The Red Cloud chief., 1907-12-20
The Spoilers.
By REX E. BEACH.
=. copyrisht. 1905 by rex E. Beach. -

By e E. BEACH.


caused her TO start, listen, then drop
her p~reoccupation like a mantle. a
man was speaking Of Glenister. Elk
citement thrilled his voice.
81 never saw anything like 1t since
McMaster's night in Virginia City,
thirteen years ago. Hes right"
"Well, perhaps So" the other replied
doubtfully. but I don't care TO back
you. | never 'staked' a man in my
life
"rhen lend me the money. I'll pay
1t back in an hour, but for heavens
sake be quick. | tell you he's as
right as u golden guinea. It's the lucky
night of his life. Why, he turned over
the black Jack game in four bets. In
fifteen minutes more we can't get close
enough to a table TO send in our money
with n messenger boy-every sport In
camp will be here"
"Ill stake you TO fifty" the second
nan replied, in a tone that showed u
trace of his companions excitement.
So Glenlster was gambling, the girl
learned, and with such luck as to break
the black jack game and excite the
greed of every gambler in camp. News
of his winnings had gone out into the
street, and the sporting men were COM
ing to share his fortune, to fattcn like
vulturcS on the adversely of their fell
lows. Those who had no money to
stake were borrowing, like the man
next door.
She left her retreat and, descending
the stairs, was greeted by n strange
sight. The dance hall was empty of
all but the musicians. who blew and
fiddled Justify In vain endeavor to draw
from the rapidly swelling crowd that
throngcd the gambling room and
stretched to the door. The press was
thickest about a table midway down
the hall. Cherry could see nothing of
what went on there. for ire and wo-
men stood ten deep about it and 9th
ers perched on chairs and tables along
the walls. A roar arose suddenly. fol.
lowed by utter silence: then came the
clink and rattle of silver. A moment
and the crowd resumed its laughter
and talk.
"All down, boys sounded the level
voice Of the dealer. THE field or the
favoritc. He's made eighteen straight
passes. Get your money on the line"
There ensued another breathless In
slant wherein she heard the thud of
dice: then followed the shout Of tri-
umph that told what the spots reveal
ed. The dealer paid off. Glenister
reared himself head and shoulders
above the others and pushed out
through the ring to the roulette wheel.
The rest followed. Behind the circu-
lar table they had quilted, the dealer
was putting away his dice, and there
was not q coin in his rack. Mexico
Mullins approached Cherry, and she
questioned him.
"Iie just broke the crap game" Null
Inns told her. nineteen passes without
losing the bones"
How much did he winT"
"Oh. he didn't win much himself
but it's the people betting with hin
that does the damage! They're gam
blers, most of them. and they play thu
limit. He took out the black jack banl
roll first, $1,000. then cleaned the Tub.
BY that time the tin horns began t.
come In. It's the greatest run I eve
see.'
Did you get in"
"NOw, don't you know that I neve
play anything but bank? II he last
!. long enough to reach the faro layout
!, III get mine"
, The excitement Of the crowd begal
70 infect the girl, even though sh
, looked on from the outside. The eS
ultant voices, the sudden hush, tn
tensity Of nerve it all betokened. Sc
her a-thrill. A stranger left the thronI
, and rushed to the spot where Cherr,
+. and Mexico stood talking. He wa
r small and sandy, with shifting glanc
, and chinless jaw. His eyes glittereC
his teeth shone ratlike through his DIR
7 lips, and his voice was shrlll. III
darted toward them like some furtiv,
frightened little animal. unnatural
excited.
q 81 guess that isn't so bad for thre
= bets!" He shook a sheaf Of banknote
at them.
= "Why don't you stick?" inquired Mu
Inns.
> 81 am too wise. TIA! know whe
n to quit. He can't win steady-he don
h play any system"
"Then he has a good chance" saI
the girl.
There he goes now" the little ma
n cried as the uproar arose. II told yc
A. he'd lose" At the voice Of the null
70 tude he wavered as though affected |
10 some powerful magnet.
20 "But he won again." said Mexico.
ID "No! Did he? Lord! I quit t
soon!'
= Ha scamnared hock into tho 9TH