SHORT STORIES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2860, 6 January 1909, Page 89

SHORT STORIES.

A MONfE CARLO ADVENTURE.

BY HoTVaSD DOHIEJtAL. The season had closed well, and even Harrison, prone as h-e was to carp at. everything appertaining to the wretched weather conditions, (grudgingly admitted that never in his long experience had he passed through such a period of prosperity. "Of course." lie cautiously added by way of vindicating his usual pessimism, "you never know what the future holds for you, and the chances are that the uext season will be as bad as this is good and knock your profits to smithereens." But all the same he was more than pleased with the present state of affairs, and secretly took a very cheerful view of the future. Those who knew him best regarded Charlie Harrison as the finest of fine fellows. They laughed at his pessimism and his growls, knowing them to be only skin deep. A bachelor with no home ties and with prospects of the brightest character, his outlook was pretty cheerful. So fax he had shown no particular desire to get out of the groove into which, thanks to his father's wall, he had comfortably glided, but at times he questioned the wisdom of sticking exclusively to his present life as the aim and end of existence. Bb sometimes thought of the outer and older world and of the stirring events that occur there, and mentaily promised himself a visit to London, Paris, Berlin, and St. Petersburg, and the many othei places of interest, when things improved. Things had improved over and; over again, but so far he had never gratified his wish. . "You see," he said to- his old chum Fred Warreston. one • day, as they were lounging on the verandah, oi "his homestead — "you see, what with rabbits and anthrax and droughts, a fellow never knows where he is till he's there, and when he's there he's generally in a devil of a hole." "You pastoralists are all alike, Harrison; always growling about adverse conditions and discounting the future," remarked WarßestoiL, who, being a barrister and not a pastoralist, could not think of any other profession going to the dogs but his own. "There you are wromg, my dear fellow," replied Harrison. "You city men pay us visits and see us at times when things are fairly well. You return to the oity with all its sordid surroundings, and looking . back upon the pleasure of your few weeks' stay in the country, conclude that that's the life for you and that ihe pastoralist has a splendid existence and mates plenty of money. You d«n't see, as I have seen, the other side of the question — the flocks of sheep and herds of cattle annihilated by draught or poisor or disease, nor yet men of wealth 'educed to comparative poverty in a season or two. through no fault of their own, but through, as the bills of lading put it, the 'Act of God. 1 " "Ah, well, I .suppose you are, . right. I won't discuss it, for at the preaest moment I want you to concent-rate! your mind on the fact that matters are just now so prosperous with you that you a-re justified in putting into operation that old idea of yousrs of taking a trip to Europe. I have decided to go in a couple of months' time, and we could do- the trip together." Harrison sat for some minutes without replying, watching the fantastic shapes the smoke from his pipe was assuming as it floated up to the roof of the verandah. "By Jove!'' he exclaimed, ■"I am strongly inclined to join you. I must admit that the present is distinctly a time when evervthdng seems favourable for a plunge of that sort." Ana so it was arranged that ac and Warreston should go. Once Harrison's mind was made up he enter»d into the idea with the greatest of vim, and two months later saw them on their way in aP. and O. liner. Arriving at Marseilles, they decided to spend a few days there. As is usual with tourists, they crammed the greatest amount of sight-seeing pos-. pible into the shortest amount of time during the first day. "Look here. Warreston," remarked Harrison the next day as they were having a rather late breakfast, "we need not rush through this sight-seeing at express speed. I rather like this" place, and intend to see it quietly." "I'm with j-ou there. Xhei^'s no need to live the strenuous life on, an occasion of this kind." assented Warreston as he sipped his coffee. ( "It's a pity we haven't a greater grip of the language. We might then make better headway," remarked Harrison. "We Australians <xiake a great mistake in not acquiring a more decent knowledge of French." Later in the day they had an opportunity of witnessing a political demonstration parading one of the principal streets. With baud playing and flags flying, a procession of about fixe or six hunidaed people passed along. Oa&ual onlookers, at fiist passively indifferent, gradually became worked into a state of excitement, and leaving the pathway ran out a^d joined the procession. Two igentlemanly dressed men standing near Harrison and his friend were apparently watching the proceedings with just the most ordinary amount of interest. As the precession approached nearer and nearer these men became visibly agitated, and were soon jumping about in their excitement, and before the demonstration had passed they rushed wildly over and joined in the ranks "What mercurial temperaments these Frenchmen have," remarked Warreston. "I -can now quite understand how easy it is for a or riot to take place in France. Did you notice those two fellows? They were at first no more interested in what was taking place than you or I, but the excitement of £l*tt t

others caught them in its grip, and they went over." | "No, there is nothing half and half about a Frenchman as there is about us. That's the beauty of it; they are either on one side or the other, and they are always in earnest. There is no sitting on the rail with them." Harri&ou and Warxeston were destined that very night to observe hoM thorough and earnest the Frenchman can be in hil partisanship. After dinner that evening they accom* panded Dr Fletcher and his daughter, twfl tellow passengers from Australia wha were staying at the same hotel, to a theatre. At the conclusion >f the 3iitertainmsnf they strolled along one of the beautiful boulevards with its brilliantlylighted cafes. The rippling laughter of the French ladies and the hum A conversation proceeding focm the groups sitting at tile Little tables in the open air were pleasant to hear, and appealed very strongly to- the Australian quartet as they wended their way along. At the suggestion 'of "Di Fletcher they stopped at one of these' cafes, and, se'ecting a table, ordered some refreshments. "It is like a diream to me," remarked Miss Fletcher to Harrison. "This is ray first visit to a foreign place, and everything is so different to what I have ever seen." "Yes, I understand," replied Harrison. "This very sound of the voices is unlike what we .ire accustomed to, and the glitter and gaiety, the merriment and buoyant happiness' which seem to fte so universally a feature here remind one that we are in a world distinct from Aus- - traJia. But I like it — it's fine," he added as he looked round about him and n&ste<f his eyes up*on thfe w-ell-da-essed women sitting at the many tables near him. "Ah, I suppose, Mr Harrison, you will find it hard to go back to the old life." "I don't think so, Mass Fletcher. Much as I like all this, and much, as I am looking forward to rresJi experiences in other foreign places, I realise that it is the novelty of the whole thing- that makes it so attractive to- me now. T don't think I will ever be disloyal to the old ties. Why, it would be a distinct pleasure to me at this very moment to hear the distant howl of a dinigo or the cry of a curlcwj--mueh. as I sometimes detested them when I was in the bush." "Dingoes and curlews here ! By Jove, what ah incongruity!" exclaimed Warres« ton as they all rose and left the table. They ha^. not proceeded far along the boulevard when they "heard /loud cries oi men in angry dispute, and in the distance* thep could see a crowd of surging people. As the tumult spread Harrison and his party could hear the cries and counter cries of "Vive Dreyfus," "La bas Dreyfus?." The excitement spread rapidly, and Dr Fletcher, anxious to avoid exposing his daughter to the dangers of a street riot, put her arm through his amd with Harrison and Warreston tried to withdraw fron\ the scene. They were too late, however, to do this, for contingents of the two parties weoe hurrying jirom all qua-rtars, and the four friends soon found th?m- ' selves hemmed in with the struggling, infuriated crowd of men. "Stick together," shouted Harrison, a* be and Warreston placed themselves closa to Miss Fletcher and her father. They were carried hither and thither by thff \ surging- mass, and it took the combined, efforts of the three men to keep Mist Fletcher from being thrown to the ground. The rioter* fought like maniacs, and many a blow was aimed at Harrison and his two : friends. A blow directed at an opponent) by one of the Frenchmen struck Warraeton on the head and almost brought him

to the giouu-3. Recovering himself, and with bJ6 temper up, he returned the blow and felled his assailant. Instantly they became the centre of the struggle. Yells, oaths, and .rries of every description became deafeniag, and an occasional revolver shot could be heard. Hanison saw Warreston warding off blcws and dealing many a good one with his walking stick, but be could not go to his assistance, as his whole attention was required for the dector and his daughter. He had, indeed, very little time to think of Warreston, for already Dr Fletcher found it difficult to sustain the weight of his daughter, who ■was almost in a. state of collapse. To make matters worse the doctor seemed to be singled out by a vicious little Frenchman for attack. Harrison worked round and took a hand by letting him have a well-directed blow behind the ear. He dropped like a bullock. Harrison turned to the doctor just in time, for Miss FletcheT had fainted, and lay partly on the ground and partly in her father's arms. It took him all bis time to keep the struggling men from trampling on. her, but a push here and a •\vell-plante3 kick there assisted matters considerably, and gradually the fighting mass surged from them. Quickly taking advantage of this they lifted the girl up and caTried her to one of the trees atthe side of the boulevaaxl. A trickle of blood down the doctor's cheek showed where a stone had struck him, while his coat was ripped down the back. A bashedin hat, a torn collar, and a few scratches were Harrison's share of the fray, and, on the whole, they felt thankful that nothing more serious had occurred. Fortunately, beyond the fright ehe had had, Miss Fletcher was unharmed, and soon recovered from her swoon. The rioting still continued, but had worked farther along the boulevard, but they could see nothing of Warreston. Harrison felt somewhat uneasy about him, and thinking he could safely leave the doctor and his daughter, he intimated his intention of going in search of him. "I would advbe you not to shift from here," he 6aid to the doctor. "I don't think the trouble will work back. If I can pet a vehicle I will send it along to you." - He went in the direction of the commotion, avoiding, as far as possible, the little groups of combatants that had become separated from the main body. Already the gendarmes hid appeared in large numbers, and a detachment of cavalry could be heard clattering down the road, and the less valorous of the rioters were taking time by the forelock and disappearing. Every now and then Harrison would see a man going at his top speed cloeely pursued by a gendarme ; then, as the cavalry approached, others would breakfrom the body and make for cover. The c«fes were almost deserted, their occupants having left to take part in the proceedings outside, or, in the case of the more cautious, to seek some place of safety. They kro&w enough of the high feeling that prevailed at this time all over France in connection with the Dreyfus affair to realise that any moment a Dreyfus riot might develop into something approaching a revolution. Harrison had not proceeded far when he passed a man walking quickly. He was without a hat, and one of the sleeves of his coat had been torn off, and he bore the marks of having been in the thick of the fight. He passed so quickly :that Harrison had no time to observe more "than his general appearance. Looking back, however, after passing, something in bis figure eeemed familiar, and it suddenly dawned on Harrison that it was his friend. "Is that you, Warreston?" he called. The man stopped, and, turning round, revealed the face of Warreston. "By Jove, is that you, Harrison?" he exclaimed. "Where are the others. Are they all right?" "Yes, barring a scratch or two. We all came out of it fairly well, but, old fellow, you seem to have- been living the strenuous life since we parted." "The strenuous life is to put it mildly, old man ; it was a cyclone, a Rugby foot!ba!l game, and a juvenile earthquake rolled into one. I'm sore all over, but," he added •with a quaint touch of pride, "I think the other fallows are quite as 6ore, if not more so. I can't recall a more pleasurable moment in my life than when I knocked that fellow down in return for the blow he gave me. It raised the devil in me, Piid I fairly went for every anti-Dreyfuaite I thought I could recognise. I have no dviibt I hit many a wrong man owing to my imperfect knowledge of the language, but I tried to do the right thing," he concluded with a grim smile. His lip w.is cut. and there was an abnormal swelling under the right eye. and his face was more or les^ battered. "Where did you leave the others?'" he inquired as they walked along. "Not far from here," replied Harrison. "I had hoped to have obtained some sort of a vehicle for Miss Fletcher, but I am afraid there will be little chance of that for some time. I think we had better make our way on foot to the hotel." This they did in a roundabout way, reaching' their destination long after midnight. Long after thay had retired to rest they heard the familiar cry of the rioters, and throughout that night there was the constant tramp, tramp, of the patrolling cavalry. When they met at breakfast trie following morning they had somewhat refrained their reputable^ appearance, alfjhough Warreston's face looked somewhat demoralised. "Quite recovered from last night's extitemenfc, Miss Fletcher?" he inquired. "Almost," she replied ; "but I really thought we would all' be killed." "I think we ought to make a claim on jthe authorities for damaged clothes," Dr i J etcher remarked. "And in my cafe for injured feelings." laughingly added Warreston "But," joking aside," Waireiton said, ''I Jhink we got out of the affair pretty well, "tnd I do not regret, the experience ■•ye

have had. I wonder if many were seri- j ously hurt." - . . » • I Dr Fletcher and his daughter left that day by the express for Paris, and Harrison and Wanreston remained in Marseilles a few days longer. "What do you say to a trip to Monte Carlo, Harrison?" asked his friend a day or two after. ', "Yes, I'm quite agreeable. We may , just as well go now as later." | It was arranged that their visit should be paid the following day, and the early morning saw them en route in the train. In the game compartment with them was a j fine-looking Englishman of about 30 years ; of age, with whom they were soon chat- j ting. He had frequently been to Monte Carlo, so he informed them, and was, in fact?, on his way there now to try his luck, he told them in confidence. "You see," he said, "I know a system — at least, I have worked out a system that must give absolutely sure results. It is on altogether new lines, and does not approach in any respect the many systems that have tip to now been tested. I know thsm all. I have made a study of them, and T have avoided their mistakes." He was an exceedingly pleasant fellow, had travelled a lot, and was a good conversationalist, and although he had new-r been in Australia he had friends and relatives there, and hoped to pay a visit there when he had made his fortune. He was a son of an Anglo-Indian merchant, and had an interest in his father's businesE. "What does your father think of your scheme of breaking the bank?" Warreston asked chaffingly. "Well, as a matter of fact, he knows nothing about it. He has some oldfashioned notions about the proper way of making money, and I know that he detests anything in the nature of gambling. 1 don't view it in the same light, but I should be sorry for him to know I am so keen on this scheme of mine. I visit London and Paris on business once or twice a year, and I invariably put in two or" three days at Monte Carlo.'' "And have you never attempted to try your system to prove its efficiency?" inquired Harrison. "No, I have only just completed it, and I am now going to Monte Carlo for the express purpose of working and proving it." The scenery they were now passing through was magnificent, and to Harrison and WaiTesion had -the extra charm of being entirely new. -The splendid castlelike residences scattered everywhere, nestling in their beautiful gardens and greeneries, were sights that would never be forgotten by them. The broad stretch of the Mediterranean, spreading as far as the eye could see, with the private yachts and o.ther craft resting at anchor in the various bays, presented a picture of the most lovely character, and the two Australians viewed it with the most pleasurable emotion. Even their companion, who had become familiarised with the scene from frequent visits, was not wholly unmoved. "Grand, ; .sn't it?" he exclaimed as his eye caught that of Harrison. "I never tire of this, and can even almost forget my grand project in contemplating it,' he added. "Money-grubbing and the beauties of Nature don't altogether assimilate," Warreston profoundly observed, with a short laugh. Upon their arrival at the Monte Carlo Station they exchanged cards, expressing t-he hope of another meeting. Glancing a the card he had just received Harrison noticed it was inscribed "Herbert Grainger." "Rather a nice fellow," Warreston observed as he placed the card in his pocket, "but I think he is going to miss the bus with his system. I wonder if we bhall ever meet him again." They strolled from the station through the magnificent gardens of the Casino towards the broad flight of steps leading to the building. In the hall at the top of these steps they were met by two gorge-ously-attired flunkeys, who barred the way to the inner door. Inquiries and direction resulted in their being led to the office, where, after being catechised as to their nationality and ultimate destination, they obtained the prescribed card of admission — a memento which Harrison still keeps, and which he frequently shows to visitors staying at his station. Armed with these tickets they had the entree to ail the rooms. It was another chapter to their book of experiences, and even now, after the lapse of many years, the memory of it is as fresh as ever. The whole grene, the artistically-painted rooms and panellings, the i?ay and 6eautifully-di-essed women, and the atmosphere generally created an impression on tiheir minds that has never been effaced. They looked with absorbing interest at the groups of gamblers surrounding the tables. The young men and women, k-eenly entering upon their fiTet experience of the fascinating excitement, which is probably to lead them ultimately to ruin, and the r»ld men and women, v. ho^e haggard face? and trembling hands told of the long years of bondage they had seived at the gambling tables. ASO-fianc note falls from the table at the foot of some people standing near tho croupier, but no one attempts to pjok it up. The croupiei's attention is drawn to it. a.ud he strikes a gong, which brings a unifoimed attendant to the scene, who, receiving a whispered order, stoops down and picks it up and replaces it en the table. Harrison and his friend viewed with astonishment the order and decorum | that prevailed all through the rooms, and gazing round at the beautifully-embellished place and the atmosphere of refinement wondered why it should be designated a gambling "hell." They went from room to room, finding everywhere something to interest them, and as mere gambling had no attraction for them they were able to find pleasure in merely observing all that there wafe to be seen. They plunged to the exteat of

five francs each, and had the satisfaction of knowing that they had tried and lost. They left the Casino and spent an hour in the beautiful gardens surrounding it, and then wended their way to an hotel, where they had decided to- put up during their stay. That evening they again visited the Casino. They wended their way to a table where they noticed a larger crowd gathered. Suppressed excitement appeared to prevail. They had some difficulty in seeing all the players at the table, but saw that the attention of the observers was centred upon a player sitting to the right of the croupier. Moving round to the other side to get a better view Harrison exclaimed in a whisper, "By Jove! it's our friend Grainger." There he sat, his face pale with excitement, and in front of him a large pile of bank notes and coin. A big crowd stood at his back, all intent upon watching his play. "He's got his system working, ' Warreston whispered, "and by the look of it he's scooping everything." He appeared to be oblivious to everything around him. His lips were compressed and his eyes shone brightly," but beyond these external signs of the tense strain ha was -undergoing he appeared to be perfectly calm. As the croupier pushed the money towards him he 'would sweep it gently into a compact heap before him. Once- only did he look up and glance at the faces of those around him. As lie did to his eyes caught those of Harrison, whom he recognised with a smile and a nod. And so the play went on, sometimes against him, but almost always in his favour. Harrison and Warreston left the Casino, leaving Grainger still increasing his pile. "Most extraordinary," remarked Warre'ton as they made, their way to their hotel. "It looks *as though he had solved the problem, does it notr' "Well, I can't say. I have read that j in all cases where a system appears to work satisfactorily it is merely a bit of good luck. It may ,go on for a day or two or even three days, and then the luck changes. There is no certainty about it. Hundreds of people have been quite as confident as Grainger that they have struck the right thing, and yet they have all failed in the end. There has never been a case of long-continued success." They reached the hotel, and after a final smoke retired. It was rather late the next morning when they met at breakfast. The waiter who attended to them was a young Frenchman who could speak English fairly well, and on this morning seemed anxious to talk. "Were messieurs ajt the a-ooms last night?" he inquired as he placed some toast on the table. "Yes, we were," replied Harrison. "Did you see the Englishman who was winning all the night?" "Yes," answered Hanison. "He is going to break the bank." "He will never break the bank," the waiter replied. "I don't think he will," remarked Warreston. "But he's going to try." "He will not try any more," quietly added the waiter- "He is dead." "Dead!" exclaimed the two men. "Yes, murdered and robbed in his hotel last night." They Jooked aghast at the man as he calmly announced what had occurred. Further inquiries proved that the man was right in his story. Poor Grainger had been followed by someone, who had gained an entrance into his room for the purpose of robbery. Evidently in attempting to abstract the money he had disturbed Graineer, who had, it is supposed, interposed, and had been killed by a blow on the head with some blunt weapon. These were the bare facts which the two Australians had elicited from the authorities. They found that events of this character were not uncommon, and although the authorities tried as far as they could, for the jeputation of the place, to prevent them, they were not always able to do so. Both Harrison and his companion were greatily shocked at what had occurred, and although, the man was the merest acquaintance of theirs the event cast a gloom over them and made them disinclined to prolong 1 their stay- They thought ol the old father in India who had ''old-fashioned notions about the propei way of making money," and wondered what Uis feelings would be when the. news reached him about his murdered } son. Before they left they heard a lot about men and women who had committed suicide there, about lives mined and cueers Macted in that beautiful palace like building, and they under-stood the full significance of the "appellation applied to it. It waj indeed a bell. They left Monte Carlo the following day, and, teturmng to Maiseille.-, caught the next express to Paiis. Their stay there was a most enjoyable one. A week j after four,d them crossing the channel j from Calais to Dover. ! The six months that followed their arrival in London weis in seeing the principal places of interest in Engiand, Ireland, and Scotland. They occaj sionally met Dr Fletcher and his daughter, and prranged to return to Au&tialia in the same boat. "We- must get home for Christmas,"' Harrison said as they were booking their passages. "Much as I have enjoyed myself mentally and physically, I have no desire to be away from Australia on Christmas Day." ''No 3 a fellow always likes to be at home on Cinisftnas Day," ad-ded Warreslon. That Christmas Day on Harrison's station was a record one. He had a full house, and amongst his visitors were Dr Fletcher ar.d his daughter, and many a good yarn was spun by the men — sad, j humorous, and exciting — reinmi-cent of their experience* abrond [The End.]