The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1907-08-27


bewitched. He was like a drunken
man, now as truly intoxicated as
though the fumes Of wine had be
fogged his brain. He swayed in his |
seat, the veins Of his neck thickened |
and throbbed, his features were con- |
gested.~ After awhile he spoke.
"I want bigger limit Is this some
boys game? Throw her open"
The gambler shot a triumphant
glance at the girl and acquiesced. "All
right, the limit is the blue sky. Pile
your checks TO the roof pole" lie be-
gan to shuttle.
Within the crowded circle the air
was hot and fetid with the breath Of
men. The sweat trickled down Glen
listers brown skin, dripping from bis
Jaw unnoticed. He arose and ripped
Off his coat, while those standing be-
hind shifted and scuffed their feet I'M
patiently. Besides Roy, there We're but
three men playing. They were the
ones who had won heaviest at first.
Now that luck was against them they
were loath to quit.
breathing at her shoulder, and glanced
back to find the little man who had
been so excited earlier in the evening.
His mouth was agape, his eyes wide,
the muscles about his lips twitching.
He had lost back, long since, the hun
dreds he had won and more besides.
She searched the figures walling her
about and saw no women. They had
been crowded out long since. It
seemed as though the table formed the
bottom of a sloping pit Of human faces
eager, tense, staring. 1t was we'll
she was here, she thought, else this
task might fail. She would help to
blast Glenister, desolate him, humiliate
him. All, but wouldn't she
Roy bet 500 on the popular card.
On the third turn he lost. He bet 5000
next and lost. He set out a stack of
$500 and lost for the third time. For
tune had turned her face. He ground
his teeth and doubled until the stakes
grew enormous, while the dealer dealt
monotonously. The spots flashed and
disappeared, taking with them wager
scious of a raging, red fury which he
had hard shift to master. It was not
his money-what IL he did lose? He
would stay until he won. He would
win. This luck would not, could not,
last-and yet with diabolic persistence
he continued to choose the losing cards.
The other men Jared better till he
yielded to their judgment, when the
dealer took their money also.
Strange to say. the tickle goddess had
really shifted her banner at last and
the Bronco Kid was dealing straight
faro now. He was too good a player
to force a winning hand, and Clients
ter's Ill fortune became as phenomenal
as his winning had been. The girl who
figured in this drama was keyed to the
highest tension, her eyes now on her
counters, now searching the profile of
her victim. Glenister continued to lose
and lose and lose, while the girl gloat-
ed over his swift coming ruin. When
at long intervals he won a bet, she
shrnnk and shivered for fear he might
escape. If only he would risk It all
y
! come to her then!
| The end was closer than she realized.
| The throng hung breathless upon each
! move OF the players, while there was no
sound but the noise Of shifting chips
and the distant jangle Of the orchestra.
| The lookout sat far forward upon his
I perch, his hands upon his knees, his
eyes frozen to the board, dead cigar
| clinched between his teeth. Crowded
upon his platform were miners tense
and motionless as statues. When Il
man spoke or coughed, a score Of eyes
stared at him accusingly, then dropped
| to the table again.
| Glenister took from his clothes a bun
die OF banknotes so thick that it re-
qulred his two hands to compass it.
! Onlookers saw that the bills were
| mainly yellow. No one spoke while he
counted them rapidly, glanced at the
dealer, who nodded, then slid them
forward till they rested on the king
| He placed a copper on the pile A
great sigh Of indrawn breaths swept
| through the crowd The north had
| never known a bet like this-it meant
a fortune. Here was q tale for ones
| grandchildren-that a man should win
! opulence in an evening. then lose 1t IL
| one deal. This final bet represented
more than many OF them had ever
seen at one time before. It's fate lay
on single card.
Cherry Malotte's fingers were like Ice
and shook till the buttons of her case
keeper ratified. her heart raced till SHE
could not breathe. while something ross
up and choked her. If Glenister woI
| this bet, he would quit. She felt it. Il
he lost, ali! what could the Kid there
feel, the man who was playing for {
paltry vengeance. compared TO bel
whose hope OF happiness, Of love, o.
life hinged on this wager?
(To be Continu sd.l