Evening star., 1926-02-11

her smile. The comtesse tapped him
lightly on the knuckles with her fan.
Alas" she confided, 1T is the hard
task of those who see more than
others in this world sometimes TO
preach wisdom and give sorrow TO
their dearest friends. l tried to per-
suade Stephanie to come to Egypt
with me on Thursday"
ITO Eeypt?" he repeated. Isn't
this rather SUDDEN
"A decision of that sort must be
taken suddenly" the comtesse de-
clared. 1T was arranged between us
that whilst she made up her mind
should say nothing of this to YOU. You
observe | break my word. l break it
deliberately because even those who
see most clearly in life may sometimes
make mistakes. l would not have the
ruin of her happiness upon my shoul-
derS. even though | saved her pride. "
You are a very wonderful woman
HarGrave said with conviction.
Il have q gift" she admitted "a
gift which brings me as much sorrow
as happiness. There are not many
people in life upon whom one can eX-
ercise it. The ocCa sion arises but sell
dom. When il does. however. it is to
be made use of. Stephanie is my dear
est lilSHu. anu leAl 10 IeE SENSE OF
honor l think her pride is the most
precious thing in life to her. Such a
blow to that as she might receive un-
der certain circumstances from your
hands would be a blow from which
she would not easily recover. / want
to save her that. if l can
Are YOU in her confidence" Har-
grave asked.
Il do not need to be-" the comtesse
answered. Il know
The room was crowded, and with
the ball before them no one cared to
dance. After dinner they made their
way up to the Sporting Club for half
an hour. Hargrave, with Violet. and
Amy Gorse. Pellingham and the com
tesse, and a little crowd of other
guests stood round the tables.
How are finances" Hargrave
asked the girls between whom he was
standing. DO you want me to win
some money for you?"
Il feel really Violet acknowledged,
that l haven't want in the world.
/ think I'd rather you didn't play to-
night. There's something" she went
on. about Your always winning which
almost frightens me-"
Amy Gorse laughed.
Violet. how stupid You are"' she
protested. IF a man can win here.
why not? They take enough out of
us. Please play n little for both of us,
Sir Hargrave. l shall give YOU ten
louis-all / can afford"
Hargrave accepted the money
gravely.
Il shall take the liberty" he said,
"of adding a trifie to it and also some.
thing for you. Violet. AS you say, it
is monotonous. but the banks money
iS q worth haVinr ~
With a miles worth of plaques, he
commenced to play. One or two of
the spectators watched him enviously.
"It is the monsieur who never
loses" one woman whispered.
Follow his game" another one ad-
vised her friend. Wherever he puts
his stake it will win
Hargrave backed a number and two
transversals The ball spun. He lost
He only smiled. 1t had happened be-
fore the first time. He staked again,
and lost. Again, with the same result.
Amy Gorse sighed.
Our money seems to be going" she
remarked.
Hargrave was watching the ball
with the somewhat puzzled air of the
habitual winner who strikes a streak
of ill fortune. He doubled his stakes,
and lost again. A fit of uncertainty
seized him. He handled his plaques
without confidence. Suddenly he
looked up at the Comtesse Fayaldi,
who had slipped into the vacant place
by his side. She was watching him
with curious expression I'm her face
AS his last stake was swept away, she
took him by the arm and led him into
the background.
We'll, comtesse," he said, you will
no longer accuse me of being fey
You see what has arrived. My luck
has gone
She looked at him intently He had
never before realized the smallness and
delicacy of her features, compared
with the size of her eyes. She