The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-02-10

hurtling toward the gambler.
The gambler pounded the table IN his
turn.
"Your words are actionable, sir. "
$50 am I, and, by''-
A hand was laid on the CAPTAINS
shoulder with restraining force-a slen-
der, refined hand, bloodless and icy
cold at that moment.
Easy, my good old friend, easy; I
am quite capable of fighting my own
battles.
A glance over his shoulder showed
the old man pallid young face, out of
which cleaned two feverishly bright
eyes. A smile of singular sweetness
met the captains troubled gaze.
cit is awfully good of you, Riley to
try to pull me out of this hole, but you
are too late I shall always be sorry,
however, that did not lose my planta-
ton to a gentleman.
Here, without even glancing in the
direction of the man who had ruined
him, Bellnap flung an envelope across
the table and assuming an air of in
difference which his white cheeks and
haggard eyes set at naught began gath
ering up the counters. The gambler care
fully scanned the contents of the en-
velope and got up from the table with
cruel smile on his sensuous lips. He
was quite ready now to leave the boat.
A longer eoyage in company with that
haggard young face before him would
not be agreeable The insults that Bel
KNAPP and the captain had heaped upon
him stirred him to coarse reprisals.
Taking a small silver whistle from his
pocket, he laid it upon the table within
reach Of the cold white hand his victim
had rested on it. Belknap stared at the
whistle and then at the man.
"Your receipt" said the gambler
"You have paid dear for the whistle. %
Belknap clinched his fist and made
step forward. Riley clasped his arms
about him in firm grip.
"The Red Wings got good name to
uphold, Regy. If you want to have it
out with him, I'll put you both out On
the bar. AS for you-you'-
The man had turned away, only too
glad of that intervening grip, and be-
fore the stage plank was drawn in he
crossed it with his gripsack in his hand
and ran nimbly up the sandy bank. In
his pocket he carried the acknowledge
ment of his ownership of one of the
finest old places in Apologize county.
Riley turned to the young man with
a gesture of evaporation.
ST say, Reggie, good Lord, boy, you
don't mean me to understand that you
actually put your place up for stakes?'
eyes"
The solitary word came with dry
rattle from the boys parched throat.
"Not Belhaven, old Tony's brag
place, where he took your mother as a
bride, where you and the rest of the
kids was born, where the old folks lays
buried side by side in the flower garden
behind the house?"
"Yes.''
"And it's gone? Lost to that black
whiskered scoundrel?"
"Lost, all lost, gone. F"
With his cold white hands still press
ed against the captains shoulder, as if
seeking physical support therefrom,
Belknap stood staring vacantly at the
painted bits Of pasteboard which had
held him in such hideous thrall for SO
many hours. 1t was almost impossible
now in the absence of the evil hooking
face of his adversary to understand the
frenzy that had held him spellbound,
preventing him from leaving the table
before he was ruined man. The bright |
September sunshine came straight |
through the open saloon doors and rested |
on the green baize of the card table. By |
it's searching light the whole thing
looked Disseminating and senseless. A |
few curious passengers, anxious to hear |
how the big game had ended, loitered |
near by. The captain glared at them
and drew Belknap's arm within his own.
"You better lay down, my boy.
You've been losing sleep now straight |
along for two nights. If I'd "a known it |
worn't gentleman's game you was
playing, I'd "a put my oar in long ago. F"
With imperative kindliness he led
the half dazed Belknap to the door of
his own stateroom, pushed him through |
it and said:
"You go lay down. I'll send you in
D cup Of strong coffee. After awhile
we'll talk this mess over quietly. Old
Tony Belknap's son shan't be fieeced on
this boat if Jim Riley can figure out any
plan for outwitting a scamp"
"Thank you, old friend, but the thing
cannot be mended." And, smiling wea-
rily into tine distressed, rugged face of
Old Peppercorn, Belknap closed the door
IF his stateroom and flung himself upon
his berth.
Twice the cabin boy, who had been
ordered to carry coffee to No. AZ, re-
turned with it, reporting the gentleman
asleep. The third time to the captain,
who was anxiously lowering near, he
said, ''Nobody in AZ"
"Nobody in there?'
"No, sir; IT,
"Hold your tongue if you value your
place on this boat
The captain scowled ominously and
nh shipO tho how aci1o 7na6a his own