Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1907-12-07

on observing the size of the rolls
rather ostentatiously exhibited by
them His satisfaction was In noways
lessened by the sound of their voices.
when incautiously raised in anger
over some unfortunate play He inn
mediately recognized them as the iden-
tical individuals who had loudly and
vainly protested over his occupancy of
the best rooms at the hotel He
chuckled grimly.
But what bothered him particularly
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. Knavery was Slavin's
style, but apparently he was now
playing straight game, no doubt real
izing clearly, behind his impassive
mask of a face, the utter futility of
seeking to outwit one of Hampton's
enviable reputation.
1t was, unquestionab1y, fairly
fought four-handed battle, and at last,
thoroughly convinced of this, Hamp-
ton settled quietly down. prepared to
play out his game. The stakes grew
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 reck1eSsness, never hesitat-
ing over a card, his eye as watchful az
that of hawk, his betting quick, con-
fdent, audacious. The contagion of
his spirit seemed to affect the others,
to force them into desperate wagers.
The perspiration was beading Slavin's
forehead. and now and then an oath
burst unrestrained from his hairy lips.
HAYES and Willis sat white-faced, bent
forward anxiously over the table, their
fingers shaking as they handled the
fatefu1 cards, but Hampton played
without perceptible tremor, 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 a1luring pile upon his por-
ton of the table. The Iookers-on who
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
to a finish. The opportunity came in
a Jackpot which HAYES had opened.
The betting began with cool thou
sand. Then Hampton's 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 cold, impressive. 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 showdown, his
eyes protruding. Slavin, cursing
fiercely under his red beard, having
drawn one card, his perplexed face in
stantly frightening as he glanced at
it, went back into his hip pocket for
every cent he had, and added his pro-
fame demand for a chance at the
money.
A fortune rested on the table, a for
tune the ownership of which was to
be decided in a single moment, and by
the movement of a hand. Willis was
gasping, his whole body quivering;
Slavin was watching Hampton's hands
as a cat does a mouse, his thick lips
parted, his fingers twitching nervously.
The latter smiled grim1y, his motion
deliberate, his eyes never wagering
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 snar1 like a
stricken wild beastt, 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 |
the stack of bills and coin, pushing the |
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 stood erect Willis never
moved, but Slavin rose unsteadily to
his feet, gripping the table fercely
with both hands
Gentlemen said Hampton, grave