Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1919-07-11
CHAPTER xII-contInued.

I turned back and. followed the cor
ridor to the right and came to a little
hall toward the rear of the building.
Beyond me was an open door, and be-
hind II / saw the dull glow of a stove
and felt its heat.
I approached cautiously and looked
IN.
Facing me, above a cracked and an
cient mirror, were two rusty broad
swords. and IN the mirror 1 saw a
large oaken table reflected. Seated at
II, clothed in threadbare coat of very
hncient fashion. was an old man with
long. snow-white hair and a white,
forl'ad beard. He was busily transfer
ring stack of gold pieces from his
right to his left side; and then he be-
gan scribbling on sheet Of paper. He
paid me not the smallest attention as
entered.
perceived that the top Of the table
wnn very curiously designed. 1t was
marked of with squares and columns,
md in each square were figures in
blnfk and red. Upon one end of the
laI.le at which the old man sat was a
rtd-shaped. circular affair of very dark
wood-teak. II resembled--once deli
fately lnlaid with pearl. But now
rost Of the inlay had disappeared,
Snving unsightly holes.
At the bottom of the cup were a
number of metallic compartments, and
The whole interior portion was revolv-
Ing slowly at n turn Of the old mans,
hpgers.
The ball stopped and settled In one
pf the compartments, and the old man
took goldplece from one of the
squares on the table. transferred a
little pile Of gold from his right side
10 his left. and jotted down some fig
ures upon his paper.
And suddenly I was aware of an
abysmal rage that filed me. 1t seemed
like an abominable dream. 1 had en-
dured so much for Jacqueiine, to find
myself immeshed in such things in the
end. stepped forward and swept
the entire heap Of gold into the center
OF the table.
IN. Duchainel" l shouted. "Why
are you playing the fool here when
your daughter is suffering persecu-
tionq"
The old man seemed to be aware OF
my presence for the first time. He
looked up at me out of his mild old
eyes and shook his head in apparent
perplexity.
"You are welcome, monsieur" hC
sad, half rising with a courtly air. "DC
you wish to stake q few Pieces in {
game with meT
He gathered mp a handful of thu
coins and pushed them toward me.
"You see, r.onsieur, l have sys
tem-at ieSSt nearly have a system,
he went n eagerly. But it may no
be so 4Dod as yours. Come. Yol
shall ;, the banker and see If sou cal
win NJ money from me. But we shal
retuyn the stakes afterward."
m. Duchaine r. shouted in his eal
"TFhere is your daughter?"
MY daughter2" he repeated In mil
surprise. "Ah, yes; she has gone t
N-sw York to make our fortune wit
tn. system But make your play, NOR
sir1r."
In desperation ! thrust a goldpiec
upon one of the numbers at the hea
of 4 column. The wheel stopped. an
tha ball rolled into one Of its con
bA.tments. The old man thrust se'
c.1l gold pieces toward me.
I staked again and again ard wo
svery time. Within five minutes tn
whole heap Of gold pieces lay at m
side.
The dotard looked at me with an e,
preston of imbecle terror.
"You will give them back to me-
he pleaded.
/ thrust the heap Of coins towar
him. "Now. NJ. Duchaine." said; "a
return for these you win conduct n
60 Mile. Jacquelne."
81 am here. monsieur" answered
voice at the door. and / whirled. to 81
Jacqueline confronting me.