The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1903-10-04
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DUSTY jim PROVED
A GAMBLERS RULE
Prevented From Committing Suicide He
Promptly Became His Rescuer's
Hoodoo.
Hoodoo.


One night-it was a considerable
while before they began to call him
Dusty Jim-Mr. james Kent emerged
from the shadows of a spacious door
way of large, but not specially con-
spicuous, house that stood within
short distance of the Lake front in
Chicago. Pausing on the broad land
ing at the head of the steps of the
house, he looked around.
It was very late, and there was al
most absolute quiet. Even inside the
house, where he knew there were num-
bers of people awake-very much
awake-and actively engaged in differ
ent pursuits, there was no noise that
was audible where he stood.
The big moon, past the full, made
broad streak of cleaning silver on the
rippled surface of the Lake. The air
was balmy and pleasantly warm. 1t
hardly seemed like Chicago-it was so
peaceful
There was no satisfaction apparent in
Mr. James Kent's bearing as he per-
ceived all this. On the contrary, he
seemed so absorbed in his own
thoughts that what he observed made
little impression on him: yet he stood
for long time looking around.
Finally he sighed deeply and very
deliberately pulled a heavy revolver
from his pocket. Examining it care
fully to see if it was properly loaded
he cooked it and placed the muzzle
against his forehead.
~, g Nv
tended from behind him across mis-
shoulder, and his own wrist was seiz-
ed in a powerful grip. Before he could
pull the trigger, so quick was the In
reference, his own hand was twisted
upward so that his aim was destroyed.
Nor could he, though he tried desper-
ately for a moment, free himself from
the firm grasp that held him.
'What do you want to interfere for?"
he exclaimed, bitterly, but in curious
ly subdued tones.
'Well, for one thing, I don't like to
have people killing themselves on my
doorsteps," said the man who had in
terfered, and who still maintained his
hold on the others wrist. You know
as well as I do it would break up nv
business.
..All right" said James Kent,
promptly; ''let go of my hand and III
go down to the shore"
THAT would be heap sight better,
said the other, but even thatd be bad
enough. There's twenty men inside
that know you've been playing and
losing. 1 tell you, Kent, I don't like
it."
well, what are you going to dc
about it?''
81 don't rightly know said the big
man, doubtfully. II don't like the no.
ton of you using this gun at ALL
And as he said this he reached over
and took the weapon with his Olsen
gagged hand and put it in his own
nocket.
But" he continued, "they say it's
the worst kind of a hoodoo to stop Z
man from oashing in when he's ready
to do it. S'posin you come back in thu
house and talk this over" and he turn.
ed toward the door, still holding Ken
by the wrist.
Thereupon Kent cursed him volubly
for many kinds of fool, demanding t
be Informed why he should be expected
to discuss with any one a matter tina
was his own intimate personal con
Germ. And, more especially, he asked
why he should do it under duress. AND
he was very profane, but it was no
ticeable that he continued to speak, a.
both men had, from the first, in tina
subdued voice that is in vogue in mos
temples of chance.
To all this remonStrance the othe
man, known to the police of Chicago al
George McMurray, paid not the slight
est attention, but walked steadily bacl
Al, saI,
Inasmuch as he was the bigger AM
much the stronger of the two. and still
retained his hold of Kent's wrist, tn
latter had no choice but to accompan-
him.
The darky who opened the door wa
too well trained to show any surprise
and they met no one else as McMurra.
led the way to small room which h
reserved for his most private affairs
Closing the door of this. he release
Kent and motioned him to a chair.
The two sat down and looked at eac
other iptently for a few minutes
Presently McMurray spoke.
THE old story, L suppose" he saic
Kent nodded.
1.-THE last you could raise went acros
the board tonight, of course. Ho'
much was it?"
About four hundred"
Suppose I give you that back"
''It wouldn't do any good unless yo
let me play it in and 1 could win eigl
thousandi''
Hum! / couldn't hardly do that.
might give you back your stake, but ~
to play with here, and with your luz
lately you have as much show of WIZ
ming out as you had of stepping I'M
heaven ten minutes ago. Is your bus
ness gone?
Yes. unless I put eight thousand
the bank tomorrow mor-this morning
How about your family?"
Look here, McMurray, you're goir
too far. What the
I'm only trying to see if there's at
way out for YOU
We'll, there isn't. I have no famil
They know the whole business an
they've left me. I'm ruined absolute
ly and hopelessly.'
We'll, don't know. Ruin is ver
large word. Now, look here, Ken
I'm not going to give you back all II
money you've lost in my place.
No Oh NNll