Mower County transcript., 1907-09-11

his great clenched first with q crash
on the table, string of oaths bursting
unrestrained from his lips. Five.
Hampton, never stirring muscle, sat
there like 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. :s#
Gentlemen" said Hampton, grave
ly, his clear voice sounding like the
sudden peal of a bell, II can only thank
you for your courtesy in this matter.
and bid you all goodnight. However,
before go it may be of some interest
for me to say that I have played my
last game" -. a.
Somebody laughed sarcastically, a
harsh, hateful laugh. The speaker
whirled, took one step forward; there
was the flash of an extended arm,
dull crunch, and Red Slavin went
crashing backward against the wall.
AS he gazed up, dazed and bewildered,
from the floor, the. lights glimmered
along a blue-steel barrel. 4
Not a 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, if you feel particu-
larly hilarious tonight I'll give you
another chance. l said this was my
last game; I'll repeat it-this was my
last game! Now, damn you! if you
feel like it, taught" w.
He swept the circle of excited faces,
his eyes glowing like two diamonds,
his thin lips compressed into a single
straight line. ia
"Mr. 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, as he swept
over them a last defiant glance.
mot quite so humorous as it seemed
In ho ~ T h2
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 five minutes. I'll kill you in your
tracks, as would mad dog. You
stacked cards twice tonight, but the
last time beat you fairly at your own
game"
He 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 night
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
somewhat deeper smudge when the
rider swept rapidly past, horse and
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 new
life. AS she lay there thinking, her
eyes troubled but fearless, far away
on the sun-kissed uplands Hampton
was spurring forward his horse, al
ready beginning to exhibit signs Of
WEAKNESS.