THE JIFIH WHEEL.

Auckland Star, Volume XLV, Issue 48, 25 February 1914, Page 10

THE JIFIH WHEEL.

3y BEATRICE HERON MAXWEIX

and FLORENCE E. EASTWICK. | ; CHAPTER XllL—(Continued.) It was a curious coincidence, this eoni•petition between the father (through his ■representative. Captain Carbine) and the fion. and punters round the tables, noticed at last with what strange regularity Carbine won on seven and Mauleverer lost; it seemed as if a lurking devil was impelling the one to stake iwhe-n the other refrained, and more than once when Mauleverer threw a sovereign on the seven (where Carbine's stake already rested) at the last moment, in defiance of the croupiers "Plus rien!" the ball which had hopped briskly into seven, flashed out again and fell into another number. or poised itself between two and was returned as "Xul."

At last, vexed 'by the general attention ■a-nd re-marks. Mauleverer stopped backing seven and returned to the thirteen, which had been rivalling the other in its frequency.

Yet directly he hacked it. thirteen 3!ku failed him. Persistently, coup after coup, he followed it, getting dogged as it refused to come up. It seemed as though, if he hung on long enough, it must again appear, and recoup him for hie losses.

Women—many of the ga-niolers were •of the fair sex—stopped playing and watched ihe comely, bored-looking 3/Oung man. who showed so much per.isitrtenee. with murmurs of admiration at his pluck. Carbine himself desisted, for the run of the seven seemed to have ended and the ball was capriciously flying to all "the nunabers in turn —with the marked exception of both seven and thirteen. Mtiuleverer's expression remained unchanged and to the strangers Tound him. he seemed mtreOy a, bored though reckless young plunger, but anyone who knew him really well "would iiave noticed the lines of excitement and desperation betrayed by the fixed stare of iiis eyes under Hieir drooping lids, the twitch of his hand, the drvness of his lips. As a matter of fact, he had completely lost control of himeelf. and. though he knew that already he had pledged himself to sums that he could not possibly pay. he cashed one T. o.l', after another until three hundred pounds had melted away"You're out of lurk." said a purposely smothered voice ibehind him; "better stop!" ■ He had an idea it was Carbine who Spoke, but in any case he resented the advice, as a losing gambler always does, and went on more doggedly than before. throwing on a five-pound note instead of i. sovereign. ." Hp looked away fro mthe "wheel purposely, waiting to hear his fate, and suddenly his young, tired face grew livid, and he put his hand up to his forehead with a quick gesture, a≤ though fo dispel some oppression. . For it seemed to his overwrought mind that over the heads of the players opposite, he saw a wistful face whose white lips were parted in an appeal and whose dark eyes, wide with pain, gazed with supreme anguish into his, while the dark hair veiling brow and cheek was stirred by the night "wind, in the moonlight. ,' Tt was only an instantaneous vision, gone as -soon as imagined, dispelled by the stir of sensation at the croupier's voice. "Zero!" His last five pounds was lost! With a dizzy feeling, Mauleverer rose, pressed through the double row of people behind him and walked to the bar. Captain Carbine, following him closely, began to speak, but Tubby ignored him. and, having demanded a whisky and soda., drank it off, turned out of "the Bar," through a wide door, and, making his way down a back staircase, "was outside in another moment. Taxis were always on hand round this secluded corner, for many of them knew that a good fare might-be, picked up between midnight and cock-crow, ;as one by one the South Western company emerged and went homeward. Tubby stepped into the first that came, gave the direction and, sinking back, closed his eyes. Now that the fever had gone by, he saw his folly and despised himself for it. "You fool!" lie was saying to himself over and over again, mentally. "You've ruined yourself, and you deserve it!" And the thought of how easy it was to end such folly with a knife or a revolver, ran like a dark thread through his brain-as he~drove home. CHAPTER XIV". There are certain persons in Paris Who hold themselves ready at any moment to loin a convivial 'party berett of one of its members. The obliging individual .who fills tlie gap is the "fonrteenfb."

Tubby Maulcverer came down the steps of a very large and shabby-looking .house in St. George's Square, which bore on its blotched face the" evidences of long-continued neglect, aiid might well have served as an advertisement for some enterprising decorator, inscribed something in this fashion: "In 1860—1 was trashed and painted by Messrs. Dauber.*. Since then no other firm has removed the effects of London dirt and smoke from my poor face." It was a huge, rambling mansion, the town residence of the Brismain family, bought in the days of prosperity and since theoJefL to-'take its chance. The Brismains-liad" always been a reckless, spendthrift lot, acquiring and furbishing new habitations in extravagant style, and finding themselves burdened with numerous domiciles "which they had not the means to keep in proper order.

Tha house in St. George's Square had been very splendid in its early days, and former Lords and Ladiee Brismain had entertained on a magnificent scale all the great world of Xjondon society.

The present Lord Brismain came seldom w> his town house. The roome were *ii=majrtled. pictures and furniture wrapped in hideous holland coverings, and an aged pair of servitors lived in the baeement as caretakers. Sallie Mauleverer had-'not been inside fts portals for y«ari;" .When ehe came to London, she stayed with cousins more prosperous than herself. As to Tubby, he general]/ put up at his club, or, when funds permitted, took a [luxurious suite of room and did himself -well in a more convenient' part of town.

At the present hour lie found himself in such, low water that he had been glad to"seek refuge in the Phnlico mansion. It "promised safety from -the assiduous attentions of duns. No one who had any personal knowledge of the Honourable Theodor Jtanleverer would have dreamed of eeeking for him there! It was the evening after his bouleversment at the South Western Club. He still felt dazed by the magnitude of his I losses, and could only, wpeat to himself

the question: "What crass idiocy induced mc to plunge in' such a headlong fashion?" He had a3 little hope of paying the couple of thousand pounds for which he had signed his 1.0.Us as of raiding the Bunk of England so a3 to obtain the necessary cash, and he knew also that his father would repudiate the debt entirely. Brismaiu found it difficult enough to defray his own losses at cards and races without undertaking those of his son. Tlieoilor.

Tubby walked slowly towards the river, with grim despair clutching at his heart. He had incurred debts of honour which he could not pay. Disgrace was before him. He would be a social outcast—a pariah amongst his own class —as soon as the intelligence became public that he was a defaulter. He leant over the stone coping of the Embankment, racking his head to think of any means of escape. He had known many cases similar to his own. Sometimes men ended their difficulties by putting a bullet through their brains; sometimes they cast themselves in front of a train, on the railway 'ine; sometimes men drowned tliemeelves.

His face hardened, and lines appeared graven, like those of an old man, as he stared down into the depths of the water beneath him.

He conjured up all the gossip and scandal that would follow the discovery of his death and folly, and a cold shudder made his flesh creep with the anticipation of this climax to his troubles.

.Suicide of the Hon. Theodor Mauleverer, heir of Lord Brismain —found drowned in the Thames. —■Rumours of heavy lo=ses at a gambling club," etc Poor Tubby groaned in spirit, and, raising himself from his stooping posture, began to drag himself towards the bridge where he might take his final leap into Btemitv.

Two girls came at a brisk pace, arm in arm, along the .Kmbankment. They were talking earnestly—so earnestly that they nearly collided with Tubby, who dreiv to the side, muttering an apology. His eyes met those of the taller girl. glanced quickly at. him, then gave involuntarily an exclamation of recognition. Tubby rained his hat.

''Miss Leach! I —er —l'm surprised to see you —I had no idea you. were in London. I hope there is no worse news from the Chase. The last 1 heard of Laurence Pridham seemed pretty bad."

Fenella stammered out rather confusedly that she herself had left the Chase some day 3 before. Probably he—■ Mr. Mauleverer—had later news of its inmates than she possessed.

"My sister went over there to inquire," Tubby continued in si stolid tone of noncommittal. "She ,said I'ridham was still unconscious. Aery strange affair, eh?"

liis eyes seemed to search Fenella's face for some revelation of her thoughts. .She had flushed painfully, and her embarrassment was so great that she could not speak. Janet, standing silent beside them, looked from one to the other, and drew her own conclusions. During these days that she and Fenella had spent together she had learnt much of Spinney Chase environment, and the name of Mauleverer had become familiar to her.

She hurried to Fenella's rescue. ,- I suggest. Fen, that you should ask Mr. Mauleverer to come and have tea with us in our garret—-that's to say, if he doesn't mind climbing a few staire. 1 don't know how both of you feel, but I'm thirsty!" . . .

Fenella was obliged to echo the invitation, but she did it half-heartedly, hoping Tubby would Tefuse. For might he not give away the secret of her hiding-place when he" returned home? She decided swiftly that if he accepted she would beg of him not to mention their meeting to anyone except Theo Pridbam. Tubby's thoughts, at that same moment, had turned towards his particular little pal, Theo. He wanted to ,=end her a message, yet scarcely knew how to frame it, on the impulse of the moment, standing there facing the two girls. Janefrs invitation offered a more convenient opportunity for confiding in Fenella, wham he believed to be- Theo'a greatest friend. "I should like to come immensely, v I may," he said with a celerity that daunted Fenella.

Janet's eyes began to twinkle mischievously. "There's nothing to prevent you —we're close there. Follow on!" With a sharp right flank turn, she led the way up a narrow street and under an archway to the entrance. A man strolling aimlessly past the archway, watched them enter the building, and followed them quietly to the foot of the staircase. He could hear them toiling breathlessly up the winding stairs, Janet's clear voice ringing out a mirthful word of. encouragement to the other two, from time to ■ time.

A smile of satisfaction broadened on the man's cherubic countenance. He nodded his head, as if confirming an opinion, then hurried away down the narrow turning and sought out the nearest telephone office. He had a message of great importance to impart, and the number he rang up was identical with, that of Frank Merry—lnquiry Agent. . Meanwhile. Janet Speer and her two friends had reached the studio. • ■ (To he continued daily.)

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