Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1923-10-24

al MS adventuring life had shown
MIN. Perfect in the moonlight. the
dark eyes cold, scornful; the shrug of
her white shoulders above the lace
, corsage-a apparently Miss Lestron bad
Deen going to the opera of the Thea
ter dOrleans, where, he recalled, Rose
dc Vries appeared tonight in lie
Frophete." But the hour was late
| for this.
l think, sir-you cannot see him.
it happens" She glanced I'D warily
at the silent galleries where the con-
clerge was mumbling away ineffectu-
any on MS return. Colonel Carr
VIII not receive anyone tonight"
she turned half from him with an
air OF dismissal. The stranger bowed
once more His heart was beating
/ with a curious relief It was plain
that the girl did not know Of the in
famous jest with which all the coffee
houses were ringing. He knew now
he would pocket the insult; a duel
was impossible, for it would drag her
name deeper into the mire. Carr had
guessed Alright; Sazarac could not
claim his wager. In a private drink
| ing bout Carr might roar with laugh
ter at the gamblers dilemma; but for
the lady's sake, Sazarac would not
challenge; nor would he permit talk
OF the affair to go about.
he drew his light cloak closer as
he turned to go. But as he reached
the areaway with it's drowsy tinkle OF
flowing water, he started at cry that
rang wildly through the courtyard. the
scream of negro and a vengeful
shout above
Turning, he saw the girl in the
court staring upward. Then her arms
were flung out In appeal. And again
that choked cry Of a woman, but not
in fear-imperious, determined:
Have done beating the grill
What?-and you strike me?"
Leaping back to stare up, the visi-
tor saw woman crushed out over
the iron lattice rail- The moonlight
struck the epauletted shoulder of
Colonel Carr, who seemed bent on
hurting her to the courtyard. The
girl below cried out again hotly. And
with a mutter SaZarac sprang past
her, up the curving staircase until he
gained the third gallery.
The wife Of the British colonel was
| choked and helpless against the rail-
ing as the stranger reached them. His
hand was upon his sword, but with
the other powerful arm he caught the
man squarely by the collar, tore him
away, flung him headlong against the
wall-and then stood quietly, the
gilded insignia Of His Maiesty's Sery-
ice in his hand. CHANGING at the epau-
lette, he hurled 1t to the court below.
Miss Lestron had followed past the
covering serving girl bleeding on the
staircase.
Madame" she cried sharply, "are
you hurt?"
But for this gentleman, I had died"
the wife gasped, and then checked it
with new scorn. Madame Carr stopped
abruptly, her eyes upon the unknown
gambler Of the river packet.
"Thls," began the girl quietly els
Captain Sazarac of the American
Service. ,We-must thank you, sir,
even for this regrettable aid. You
perceive the affair, without dOubt-a
private matter, of which we entreat-
as you are a-gentleman-"
She had hesitated, her dark eyes
on him, her lip quivering in the moon
light. A shuttle on the gallery floor;
the drunken man was getting I'M
steadily to his feet. He reeled
grasped the railing, cleared his dazed
eyes, and stared.
"Sazarac-bah! Come then, Saza.
rae, the gamblerl En-" he lurched
forward, and held himself up. "Ho,
the porter have this fellow thrown
out who dares invade my privacy!"
"Lionelw the wife muttered, and
then was still.
Monsieur Sazarac bowed to her uui-
city.
"What I have done, Madame am
answerable for. The matter explains
itself, doubtless. It shall not pass my
lips"
"Sazarac-ruined me-" painted the
colonel. "A trickster fellow-a sharp
er Of the packet trade-eh, get you
within your rooms, Madame !"
"You precede me, sir" she retorted
steadily, you are in no condition to
converse"
Converse? Eh-Sazarac, here?
remember he lurched to the rail
with hoarse laughter "An appoint
ment, eh-Captain Sazarac?"
''The matter is settled" commented
the other quietly. you will permit
me to depart"
He was passing when the dishev-
eled officer staggered to the narrow
space between rail and wall. "He has
come, my-dear, to-ha, ha!-per-
chance to claim his wager!"
"Sir, you will permit me TO pass"
'Not so soon, sir-Captain Saza-
rac-whoever you are. Ha-ha-it was
a stroke-a coup-you will admit that,
even if lost, eh?'
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