Part 1 (1/2)
Under the Andes
by Rex Stout
Chapter I
THE SWEETHEART OF A KING
The scene was not exactly new to me Moved by the spirit of adventure, or by an access of ennui which overtakes audy establishment of Mercer, on the fashi+onable side of Fifth Avenue in the Fifties In either case I had found disappointment; where the stake is a matter of indifference there can be no excitement; and besides, I had been always in luck
But on this occasion I had a real purpose before h not an important one, and I surrenderedof satisfaction
At the entrance to theThere was a scowl on his face and his hand trembled as he held it forth to take mine
”Harry is inside What a rotten hole,” said he, and passed on I s whispered about that Garforth had lost a quarter of a million at Mercer's within the month--and passed inside
Gaudy, I have said it was, and it needs no other word Not in its eles and pictures and hangings testified to the taste of the man who had selected them; but they were abominably disposed, and there were too e, held two or three leather divans, an English buffet, and -table, covered, stood in one corner
Groups of ed along the farther side Through a door to the left could be seen the poker tables, surrounded by grave or jocular faces Above the low buzz of conversation there sounded the continual droning voices of the croupiers as they called the winning numbers, and an occasional exclamation from a ”customer”
I made my way to the center wheel and stood at the rear of the crowd surrounding it
The ball rolled; there was a straining of necks amid an intense silence; then, as the little pellet wavered and finally came to a rest in the hole number twenty-four a fervent oath of disappointment ca on tiptoe to look over the intervening shoulders, I found er brother Harry
”Paul!” he exclaih and stood at his side There was no sound froroup of onlookers; it is not to be wondered at if they hesitated to offend Paul Lamar
”My dear boy,” said I, ”I h this may occupy your h?”
Harry looked at me His face was horribly pale and his eyes bloodshot; they could not meet mine
”For Heaven's sake, Paul, let me alone,” he said, hardly above a whisper ”I have lost ninety thousand”
In spite of myself I started No wonder he was pale! And yet--
”That's nothing,” I whispered back ”But you arelike a sailor See how your hand treet that you're a gentle at you Come”
”But I say I have lost ninety thousand dollars,” said the boy, and there ildness in his eye ”Let me alone, Paul”
”I will repay you”
”No Let me alone!”
”Harry!”
”I say no!”