outburst of emotion.

"And you will never again allow yourself to become so downcast that
you will seek to destroy yourself?"

"Never!"

"I am satisfied," Dave said gravely. "You are a man of honor, and
therefore are incapable of breaking your word. Your hand!"

Their hands met in ardent clasp. Then Darrin took out his card case,
tendering his card to the stranger.

Instantly the young man produced his own card case, and extended a bit
of pasteboard, murmuring:

"I am M. le Comte de Surigny, of Lyons, France."

It was too dark to read the cards there, but Dave gave his own name,
and again the young men shook hands.

"But I am forgetting my comrade," Dave cried suddenly. "He was to
return in a few minutes, and will not know where to find me."

"And I have detained you, with my own wretched affairs!" cried the
young count reproachfully. "I must not trespass upon your time another
second."

"Why not walk along with me and meet my friend?" Dave suggested.

"With pleasure."

Dave and the young French count stepped along briskly until they came
to the spot where Dalzell had left his chum. Two or three minutes
later Dan hove into sight.

Dan and the Count of Surigny were introduced, and some chat followed.
Then the Count frankly told of the service that Darrin had just
rendered him.

"That is Dave!" glowed Dan. "He's always around in time to be of use
to some one."

In the distance a shot rang out--only one. The Count of Surigny
shuddered.

"You understand, do you not?" he asked.

"I am afraid so," Dave sadly responded.

As they stood there four men with a litter hurried past toward the
place whence the sound of the shot had come.

"The police of Monte Carlo," murmured the Count of Surigny.

Presently, at a distance, the three onlookers beheld the four men and
the litter moving stealthily along, but not toward the Casino. The
litter was occupied by a still form over which a cover had been
thrown.

"You have shown me the way of true courage!" murmured the Count of
Surigny, laying an affectionate hand on Ensign Darrin's shoulder.

The chums and their new acquaintance strolled along for a few moments.
Then the Count suddenly exclaimed:

"But I am intruding, and must leave you."

"You surely are not intruding," Dave told him. "We are delighted with
your company."

"Wholly so," Dan added.

But the Count felt himself to be an interloper, and so insisted on
shaking hands again and taking his depar