West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1907-12-05
It's place frownea the king Of clubs. At

its place frowned the king OF clubs. At
last the silence was broken.
Men spoke: some laughed, but I'm
their laughter was no mirth IT was
more like the sound OF choking. They
stamped their feet TO relieve the grip
OF strained muscles. The dealer reach
ed forth and slid the stack OF bills into
the drawer mt his waist without count
Ing. The case keeper passed a shaking
hand over her face. and when It came
away she saw blood on her fingers
where she had sunk her teeth into her
lower lip. Glenister did not rise. He
sat, heavy browed and sullen, his Jaw
thrust forward. his hair low upon his
forehead, his eyes bioodshot and dead.
I'm sit the hand out IL you'll let me
bet the finger" said he.
Certainly" replied the dealer.
When a man requests this privilege,
It means that he will call the amount
OF his wager without producing the
visible stakes, and the dealer may ac-
cept or refuse according to his judg-
is safe. for, no man shirks n gambling
debt In the north. and thousands may
go with nod of the head though never
a cent DO on the board.
There were still few cards In the
box. and the dealer turned them, pay
Ing the three men who played. Glen
lister took no part, but sat bulked over
his end Of the table. glowering from
beneath his shock Of hair.
Cherry was deathly tired. The strain
OF the last hour had been so intense
that she could barely sit I'm her seat,
yet she was determined to finish the
hand. AS Bronco paused before the
last turn many OF the bystanders made
bets. They were tho "case players
who rfsked money only on the final
pair. thus avoiding the chance of two
cards OF like denomination coming to-
gether, in which event c'splits" It is
called the dealer takes half the mon
ey. The stakes were laid at last and
the deal about to start when Glenister
spoke. "Waitl What's this place
worth, Bronco7"
"What do you meanT
"You own this outftT lie waved
his hand about the room. "WelI. what
does 1t stand your
The gambler hesitated an Instant,
while the crowd pricked up fits ears.
and the girl turned wondering trou-
bled eyes upon the miner. What would
| he do now?
Counting bank rolls, fixtures and
all, about $4,000 WhyT
"1'll pick the ace TO lose. my one half
interest In the Midas against your
whole layout"
There was an absolute hush while
the realization of this offer smote the
| onlookers. 1t took time to realize It.
This man was insane. There were
three cards to choose from-one would
win, one would lose, and one would
have no action.
or all those present only Cherry Ma,
lotte OWNED even vaguely the real rea
son which prompted the man to dc
this. 1t was not "gameness" nor alto
gether british stubbornness which
would not let him quit. 1t was some
! thing deeper. He was desolate and
his heart was gone. Helen was lost Ia
| him-worse yet, was unworthy-an.
she was oil he cared for What did !
want OF the Midas, with its lawsuits
Its intrlgues and Its trickery? He was
sick OF It all, OF the whole game. and
wanted to get away. If he won. very
well. If he lost, the land Of the aurora
would know him no more.
When he put his proposition the
Bronco Kid dropped bis eyes az though
debating. The girl saw that ne etu
| ARGUS ADVRRTISINC PAWS