West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1907-12-05

sec.
did you get inT'
"Now. don't you know that I never
play anything but bank? IL he lasts
long enough to reach the faro layout,
I'll get mine"
The excitement OF the crowd began
TO infect the girl, even though she
looked on from the outside. The ex-
ultant voices, the sudden hush, the
tensity OF nerve II all betokened, set
her athrill A stranger left the throng
and rushed TO the spot where Cherry
and Mexico stood talking. He was
small and sandy. with shifting glance
and chlnless jaw. His eyes gllttered,
his teeth shone ratllke through his dry
lips. and his voice was shrill. He
darted toward them like some furtive.
frightened little animal, unnaturally
excited.
81 guess that isn't so bad for three
betsw He shook sheaf of banknotes
ut them.
"Why don't you stick?' inquired Null
Inns.
II am too wise. Tia! I know when
to quit. He can't win steady-he don't
play any system"
'"Then he has good chance" said
the girl.
There he goes now" the little man
cried as the uproar arose 81 told you
he'd lose" At the voice OF the multi
tude he wavered as though affected by
some powerful magnet.
But he won again." said Mexico
mo! Did he2 Lordl 1 quit too
soonp'
He scampered back into the other
room, only to return. hesitatlng, his
money tightly clutched.
DO you s'pose It's safe? never
saw man bet so reckless. I guess
I'd better quit, chi" He noted the sheer
on the woman's face, and without wait
Ing n reply dashed or again They
saw him clamorously fight his way in
toward n post Mt the roulette table
let me through I've got money, and
want to play itr'
Pail! said Mullins disgustedly.
Hes one Of them Vermont despera-
does that never laid n bet till he was
thirty. If Glenister loses he'll hate
him for life"
There are plenty OF his sort here"
the girl remarked. His soul would fit
In flea track" She spled the Bronco
Kid sauntering back toward her and
joined him. He leaned against the
wall, watching the gossamer thread OF
smoke twist upward from his olga
rette, seemingly Obvious to the sur.
roundings and showing no hint OF the
emotion he had displayed two hours
before.
This is a big killing, isn't itY' said
the girl.
The gambler nodded. murmuring in
differently.
why aren't you dealing bank? Isn't
this your shiftf'
81 quit last night"
Just in time TO miss this affair.
Lucky for you"
Yes; own the place now. Bought
1t yesterday"
Good heavensl Then It's your mon
ey he's winningp
Sure, at the rate of thousand a
minute"
She glanced at the long trail of dev-
astated tables behind Glenlster and
Ai' AOiAOhtAS. AZ lllhl lIlSINUL the
sound told that the miner had won
again, and II dawned upon Cherry that
the gambler beside her stood too quiet
IS. that his hand and voice were too
steady. his glance too cold TO be nat
ural. The next moment approved her
instinct.
The musicians, grown tired of their
endeavors to lure back the dancers.
determined to join the excitement and
ceased playing. The leader laid down
his violin, the pianist trailed up the key
board with a departing twitter and
quit his stool. They all crossed the
hall, headed for the crowd, some OF
them making ready 20 bet. AS they
approached the Bronco Kid. his lips
thinned and slid apart slightly, while
out OF his heavy lidded eyes there far
ed unreasoning rage. Stepping for
ward, he seized the foremost man and
spun him about violently.
Where are you goingT'
Why. nobody wants TO dance. so
we thought we'd go out front for a
bit"
Get back. all OF your II was his
first chance to vent the passion within
him. A glance at his maddened fea-
lures was sufficient Tor tho musicians,
and they did not delay. BY the time
they had resumed their duties. hovev-
or, the curtains Of composure had
closed upon the Kid, masking-hls emo
ton again. but from her brief glimpse
Cherry Malotte knew that this man
was not Of fee, as some supposed. lie
turned 10 her and said. do you mean
what you said upstalrsT'
II don't understand"
"You said you could XIII Glenister"
81 could"
Don't you love-
Il hate him" she Interrupted honrse.
-. lie gave her n mlrthly smile and
spying the crap dealer leaving his
bankrupt table. called him over and
said.
Toby 7 want sou 70 drive Tho
hearse when Gieulster begins 10 play
faro. I'D deal UnderstauIW
Sure. Going to give him q little
work ebT
II never dealt q crooked card ia this
camp" exclaimed tho Kid. "but I'll
pay ihdL man tDHlght or lI BOD BIN.
III use q 'saudteli' seer And / want
70 explain my signals 20 you II you
miss the SKINS y0uIl queer u8 both and
put The house on the blink"
He rapidly rehe1rseC rls signals i1 n
jargon which 20 q layman would have
seen unintelIiglblo illustrating them
by certain almost impercepuble shift
ings ~ the fingers or changes in the
position 81 his hand 80 slight ae 20
thwort discovery Through 70 all the
girl stood ~ and followed bis every
word and motion with eager attention.
She needed no explanation Of tho terms
they used. She knew them all knew
that the 'hearse driver" was tho man