Produced by Charles Bowen, from page images provided by Google Books Transcriber's Notes: 1. Page scan source: http://books.google.com/books?id=jMsgAAAAMAAJ LOADED DICE [Illustration: Frontispiece] LOADED DICE BY ELLERY H. CLARK WITH ILLUSTRATIONS BY F. GRAHAM COOTES INDIANAPOLIS THE BOBBS-MERRILL COMPANY PUBLISHERS Copyright 1909 The Bobbs-Merrill Company * * * March PRESS OF BRAUNWORTH & CO. BOOKBINDERS AND PRINTERS BROOKLYN, N.Y. TO MY FATHER CONTENTS PART I. THE FOOTHOLD CHAPTER I A Game of Bridge at the Federal. II A Little Dinner at the Albemarle. III The Flatfoot. IV The Essex Handicap. V The Trap is Baited. VI Country Cousins. VII The Trap is Sprung. VIII Gordon Prevents a Scandal. IX Palmer Has a Visitor. X The Crisis. XI In the Firelight. XII The Final Obstacle. PART II. THE GAME I An Ambition is Attained. II The Ethel Claim. III The Return of Mr. Frost. IV Gordon Plays to the Gallery. V A Question of Finance. VI The Spinning of the Web. VII A Double Blow. VIII The Case for the Prosecution. IX The Public Eye. X Ethel Mason Decides. XI The Launching of the Konahassett. XII Gordon Listens to Good Advice. XIII In the Track of the Storm. XIV Gordon Engages a Political Lieutenant. XV The Voice of the People. PART III. THE RECKONING I The Hazard of the Die. II The Hand of Man. III The Hand of God. LOADED DICE PART I THE FOOTHOLD LOADED DICE CHAPTER I A GAME OF BRIDGE AT THE FEDERAL Half-way up the slope of the tall hill, beyond the park, looking far out over the city to where, in the distance, the broad blue waters of the bay sparkle and gleam in the sunshine, stands the Federal Club.