Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1907-10-03
The Spoilers.
By REX E. BEACH.
IT. copyriaht. 1905. by REX E. beach.


/ eNhllaration OF the new. The mystery
of the north had touched them ALL The
glad, bright wine of adventure filed
their veins, and they spoke nightly OF
things they had resolved TO do or re.
counted with simple dlfiidence the
strange stories of their accomplish.
ment.
The Bronco Kid, familiar from Atln
TO Nome as the best "bank" dealer on
the Yukon, worked the shift from 8 till
.. He was slender man of thirty,
dexterous in movement. slow TO smile,
soft of voice and known as living
fame among women. lie had dealt
the biggest games of the early days
and had no enemies. Yet, though
many called him friend, they wondered
inwardly.
1t was n strong play the Kid had
tonight. for Swcde Sam of Dawson
ventured many stacks Of yellow chips,
and he was II quick, aggressive gam
bier A jew sat at the king end with
ten neatly creased $1,000 bills before
him, together with piles Of smaller cur
rency. He adventured viclously and
without system. while outsiders to the
number of four or five cut In sporadic
ally with small bets. The game was
difficult to follow, consequently the
lookout. from his raised dais, was lean
Ing forward. chin In hand, while the
group was hedSed about by eager on.
lockers
Faro is a closed book to most people,
for Its intrlcacies are confusing. Lucky
is he who has never persevered In solv-
Ing Its mysteries nor speculated upon
the systems" OF beating It. From
those who have learned 1t. the game de.
mands practice. dexterlty aud cool.
ness. The dealer must run the cards.
watch the many shifting bets, handle
the neatly piled checks, figure light.
ninglike the profits and losses. 1t was
his unerring, clocklike regularity In this
that had won the Kid his reputation.
This night his powers were taxed. He
dealt silently, scowlingly, his long white
fingers nervously carcsslng the cards.
This preoccupatlon prevented his no.
ticing the rustic and stir of new
conner who had crowded up behind him
until he caught the wondering glances
of those In front and saw that the
lsraelite was staring past him, his
| money forgotten. his eyes beady and
sharp. his ratlike teeth showing I'm a
1 grin of admiration. Swede sam glared
from under his unkempt shock and felt
uncertainty toward the open collar of
his flannel shirt where kerchIef
should have been. The men who were
standing gazed at the newcomer, some
with surprise, others with a half smile
of recognition.
Bronco glanced quickly over his
! shoulder, and as he did so the breath
caught In his throat, but for only an
instant. A girl stood so close beside
him that the lace of her gown brushed
his sleeve. He was shullling at the
moment and dropped card. then nod
ded TO her, speaking quietly as he
stopped to regain the pasteboard:
''Howdy, Cherry"
She did not answer, only continued
to look at the layout" what u
woman" he thought, She was not too
tall, with smoothly rounded bust and
hips and long waist, all well displayed
by her perfectly fitting garments. Her
face was oval, the mouth rather large,
the eyes Of dark, dark blue. prominent
ly outlined under thin, slkcn lids Her
dull gold hair was combed low over
the ears, and her smile showed row;
of sparkling teeth before II Owed into
twin dimples. Strangest Of all, II was
an innocent face, the face and smile OF
schoolgirl.
The Kid finished hts shutting awk-