The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1893-06-17
VOL. XXVIII.-NO. 33.

er's right hand were his winnings
thing like two hundred dollars. The stakes
were raised, and the game went rapidly on.
Another drink was taken. Then fortune
turned the strangers way, and he won
easily. 1t went back to Carringer, for he
was now playing with all the Judgment and
skill he could command. Once only did it
occur to him to wonder what he should do
with the money if he should quit winner;
but sense of honor decided him that it
belonged to the stranger.
BY this time the absinthe had so sharp
ened Carringer's faculties that the tempo
rary satisfaction which it had brought to
his hunger having passed, his physical suf-
fering returned with increased aggressive
ness. Could he not order supper with
his earnings? No; that was out of the
question. He continued to play, while the
manifestations of hunger took the form of
sharp pains, which darted through him
viciously, causing him to writhe and grind
his teeth. The stranger paid no attention,
for he was now wholly absorbed in the
game. He seemed puzzled and discon-
certed. He played with great care, study
ing each throw infinitely. No conversation
Eassed between them now. They drank
occasionally, the dice continued to rattle,
the money kept pilling up at Carringer's
hand
The pale man began to behave strangely.
At times he would start and throw back
his head, as though he were listening.
For moment his eyes would sharpen and
fash, and then sink into heaviness again.
More than once Carringer, who had now
begun to suspect that his antagonist was
some kind of unearthly monster, saw a
frightfully ghastly expression sweep over
his face, and his features would become
fixed for a very short time in peculiar
grimace. 1t was noticeable, however, that
he was steadily sinking deeper and deeper
into condition Of apathy. Occasionally
he would raise his eyes to Carringers face
after the young man had made an aston
ishingly lucky throw, and keep them fixed
there with a steadiness that made the young
man quail.
The stranger produced another roll of
bills when the secoud was gone, and this
had value many times as great as the
others together. The stakes were raised
to thousand dollars a game, and still Car
ringer won. At last the time came when
the stranger braced himself for final effort.
With speech somewhat thick, but very de
liberate and quiet, he said
"You have won seventy thousand
dollars, which is exactly the amount have
remaining. We have been playing for
several hours. l am tired, and suppose
you are. Let us finish the game, You
have seventy-four thousand dollars and no
more. | have an equal amount and not a
cent besides Each will now stake his all
and throw final game for it,
Without hesitation, Carringer agreed.
The bills made a considerable pile on the
table. Carringer threw, and the box held
but one combination that could possible beat
him; this combination might be thrown
once in ten thousand times. The starving
mans heart beat violently as the stranger
picked up the box with exasperating de-
liberation. 1t was long time before he
threw. He made his combination and
ended by defeating his opponent. He sat
looking at the dice long time, and then
he slowly leaned back in his chair, settled
himself comfortably, raised his eyes to
Carringer's, and fixed that unearthly stare
upon him. He said not word; his face
contained not trace Of emotion or intelli-
genoe. He simply looked. One cannot
keep ones eyes open very long without
winking, but the stranger did. He sat so
motionless that Carringer began to be tor
tured
''I will go now, " he said to the stranger.
said that when he had not cent and was
starving
The stranger made no reply, but did not
relax his gaze; and under that gaze the
young man shrank back in his own chair,
terrified He became aware that two men
were cautiously talking in an adjoining
booth. As there was deathly silencs in
his own, he listened, and this is what he
heard
'.Yes; he was seen to turn into this
street about three hours ago"
eAnd he had shaved ?"
"He must have done so; aud TO remove
full beard would naturally make great
change in man.
"But it may not have been he
"True enough; but his extreme pallor
attracted attention. You know he has been
seriously troubled with heart-disease lately,
and it has affected him seriously"
"Yes; but his old skill remains. Why,
this is the most daring bank robbery we
ever had there. A hundred and forty
eight thousand dollars think of ii ! How
long has it been since he was let out of
Joliet ?"
Eight years. In that time he has
grown beard, and lived by dice-throwing
with men who thought they could detect
him if he should swindle them; but that is
impossible. No human being can come
winner out of a game with him.
Then the two men clinked glasses and