Owingsville outlook. [volume] (Owingsville, Ky.) 1879-192?, 1919-09-04
CHAPTER XII-continued.

! turned back and followed the cor
ridor TO the right and came to little
hall toward the rear Of the building.
Beyond me was an open door, and be-
hind It l saw the dull glow of a stove
and felt its heat.
| approached cautiously and looked
In.
Facing me, above a cracked and an
cient mirror. were two rusty broad
swords. and in the mirror | saw
large Oaken table reflected. Seated at
1t, clothed in '''readbare coat of very
ancient fashion an old man with
long, snOw-white hair and white.
fOrked beard. He was busily transfer
ring a stack Of gold pieces from his
right to his left side; and then he be-
gan scribbling on sheet Of paper. He
Yaid me not the smallest attention as
entered.
| perceived that the top Of the table
as very curiously designed. 1t was
marked off with squaresl and columns.
and in each square were figures in
black and red. Upon one end OF the
table at which the old man sat was
cup-shaped, circular affair Of very dark
wOod-teak, II resembled-once deli
cately inlaid with pearl. But now
most Of the inlay had disappeared,
leaving unsishtly holes.
At the bottom Of the cup were Il
number of metallic compartments, and
the whole interior portion was revOlv-
Ing slowly at Il turn of the old man :
fingers.
The ball stopped and settled in one
of the compartments, and the old man
took gOldpiece from one of the
squG res on the table, transferred Il
little pile Of gold from his right side
to his left. and jOtted down some fig
ures upon his paper.
And suddenly was aware of an
abysma rage that filled me. 1t seemed
like an abOmlnable dream. | had en-
durcd so much for >Jacqueline, to find
myself immeshed in such things in the
end. ! stepped forward and swept
the entire heap of gold into the center
M. Duchaine" | shouted. why
are you playing the fool here when
your daughter is suffering persecu-
tiOn?"
The old man seemed TO be aware Of
my presence for the first time. He
looked up nj me out OF his mild old
eyes and shook his head in apparent
perpleXity.
"You are welcome, monsieur" he
sad, half rising with a courtly air. do
you wish 10 stake a few pieces In
game with me?"
He gathered mp a handful of the
coins AMI pushed them toward me.
"You see, monsieur. / have a sys-
ten-at least / nearly have a system,
he went on eagerly. But II may not
be so good as yours. Come. You
shall be the banker and see IL you can
win my money from me. But We shall
return the stakes afterward."
M. Duchalne :" shouted in his ear.
-where is your daughter?"
"My daughter7" he repeated in mild
suIpTlAcs M 9tS oit hdo SUM- "
New York 10 make our fortune with
the system. But make your play. mon
sieur."
In desperation ! thrust a goldpiece
upon one OF the numbers nj the head
of a column. The wheel stopped, and
the ball rolled into one OF its COM
partments. The old man thrust sew
eral gold pieces toward me.
staked again and again and won
every time. Within five minutes the
whole heap OF gold pieces lay at my
side.
The dOtard looked at me with On ex'
preston OF imbecile terror.
"YOu will give them back TO mef
he pleaded.
thrust the heap Of coins toward
him. Nov. NJ. Duchaine," l said; in
return for these you will conduct me
to Mile. Jacqueline."
II am here. monsieur" answered q
voice at the door. and l whlrled, to see
yacquellne confronting me.
AHanrEn NlII