The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1907-10-03


was Slavin. The cool, gray eyes, glanc-
ing with such apparent negligence
across the cards in his hands. noted
( every slight movement of the red
! bearded gambler, in expectation of de-
! tecting some sign Of trickery. or some
/ evidence that he had been selected by
/ this precious trio for the purpose Of
/ easy plucking. hnavery was Slavins
/ style, but apparently he was now
/ playing straight game. no doubt real
| izing clearly, behind his impassiTe
| mask of a face, the utter fIltility of
! seeking to outwit one of Hampton
| enviable reputation.
It was, unQuestionably, a fairly
| fought four-handed battle, and at las1,
| thoroughly convinced of this. Hamp-
! ton settled quietly down, prepared to
play out his game. The stakes grew
I steadily larger Several times drinks
( were served. but Hampton contented
| himself with gulp of water, always
| gripping an unlighted cigar between
his teeth. He was playing now with
| apparent recklessness, never hesitat-
AA4to iva u OtiAA NE Cyt dS GlGi4tUl DIS
| that Of hawk, his betting quick, con
, fident, audacious. The contGgion of
| his spirit seemed to affect the others,
| to force them into desperate wagers.
| The perspiration was beading Slavins
| forehead. and now and then an oath
burst unrestrained from his hairy lips
/ Halves and Willis sat white-faced. bent
fingers shaking as they handled the
fateful cards, but Hampton played
without perceptible t7emor. his utter
ances few and monosyllabic, his calm
( face betraying not the faintest emo
ton.
/ And he was steadily winning Occa-
sionally some other hand drew In the
! growing stock of gold and bank notes,
| but not often enough to Offset those
continued gains that began to heap up
| in such an alluring pile upon his por-
! ton OF the table. The lookers-on who
I had come IN began to observe this. and
/ gathered more closely about his chair
! fascinated by the luck with which the
/ cards came floating into his hands, the
/ cool Judgment Of his critical plays. the
/ reckless abandon with which he forced
success. Suddenly he forced the fight
( 10 finish. 70 The opportunity came In
o Jackpot which HAYES had opened
The betting began with a cool thou
/ sand. Then Hamptons turn came.
( Without drawing, his cards yet lying
/ downward before him on the board.
his calm features as immovable as the
/ Sphinx, he quietly pushed his whole
. accumulated pile TO the center, named
the sum, and leaned back In his chair,
his eyes colo, impassive, Halves
threw down his hand, wiping his
! streaming face with his handkerchief:
Willis counted his remaining roll, hest
tated, looked again at the faces of his
! cards, flung aside two drawing to fill,
and called loudly for a showdown. his
. eyes protruding. Slavin, cursing
fercely under his red beard, having
drawn one card, his perplexed face in
stantly Frightening as he glanced at
II, went back into his hip pocket for
/ every cent he had. and added his pro-
( fame demand for q chance at the
money
fortune rested on the table, a for.
+ tune the ownership of which was to
be decided In q single moment, and by
/ the movement of a hand. Willis was
gasping, his whole body Qulvering;
Slavin was watching Eampton's hands
as cat does mouse, his thick lips
parted, his fingers twttching nervously
/ The latter smiled grimly, his motion
/ deliberate, his eyes never wavering
I Slowly, one by one, he turned up his
cards, never even deigning to glance
downward, his entire manner that of
unstudied Indifference. One-two-
three. Willis uttered snarl like a
| stricken wild BEAST, and sank back in
his chair, his eyes closed. his cheeks
| CHASTITY. Four. Slavin brought down
his great clenched first with crash
on the table. a string of oaths bursting
unrestrained from his lips Five
Hampton. never stirring a muscle, sat
there like a statue, watching His
right hand kept hidden beneath the
table, with his left he quietly drew in
INC oteANh VI OAAAo anu NOAA4s puSAAAlb luG
stuff heedlessly into the side pocket Of
his coat, his gaze never once wander.
ing from those stricken faces fronting
him. Then he softly pushed back his
chair and stoSd erect. Willis never
moved, but Slavin rose unsteadily to
his feet, gripping the table flercely
with both hands.
Gentlemen" said Hampton, grave
ly, his clear voice sounding like the
sudden peal of bell. II can only thank
you for your courtesy in this matter.
and bid you ell goodnight However,
before go It may be Of some interest
for me TO say that have played my
last game"
Somebody laughed sarcastically, a
harsh, hateful laugh The speaker
whirled, took one step forward; there
was the fash OF an extended arm, a
dull crunch. and Red Slavin went
crashing backward against the wall.
AS he gazed up, dazed and bewildered,
from the floor. the lights glimmered
along a blue-steel barrel.
IAk