Morris tribune., 1914-02-06
An American
Lady Of lyons
BY RUTH GRAHAM

Paris to Betsy Baker of South. Dakota.
Betsy. who hadn't much idea of
propfieties except such as she had
learned in Dakota, went abroad all by
herself and, rather liking Nice, spent
q 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 eau
tier and Edmond Villiers, 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 it doesn't appear
but they concluded to foist a spurious
nobleman on Betsy. They selected a
croupier at a gambling house who had
found his employment on account of a
very distinguished appearance and
mellifuous 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, a 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 a 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, ne
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 a living he went over tc
Monte Carlo, where he had been EN-
pIoyed before being introduced to Bet
sy, and resumed his calling.
/ 1OW4dAu JO1nCu LIS AoACOO az LNtNN
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 hel
lover of the trick that had been played
on her by the Messrs. Gautier an(
Villiers.
That's the best joke ever expert
enced," she said, laughing merrily.
'Joke! You don't call such a vii
famous scheme joker
"Of course ! do. But l must get i
back on them. Let me see. How shall
1 manage it?''
For heavens sake, I'd let then
alone"
''Not till I have paid them in thei
own coin"
Leaning on her Lovers arm, Bets,
approached the croupier, giving hi
J monotonous cali: Make your bets
, Make your bets. Red or black ?" Il
slow do, countY' she said.
The croupier looked up and, seem
her, turned red as a cocks cOnb.
SOuS anu see ulS, COuUJS
] The man looked as il be would brea
for the door, but made no reply.
"Come tomorrow, morning at /
o'clock. Don't fail me. You hav
} nothing to fear and something to ear
quite easily
: The next morning Antoine Boyer
which was his real name, presente
himself to Betsy and was offered 200
francs to aid her in turning the table
on the men who had introduced him t
her. Returning to Nice, she sent wor
to Gautier and Villiers that if the
would come and see her she would ir
troduce them to her fiance They, be
ing ignorant of what had recent
transpired, wondered if their game ha
succeeded. Repairing to Miss Baker
hotel. they found her with an Amer
+" can, whom she introduced to then
and the croupier.
: You know the count, Of course, an
there is no use for me to make you a
Quainted Count. stand up there an
exhibit your fine voice to the. gentl
men" 4j.l a
:, Boyer arose and. posing himself, b
gan to make the, calls pertaining, to
]. !. roulette table. The. two conspiratol
8 looked at each other in ,consternatiol
There was no installing the sonoroy
singsong manner lii which the profe
sional makes these calls. When |
had gone overth sam iroutine sever
times Betsy turned to Gautier and VI
{ Hers and said:
Il promised to present ,you to m
!. flance. This is he7Mr- Rowland. fro
4 America. 81, o.aa, ii -e II
IA They, bowed in a constrained mann
to Mr. Rowland and appeared at Il
! same time to be looking for an exit.
! Gentlemen, =. said Rowland imp
q tiently. "we have had enough Of til
Il farce ! have yielded reluctantly
s Miss Bakers desire to pay you f
III your dastardly trick in her own wa
fl A good cowhiding would have be,
more appropriate. You needn't rema
any ipn,.er. and | recommend that Y,
Nj bptn keep ont Of my way lest | gi
i