The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1906-09-21
Lavender
|CreightOn'S
Lovers II
BY OLIVIA B. STROHM
ss2 &.,,,El
Copyright, 1905, by Olivia B. strohm>


the woman is yours" He indicated
the winner by polite bow. Then
may | inquire the amount staked
against herr" he added.
A pause followed this abrupt ques-
ton.
The planter, whose courage grad
ually rose with his springing hope,
muttered: lone hundred dollars.
"One hundred dollars? A pitiful
sun. You gave frightful odds. But
of course you felt sure of winning,
Winslow added with suave sarcasm
Then turning to the captain, he pro-
ceeded: 1T appears, then, that the
woman is yours, but she is evidently
an unwilling prize. Does not this fact
considerably iessen her value? Sup
pose we play again. she the stake on
your side-this mine"
He drew q small sack from his pock-
ct, and laid it upon the table. NO
sound followed the clink of metal, Dut
a womans shuddering Sigh
Under gloomy brows her old master
stared at the new. The latter stood
for moment, frown OF baffied rage
distorting his sinister face.
she was fairly staked, and fairly
won" he declared THE odds are not
my business, and ID if I'm to be
bamboozled out of the profit of fair
camel"
But what profit is there in an I'M
willing slave? You might sell her, to
be sure but that would not be sports
manlike, and" here Winslow stepped
nearer with insinuatiEg clink OF
money: Come, you are no Shylock
to stick TO the letter of the bond;
come!" and he slowly counted out 500
which he slid to the table. The sack
he replaced i'll his pocket.
All eyes were upon the boatman as
his hungry glance sought the glittering
pile. All the lust of the cards was on
him. Winslow had counted upon this,
and upon the gamblers faith in sue
cess.
"Done!" cried the captain, and with
the scraping of chairs and a shuttle OF
cards, the game was on.
In breathless silence the spectators
huddled about the players-the one
frowning. his close-cropped head held
rigid in the thick, short neck, his eyes
cleaning like small Goals out of red
yeined face.
The other was paler than usual, but
placid, self contained.
The Spaniard looked on with an
amused, cynical smile. That this east
ern gallant, with the bow of Chester
field, and the air Of student, should
break a lance with SO hardy an op-
ponent, aroused feelings of admira-
ton and pity.
The woman crept nearer, her heart
in her eyes.
Two or three loungers strolled in,
and there was an interested ring
about the players.
Afewmore turns of the cards, and both
men pushed back their chairs - the
game was over!
she is yours, take her, and go 10
the DEVIL" roared the captain. Then,
hiding his rage and discontinue I'M
der a grim laugh, he strobe from the
room.
There was some excited talk, and
stiiled scream from the oceoroon.
her: II believe they call you mine.
since the cards have SO decreed, but
pardon me, if | decline the honor. 1t
would save me responsibility if you
would remain under the care of this
gentleman" and he waved his hand
toward the planter
Without a word, but with a world
of gratitude in her deep eyes, the wom-
an glided to her old masters side
He murmured half articulate
Thank you" to Winslow, and to-
gether they left the room.
well, you are a softie!"
What are you skeered off"
But Winslow was glad to escape the
jeering congratulations, and quickly
made his way out and up to the deck,
followed only by the Spaniard.
"This is MIR. Winslow, believer"
the latter said. MY name is Con-
zaga-"
After a few preliminary words, he
said, admiringly: you play well, sir,
for an American" adding. with
smile, Il think my countrynan must
have had glimpse of you revealed to
him when he wrote his story of Don
Quixote.'
Winslow laughed. You fatter me,
and yet in the matter Of ridicule. per-
haps | do share his honors."
The Spaniard did not reply to this.
and the two men smoked in silence.
At last Gonzaga spoke. You have
been knight-errant to fairer danes
than this octoroon-Is it not so?'
At this meaning tone Winslow
frowned; it was plain whittier the
question tended. He had observed
this strangers eyes following Laven-
der in bold admiration It was only
a matter Of time when, in the little
privacy afforded by the crowded boat.
he would have an opportunity to