The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-08-17

1
chips and the fateful box before the
dealer; the money-drawer Of the table
| pulled far out, disclosing the shining
twenties, and Jose Casadra keeping
cases." betting heavily and losing
But he was too old n gambler to be-
tray by an expression which way the
weathervane of fortune pointed, and
| when he had lost three heavy bets In
| succession not a muscle of his face
changed as he calmly put a large stake
on the ace to win and "coppered" the
king for an equal amount. A hand
reached over the fringe of the crowd
and placed a modest number of chips
on the same cards. The ace won
the king lost. Like all Of his supersti-
tious fraternity, he was quick to notice
the slightest incident connected with a
| change of luck, and now waited for
the hand before making his next ven
ture. Again it came over the heads
of the crowd, and this time played a
combination of the five, six, seven,
eight and nine to win, and the queen
and jack to lose. Instantly Jose had
5000 on the same bets. once more he
was successful. When 1t came to call
"the turn" the party behind him bet
"trey-deuce." Jose did the same. The
trey and deuce came out In the order
named Then he cashed in his chips,
a winner, and, getting up from the
table, pushed through the crowd to see
who it was he had so luckily followed.
The man was in a distant corner of
the room by himself. Jose's dark face
became suddenly livid, for he found
himself looking into the eyes of Jim
Sanders. The eyes We're i'm the head
Of a tall, heavily built and smooth
faced man.
''Who-are-you?" weakly gasped
Jose backing away.
"Who am y" replied the other in
Jocuar way, although his eyes belied
it. who am |? Why, don't you
know me?"
"Not-not-Jim?" came Jose's hoarse
whisper. as he gazed in incrcdulous
fright. But the blood was slowly COM
ing back into his face. The voice was
different. if the eyes were not.
No, I'm Tom--Jim's brother. Jims
dead We know"
Yes, I-I-know, but your eyes?
Damn you! Where'd you get those
eyes?" The other advanced a step
MY God! It is JIM" he almost
screamed as he cringed in abject ter
ror against the wall.
Say. what kind of a Teller are ye
anyhow. to be so skeart about a fell
ler's brother? Spose ! hev got Jim's
eyes? Amt they good enough? Jim
he'd little the best o. me-he was II
half-hour older. I jest KEN from Vir-
ginny. Everybody thought Jim left
stake. but he didn't poor feller-
leastways, none thai could find. How
: long since you been thar"
: Some Of Jose's confidence was return
= ing He muttared an unintelligible re-
l ! ply.
How much money you got?"
The colossal impudence Of the ques-
> tion would have astounded any strang-
er. Jose looked augrily amazed. He
= started to reply with an oath, when
t suddenly his face changed.
"Don't look at me like that" he
whined.
q How much money you got?" repeat
ed the big man. calmly but remorse-
. lessly.
/, lose struggled with himself to keer
a silent: but the cold deliberate and
Judging eyes compelled him to speak
n and tell the truth.
= thousand-dolars.' he fall
o tered barely above a whisper.
n so you've got four thousand dollars
n move" echoed the other, in tones ol
= great satisfaction
n Abject fright again swept into Jose's
y face. Four thousand Why, that was
v exactly the amount he
:. The thought was not even finished In
d his mind. He saw that the eyes read
q guilt in his own. BY an almost super
$ human effort he broke the hypnotic
g spell of the dreadful gaze and looked
= hurriedly about him for help. He
tried to cry out, but his throat was
dry Then his hand shifted nervously
q behind him for his revolver
d None o. that! None o. that" cried
n his captor warningly. I've got my
q eyes on ye. and I've got good eyes
. Jim's eyes, you call EN- Jim's dead
{ but I've got his eyes in my head and
$ I kin see with 'em, too. l kin see
G you're guilty-guilty of stealing four
r, thousand O. Jim's good money. l wan
that four thousand We got"
i Jose, blanched and terror-strlcken
= made o gesture of denial.
# mo use o. denying it," resumed his
y Nemesis, codly and sternly, "for
= warn't in Virginny for nothin'. | yeart
Is o. you thar / was in the drift as wei
: as yourself Ye left wide-open trail
e Ye don't think l been follerin' we fOl
: nOthin', do ye Ye don't think I've
!, been keeping my eyes-Jim's eyes-or
= We to let We git away from me now
n Come outside and give me that money
u Come on, nOw!"
V With his face toward Jose he opened
'e the door and stalked out. And Jose
p powerless to resist. followed him int
" the niPht
d Richardson, the mine superintendent
e and Thompson, the San Francisco
stock broker, sat talking over thei
coffee and cigars in Virgina's best res
- taurant
y you say he saw the whole thing?'
' Yes"
e well, it certainly is a remarkable
= story. When did he return?"
Yesterday, l believe"
" "Of whom are you speaking, Rich
ardson?" some one asked from an ad
)" joining table
y, why Jim Sanders, that fellow whc
~ went into a trance three or fOu
months ago and narrowly escaped
; being buried alive,-Argonaut