The Washington times., 1906-03-04
Continued from Eighth Page)

Fifty cents; It has never been
worn"
drew out my wallet. I had ar
rived in town too late to go 10 the
bank, and I was carrying an uncom-
fortably large sum In gold-bilIs. AS
I opened the wallet to extract a small
bill, I saw the stranger eying me
quietly. Well, well, the dullest being
bTightens at the sight OF money and
its representatives I drew out
small bill and handed it to the proprie-
tor. He took it, together with the
mask, and sidled over to the cash
register The bell gave forth a muf-
fed sound not unlike that OF a fire.
bell in z snOWstOTm- As he was in
the act Of wrapping up my purchase,
I observed the silent customers ap-
proach. When he reached my side he
stopped and picked up something
from the floor. With a bow he pre-
sented it TO me
Il saw it drop from your pocket"
he said; and then when he saw what
it was. his jaw fell. and he sent me
= hot, penetrating glance.
The ten of hearts, he exclaimed
in amazement
laughed easily.
THE ten Of hearts, he repeated
Yes; four hearts on one side and
four on the other. and two in the
middle. which make ten III ALL
raiIlery in my tones. What the deuce
was the matter with everybody TO-
night? Marvellous card, isn't it?"
Very strange he murmured, pull
ing at his lips.
And in what way is it stranger
I asked, rather curious to learn the
cause of his agitation.
There are several reasons."-
briefly.
"Ah!"
u have seen a mans hand pinned 20
that card; therefore it is gruesome."
some card-snarper2"
He nodded. Then again, I lost a
small fortune because Of that card
dlfidently.
"POker?"
Yes Why viii man try to I'LL a
royal flush? The man next to me
drew the ten of hearts, the very card
I needed. The sight OF it always un-
nerves me. 1 beg your pardon"
"Oh, that's all right" said 1, Won
dering how many more lies he had up
his sleeve.
And there's still another reason.
] =
two central spots. and an hour later
the seventh bullet snuffed the candle
Of a friend of mine l am from the
West"
I can sympathize with you, 1 re-
turned After all that trouble the
sight of the card must have given
you a shock"
Then l slowed away the fatal card
and took up my bundle and change
I have In my own time tried to I'LL
royal f1ushes, and the disappointment
still fingers with 4 bitter taste.
THE element Of chance is the most
fascinating thing there is. the
stranger from the West volunteered.
so it is" I replied. suddenly re-
calling that I was soon to put my
trust in the hands of that very tickle
goddess.
He nodded and returned to his re-
voIvers, while 1 went out OF the shop,
hailed a cab, and drove uptown to
my apartments in Riverside. 1t was
o'clock by my watch. leaned back
against the cushions, Illuminating.
There seemed to be something going
on that night; the ten of hearts was
acquiring mystifying. not TO say sin
lister. aspect First it had alarmed
the girl in MouQuin's. and now this
stranger In the curio-shop. 1 was
confident that the latter had He'd ia
regard TO his explanation. The card
had startled him. but hiRreasons were
altogether Of transparent thinness. A
man never likes TO confess that he is
unlucby at cards; there is certain
pride in lying about the enormous
stakes YOU have won and the wonder
o. full draws you have made. 1 frowned
1t was not possible for me to figure
out what his interest in the card was.
If he was d Westerner, his buying