to make you ac-
luainted. Count, stand up there and
exhibit your fine voice to the gentle /.
men,
Boyer arose and, posing himself, be-
gan to make the calls pertaining to S
roulette table. The two conspirators 1
ooked at each other in CONSERVATION. a
There was no mistaking the sonorous
singsong manner In which the profes.