The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-05-04
with q cereless inconsistencies that
| nat him al1ifa al hia aaaA

with q cereless Inconsistencies tnat
set him quite at his eass.
Lord Claveriy was in the room when
the party entered. looking on at
game Of piauet. and the veteran bridge
player tackled him at once.
We have found your match at last.
Clavarty." he said: a fellow that can
tAhs The ace Of trumps with deuce.
I've only sean him at bridge, and that
y anSoGh for me. But he says ecarte
y his pss game. He has made couple
a millions In diamonds in the South
African mtnea And. egad! he IL likely
To make ~ much more out Of clubs or
spades or hearts At the London card
tables. Hes . wonder. You see that
stout chap talking to Harcourt?"
Lord ClAvely's handsome dark eyes
lighted up with pleasurable excitement
at mention Of the millions Plainly he
was not in the least afraid. Presently
he whispered to Harcourt:
VIII you INTRODUCES me to your card
playing parason?"
They tell me you are fond of
little hutter. MT. Rondel?" said his
Lordship blandly. DO you do much
Of this kind of thing in Kimberly"
-
game OF ecarte" and he showed =
diamond. as big as marrowfat pea,
blazing on hts little finger.
Then ecarte Is your gamer" said
Lord Claverly eagerly.
well. I play all games of cards
more or less, but like ecarte BEST"
Just then young Arthur barley ar
| rived and Joined the group. Lord
| C1averly's brows knit with sudden
annoyance as he saw him. but there
| was no trace Of temper in his bland
| tones when he said:
Il should like to take you on for q
game or SO. Mr.. Rondel but barley
has first claim.
You're too many for me. Claverly."
said young barley. And. as you say.
revenge Is an expensive commodity"
| Then I'm entirely at your service.
II you care for a game" said Lord
ClaverIy politely to Mr.. Rondel who
nodded his acceptance. The challenge
and reaponse created quite a culver Of
excitement in the room. One of two
parties broke UP their game to watch
the battle for big stakes.
From the moment he had entered
the room Mr.. Rondel had kept a watch
Sul eye on his old acquaintance. the
card-sharp waiter, and made sure he
had no private whisper with Lord
Claverly. Now at last he seemed quite
secure. Lord Claverly's chair was set
with its back close to the wall Be.
hind Mr.. Rondsl, At a small table q
dozen feet away. was the suspected
waiter. shaded electric light huns
over their heads. There was no mir
ror in the room.
As the players took their seats Mr.
Rondel noticed a quick look of surprise
light for . moment in Lord Claverly's
dark eyes. At once his laEKe double.
cassd watch slipped quietly from hi,
pocket He touched the spring and
the case flew open. but there was nc
dial or figures where he looked. Il
was an ingenious watch Of his OWL
devisinE. The inner case was q con
vex mirror. which showed Mr.. Ronde
as he carelsssly consulted it the room
in miniature behind him.
He was only just In time. Un.
noticed by the crown intent upon the
game. the waiter was speaking rapid,
on his fingers to the waIchful eyes Of
Lord Claveriy.
Mr.. Rondel caught the last few words
OF the aentence-"detective, play very
straight tonight
Then the game began.
Fortune took sides almost from the
first and stuck to her favorite to thu
end. Never was Lord CIaverly's lucl
more conspicuous. His opponent
played admirably: he was incompsr-
ably the finer player Of the two; Dbl
no play could stand against cha
sprinstids Of luck. Every third hant
Lord Claverly marked the king.
The pile of notes swelled at Lore
/. he
Mr.. Rondel grew leaner and leaner
Still he played his cards out pluck.ly
and lost his money with an imperturb
able good temper that won the admir-
alton and sympathy Of the bystandera
| Lord Clavely. on the other hand, wa.
. flushed and excited. Again and agaiI
he exclaimed In apparent amazemen
at his own good luck. and seemed half
frightened at its persistency.
About played out for tonight" re
marked Mr.. Rondel at last, with un
, abated chserfulness. He drew from
his pocketbook eight HUNDRED poun,
notes and four mites. and the,
Z smoothed out the leather cover quit
, nat on the table.
: "One last fiutter for this. my Lord :?
: After q moments pause Lord CLAW
: erly nodded.
. Il can trust to-nishts luck for any
} thing" he said excitedly. and begai
2 to deal.
Its my deal. I think" interpose
Mr.. Rondel quietly. And his Lordshi
I handed him the cards without q wort
The excitement Of big stake Is con
{ taEioua. There was . silence and hold
? ing Of breath among the spectator
J that crowded around the table as tn
} CARDS were dealt. Diamonds wer
, srumpc-shs seven Of diamonds. Tn
] rfs v>r~ "a. mad $or . rpoyrAD< Nth ~,