Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-01-24

guardians, 1.-THE luck is against me
The crowd at the Sporting Club was
greater that night than usual. Har-
grave, making his way TO the seat he
usually occupied at the high chemiu
de fer table-a seat jealousy kept fo4
him-had to pass through a little
crowd of eager spectators on the our
side of the velvet rope. Violet, her
eyes already lit with excitement
walked by his side to his place and
sank into the chair a little way b
| hind which was Immediately rendered
10 her by the obSequiouS attendant
This is most exciting" she whis
| pered. ut Is so good of you to bring
me. i have always longed to see som,
really big gambling, and | can neve
| get near enough when / am alone.
Hargrave glanced around the table
! His eyes fingered for moment upon
( Trentino. who sat almost opposite. IIe
! bowed to the marcheSa, his neighboY
/ courteously.
! He handed a little packet Of 5a
miles to the changeur, and receiveI
! some huge plaques The bank was a.
| the top end Of the table, and Hargraye
/ devoted himself FOR d minute or wv,
10 explaining the game to his con.
panion. Presently the shoe arrived =,
Trentino, who deliberately counted orr
I some plaques and thrust them into liz.
/ middle.
! "Cne banque de vingt miles francs
/ the croupier announced. "Qui fait i,
| banquo?'
| The man on Trentinos right touched
the table lightly with his forefnre,,
. lie took no card. Trentino. with in
. movable face, displayed q nine. A-air.
J the crolplers parrotlike announcc.
/ ihcht. The same man followed and
]
me croupier's next announcement.
Gun fatt lie banquo? 81 le bauo-,,
II est pas fat, faites vos ieuy."
An american banker q little NJ
Gown the table extended his hand 10.
The cards. lie drew one-a Tom.
Irentlno turned his up-a fye-,IIr.'
"salh-a ihree-and won tho coIip
me cfoupler's announcement tim
Time was followed by a rnone,.,,s j..
lence. People around Inc I'M
pusI stalking. IIargraye looked ;,rg,,s-
70 ma lrentino regarding lru r.
eHiy, as though he recognized Tho, .,,,...
HieACeiheht OF their duel both ver.
III their way. OF the better. tvr,a' 49,.
gambler The Argentine's cyurGsg,a,r
Mds tHal OF i sphinx. His srnsU
"Alle handS, which toyed with ~
poA' We're as steady as a rock. BaI..
crave II he lacked the others almosr
!
theleSs, IN his way, as emotiouIess
Banquo,' he announced.
Inc silence was broken. Onnosi,,
Irentlno seemed for d moment to co,.
Siaef the matter. Finally, with tb.
slghtest of bows toward Hargra,..
ne gave him two cards and drew tu,,
hiinse!f. Hargrave glanced al him
Win inmoFable face. He held two
Carte." he demanded.
Trentino threw upon tho +ap,ia
knave and a two. The card Will,
passed TO H.rgrave was a three H..
himself drew an eight.
Bacearat, the Croupier announced
commencing his task of corrntins, III
money. NV
You won" Violet whispered under
| her breath.
| Inc game proceeded with yaryinr
fortunes. Hargrave'S bank ran only
twice broken by lady gambler a few
| places away. Again it reached Tren-
| tlno. He started it, as before. with "a
| miles, and won the first two couns
| Harsrave had been whispering to Eto-
| let and had been temporarily ina-ten.
tive. At the sound of the croupier's
voice, however, he turned his head.
'Banquo," he challenged.
| once more the eyes Of the two Nor
met. The narCheSa watched them
eagerly. The first shadow OF indeci
sion stole into Trentino's face. He
distinctly hesitated. Then. with lii
. tie Shrug of tho shoulders. ne lern~,
back i'll his chair
LA main passe." he announced.
What does that mean" Tiolc-
| whispered.
1t means, IIarsrave explained.
| that the gentleman opposite declines
! my challenge. He contents himself
with what he has won already"
| Copyright. 1926. by t. Phillips oppcnheim
Continued tomorrow