Evening star., 1918-02-03

tie f1utter, Mr.. Roudel! Sa1d ms io,u
ship, bIandly DO you do much OF thfs
kind of thing in Kimberly?
Now and again. j won this n. q
game of ecarte.' and he showed aia
mond big as a marrowfat pea oiaz-
ing on Hrs little finger.
Lord Claverly. eagerly.
Wei. l play all games of cards more
or less, but | like ecarte best
Just then young Arthur Dariey ar
rived and Joined the. group. LORD cav
erlys brows knit with sudden annoy
ance 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 a
game or So Mr. Rondel, but barley has
first claim.
You're too many for me. Claverly.
said young Darley. And, as you say
revenge is an expensive commonly
Then I'm entirely at your service, II
you care for a game" said Lord Claver-
ly politely to Mr.. Rondel. who nodded
his acceptance. The challenge and re-
sponSe created quite culver OF eX-
element 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 watchfui
eye on his old acquaintance. the card
sharp waiter. and made sure he had no
private whisper with Lord ClaVerty-
Now at last he seemed quite secure
-
back close to the wall Behind Mr.
Rondel. al a small table dozen feet
away. was the suspected waiter. A
shaded electric light hung over their
heads. There was no mirror IN the
room.
As the players took their seats Mr.
Rondel noticed quick look of surprise
light for moment in Lord CiaNeriN
dark eyes. At once his large doubi. :
cased watch slipped quietly from his
pocket He touched the spring and the
case flew open. but there was no dial
or figures where he looked 1t was an
ingenious watch of his own deVisinS.
The inner case was convex mirror.
|, which showed Mr.. Rondel. as he care
lessly consulted it, the room in minia-
ture behind him.
He was only just in time. Innoticed
, by the crowd intent upon the game,
the waiter was speaking rapidly on his
fingers to the watchful eyes or Loro
C1averIy,
Mr. RondeI caught the last few words
of the detective. play very
straight tonight
Then the game began
Fortune took sides almost from the
first and stuck to her favorite 10 tht
end Never was Lord Claverlys iuch
/ more conspicuous His opponent play
ed admirably, he was incomparabiy ths
finer player of the two. but no play
could stand against that springtide oi
luck Every third hand Lord Claveril
marked the king.
The pile of notes swelied AT Lore
. Ciaverly's elbow: the pocketbook o
T Mr. Rondel grew leaner and leaner
Still he played his cards out piucktiF
and lost his money with an imperturb
able good temper that won the ad
miration and sympathy of the bystand
ers.
! Lord claverly on the other hand. Wa
!, flushed and excited. Again and asaii
) he excla ed in apparent amaZemen
: at his own good luck. and seemed hall
frightened at its persistency-
( "Abou. played out for tonight. re
|, marked Mr.. Rondel at last. with un
: abated cheerfuiness. He drew from
his pocketbook eight hundred poun'
e notes and four fifties. and then smooth
I ed out the leather cover quite nat 81
the table.
"One last fiutter for this, my lord
After moments pause Lord Claverl.
r nodded,
Il can trust tonight's luck for any
thing" he said, excitedly- and besa'
n TO deal
!. IT'S nv deal think" interposed Nj
= Rouie!. quietly. And his lordship hand
$ ed him the cards without word
{ The excitement of big stake is con
: tasious There was a silence and hold
o ing of breath among the spectator
r that crowded around the table as tn
cards were dealt Diamonds wer
trumps-the seven of diamonds IN
PLAYERS paused for moment with III
, cards before them, as if half AFRAID 4
!. know their fate. Lord Ciaverly locke
!, frst, and smiled triumphant al tn
array of picture cards in his hand.
Il declare the king" he said. an
showed the king of diamonds in hi
ban nd