New Britain herald., 1929-09-23
Chapter SC
THE SEVEN COJpS


 of Blackwater,
 Chapter 3G
 THE SEVEN COJps It was not easy to find another line Of approach in Brussels with so little 10 work upon, and we re- turned to the hotel, There W" found a letter from I.aNton, written at Ostend late the night before; "I have had a brsy evening - fruitful too. I'm half inclined to stay over. But l want to make sure of Marling, and I'm going back by the morning boat.
 You will not discover much at Brussels. Anyhow I want you 10 take on the inquiry I'm dropping here.
 You will remember that the pris- oner, Eugene Richards. who escaped about the same time that your cou- sin arrived at Woodcot was conNIct- ed for an offense convicted at 'oF- CT. It vas alleged that he had at lacked a clerk belonging to the firm of Smithins, London, returnhE 10 England with a large sum Of money July 23, 1925.
 Come down here and search the files of the Ostend paper soae days Nefore and after that datc-aud see whether they contain anything 10 show light. Anything, mind. IT you draw blank, you can take up BruS- sells again. If you get winner wire me at the Lord Nelson and folio" across at once
 "The profass3rs getting Warm' said Somerfield. But Ostend?'
 But something must have hap Dened at Ostend that's given Lax ton a hint" said l. I've go, of course?"
 "On your life! Next train"
 There were no more boat trains That day and the next was an omni- bus train that dawdlcd along and landed us in Osteld at nine o'clock in the evening. We avoided the s26-a-minute places at the dIgue and found accommodation in a small house in straight and mar TOW street not far from the mar bor.
 TO pursue our quest that night vas impossible. In that paradise Of stone the thing to do is to visit the Casino. Somerfield and l passed into it's glassy halls at 10 o'clock and found It chook-ablock- A concert was going on in one large hall carpeted, q danae in an other one uncarpetcd, roulette ln one saloon. and bouIe in another w wandered throu2h till "' found ourselves n a quiet, almost deserted room I sort Of reading and writing room. Wo were dbou' 10 wander out again when SomcT- field said: Halt q minute, I've got an idea He walked uH to the official anl sroke. I heard the man say:
 "Mais parfaitcmcnt monsieur Par ici.'
 Somerfield backo led to mo, am the man led us into an 2djolnln: room. He unlocked cupboard.
 What year?' IT. asked.
 second half of 12-5,' said Som erfield.
 And presently the man ha' dragged out a large volume, the fII of the Carillon for July to Decem ber. 1925.
 The man dustad tho nlc, place. 1t on a table and left us.
 Somerfield turned over tho leave till he reached the issue of Jul .3rd. It contained nothing that i'll terested us.
 The issue Of the 24th of July ha' similar appearance. IL looked d if we were 10 draw blank. Then line caught my eye
 ". an EnSlishman, tall, "ltI the appearance of monk
 I glanced 10 the head Of tn column. l. consisted Of paragraph of news comments and impressions
 I traced the topic lack to its be ginning. and afterwards, l made jhI tough translation:
 "A dramatic episode took plar last evening at the Eursaal. Th hero of the occasion was a ta - Englishman. who took lis place 6 the table in the large sille toward midnight. H. played with snla counters at first and won rrtt sum in half an hour Then jt va began the drama.
 standing behind him, like Nemesis a. his clhow Was auo,h, EngIishman. oalul e,ay-"y'a an cold, who seemed to nc his lrieu' Nemesis touched him on tf shoulder and signed 10 him O Iea' the table with his gains.
 "The player m1ttcr"d a CUTS shook off the touch, and stak'd t} whole fortune, with an fmpctHo' gesture. The gray eyes Of his mon tor gleamed like steel Tho play won.
 Again that monitory touch up( the shoulder. Again the mutlor' curse. Again the inpGisiye gr ture. The mass of countrrs P mained on the table, Tho who winnings had been stak"d on more.
 "All eyes were ccntorcd on f iall man who eat with head n ha staring at the table as though would hypnotize the ball Dy sol mighty effort of his personal ma neti5m.
 Hundreds eyed hi Il curiousIy a' whispered 10 one another-f players who had ceased to ple