The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1907-01-25
Copyright, 1905, by BObbs-Merril Col
CHAPTER li.-continued.

rived in town too late to go to the
bank, and j was carrying an uncom-
fortably large sum in gold-bills. AS
bill, / saw the stranger eying me
quietly. Well, well, the dullest being
brightens at the sight of money and
its representatives. | drew out a
small bill and handed it to the pro-
prietor. He tool it, together with
the mask, and sided over to the cash
register. The bell gave forth a muf-
fed sound, not unlike that of a fire
bell in a Snowstorm. AS he was
in the act of wrapping up my pur-
chase, [ observed the silent custom
er's approach. When he reached my
side, he stopped and picked up some
thing from the floor. With a bow,
he presented it to me.
Il saw it drop from your pocket"
he said; and then when he SAY what
it was, his jaw fell, and he sent me
a hot, penetrating glance.
The ten of hearts," he exclaimed,
in amaZement.
| laughed easily.
The ten of heartsl" he repeated.
Yes; -four hearts on one side and
four On the other, and two in the
middle, which make ten in ALL
.~raillery in my tones. What the deuce
was the matter with everybody to-
night? Marvellous card, isn't it?"
Very Strange!" he murmured, pull
ing at his lips.
And in what way is it stranger" l
asked, rather curious to learn the
cause of his agitation.
There are several reasons, brief
ly.
"Ah!"
Il have seen a mans hand pinned
to that card; therefore it is grew
some"
Some card sharper
He nodded. Then again, l lost a
small fortune because of tina CARD
~diffidently.
"Poker?"
Yes. Why will a man try to fill a
royal flush? The man next TO me
drew the ten or hearts, the very card
/ needed. The sight of it always I'M
ASl huS- L OSS SooA poiuoh-
"Oh, that's all right" said l, won
dering how many more lies he had up
his sleeve.
And there's still another reason. 1
saw a man put six bullets into the
two central spots, and an hour later
the seventh bullet snuffed the candle
of a friend of mine. l am from the
west"
Il can sympathize with you," l re-
turned. After all that trouble, the
sight of the card must have given you
a shock"
Then / slowed away the fatal card
and took up my bundle and change. 1
have in my own time tried to fill royal
Pushes, and the disappointment still
fingers with a bitter taste.
The element of chance is the most
fascinating thing there is" the
stranger from the west volunteered.
$50 it Is" l recalled, suddenly re-
calling that l was soon to put my trust
in the hands of that very tickle god
desS.
He nodded and returned to his revol-
vers, while l went out of the shop, |
hailed a cab. and drove up town to
my apartments in Riverside. 1t was
eight o'clock by my watch. LEANED
back against the cushions, Eliminating. |
There seemed to be something going
on that night; the ten of hearts was
acquiring a mystifying, not to say sin
lister aspect. First it had alarmed the |
girl in MouQuin's, and now this
stranger in the c~urio-shop. / was con-
ident that the latter had lied in re-
gard to his explanations. The caro-
had startled him, but his reasons were
altogether of transparent thinness. A
man new likes to confess that he is
unlucky at cards; there is a certain
pride in lying about the enormous !
stakes you have won and the wonder |
full draws you have made. L frowned.
1t was not possible for me to figure
out what his interest in the card was.
If he was a westerner, his buying a
pistol in a pawnshop was at once dis |
robed of its mystery; but the incon-
sistent elegance of his evening clothes |
doubled my suspicious. Bah, What
was the use of troubling myself with
this strangers affairs? He would never
cross my path again.
In reasonable time the cab drew I'D
in front of my apartments. l dressed,
donned M Capuchin's robe and took
a look at myself in the pier glass.
Then | u~nwrapped the package and
put on the mask. The whole made a
capital outfit and l was vastly pleased
with myself. This was going to be
such an adventure as one reads about |
in the ancient numbers of Black |
woods l slipped the robe and mask
into my suitcase and lighted my pipe.
During great moments like this, a
man gathers courage and confidence
from a pipeful of tobacco. l dropped
into a comfortable Morris, touched the