Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-07-30

| the movement OF hand. Willis was
gasping. his whole body quivering;
Slavin was watching Hampton's hands
as n cat does a mouse, his thick lips
parted, HIS fingers twitching nervously.
| The latter smiled grimly. his motion
| deliberate. his eyes never wavering.
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
unrestraned from his lips. Five.
Hampton, never stirring muscle. sat
| there like Il 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
", his clear voice sounding like the
sudden peal Of bell, Il can only thank
you for your courtesy in this matter.
and bid you all goodnight However,
| before go 1t may be OF some interest
| for me to say that I have played my
last game"
Somebody laughed sarcastlcally. q
/ harsh, hateful laugh. The speaker
/ whirled, took one step forward; there
| was the fash of all extended arm,
dull crunch, and Red Slayin went
crashing backward against the wall
| AS he gazed up, dazed and bewildered
from the floor. the lights glimmeree
along bluesteel barrel.
| mot move, you red brute" and
Hampton spurned him contemptuously
with his heel. This Is no variety
| show. and your laughter was in poor
taste. However, II you feel particu'
! larly hilarious tonight III give you
another chance said this was my
last game; I'll repeat it-this was my
last game! Now, damn yod! II you
feel like II. taught"
He swept the circle of excited faces
| his eyes glowing like two diamonds
his thin lips compressed into single
| straight line.
MIR. Slavin appears to have lost his
| previous sense Of humor.' he re-
marked, calmly. II will now make my
statement for the third time--this was
my last game. Perhaps some OF you
| gentlemen also may discover this to
| be amusing"
The heavy, strained breathing OF the
| motionless crowd was his only answer
| and half smile of bitter contempt
curled Hampton's lips, AZ he swept
| over them a last defiant glance.
mot quite SO humorous as it seemed
to be at first. reckon" he commented
dryly. "Slavin," and he prodded the
red giant once more with his foot
I'm going out; If you make any at
| tempt to leave this room within the
next I'VE minutes I'll kill you In your
tracks. as l would a mad dog. You
stacked cards twice tonight, but the
| last time beat you fairly ut your own
| game"
Ha held aside the heavy curtains
| with his left hand and backed slowly
out facing them, the deadly revolver
shining ominously in the other. Not
| man moved Slavin glowered at him
from the floor, an impotent curse upon
his lips. Then the red drapery fell.
While the shadows OF the long nigh,
still hung over the valley, Nadia, toss
ing restlessly upon her strange bed
within the humble yellow house at the
fork OF the trails, was aroused to
wakefulness by the pounding Of a
| horses hoofs on the plank bridge
| spanning the creek. She drew aside
the curtain and looked out, shading
her eyes to see clearer through the
poor glass. All she perceived was q
somewhat deeper smudge when the
rlQer swept TdplQ1y past, AoiSe ouo
man shapeless shadow. Three hours
later she awoke again, this time to the
full glare OF day, and to the remem
brance that she was now facing a new
life. AS she lay there thinking, her
eyes troubled but fearless, far away
on the sun-kissed uplands Hampton
was squirting forward his horse, al
ready beginning to exhibit signs OF
| WEAKNESS.
CHAPTER X