Mower County transcript., 1907-09-11

if it chances to go above my pile III
drop out. Meanwhile, hardly believe
there is any cause for you to be mod
est on my account"
The play opened quietly and with
some restraint, the faces of the men
remaining impassive, their watchful
glances evidencing nothing either Of
success or failure. Hampton played
with extreme caution for some time,
his eyes studying keenly the others
about the table, seeking some deeper
understanding of the nature of his Op-
ponents, their strong and weak points,
and whether or not there existed any
prior arrangement between them. He
was there for purpose, clearly de-
fined purpose, and he, felt no inclina-
ton to accept unnecessary chances
with the tickle Goddess of Fortune. To
one trained in the calm observation of
small things, and long accustomed to
weigh his adversar&es with care, it was
not extremely difficult to class the two
strangers, and Hampton smiled softly
on observing the size of the rolls
rather Ostentatiously exhibited by
them. His satisfaction was in noways
lessened by the sound of their voices,
when incautiously raised in anger
over some unfortunate play. He i'm
mediately recognized them as the iden-
tical individuals who had loudly and
vainly protested over his occupancy Of
the best rooms at the hotel. He
chuckled grimly.
But what bothered him particularly
was Slavin. The cool, gray eyes, glanc-
ing with such apparent negligence
across the cards in his hands, noted
every slight movement of the red
tecting some sign of trickery, or some
evidence that he had been selected by
this precious trio for the purpose Of
easy plucking. Knavery was Slavin's
style, but apparently he was now
playing straight game, no doubt real
izing clearly, behind his impassive
mask of face the utter futility of
seeking to outwit one of Hampton's
enviable reputation.
1t was, unquestionably, fairly
fought four-handed battle, and at last,
thoroughly convinced of this, Hamp-
ton settled quietly down, prepared to
play out his game. The stakes grew
steadily larger. Several times drinks
were served, but Hampton contented
himself with gulp of water, always
gripping an unlighted cigar between
his teeth. He was playing now with
apparent recklessness, never hesitat-
ing over a card, his eye as watchful as
that of a hawk, his betting quick, con-
fident, audaciOus. The cOntagiOn of
his spirit seemed to affect the others,
to force them into desperate wagers.
The perspiration was beading Slavin's
forehead, and now and then an oath
burst unrestrained from his hairy lips.
Hawes and Willis sat white-faced, bent
forward anxiously over the table, their
fingers shaking as they handled the
fateful cards, but Hampton played
without perceptible tremor, his utter
ances few and monosyllabic, his calm
face betraying not the faintest emo
ton. =.
And he was steadily winning. Occa-
sionally some other hand drew in the
growing stock of gold and bank notes,
but not often enough to Offset those
continued gains that began to heap up
in such an alluring pile upon his por-
tion of the table. The lookers-on who
had come in began to observe this, and
gathered more closely about his chair,
fascinated by the luck with which the
cards came floating into his hands, the
cool judgment of his critical plays, the
reckless abandon with which he forced
success. Suddenly he forced the fight
to finish. The opportunity came In
a Jackpot which Hawes had opened.
The betting began with cool thou
sand. Then Hampton's turn came.
Without drawing, his cards yet lying
downward before him on the board,
his calm features as immovable as the
Sphinx, he quietly pushed his whole
accumulated pile to the center, named
the sum, and leaned back in his chair,
his eyes cold, impassive. Hawes
threw down his hand, wiping his
streaming face with his handkerchief;
Willis counted his remaining roll, hesi-
tated, looked again at the faces of his
cards. flung aside two, drawing to fill,
and called loudly for a shdw-d down, his
eyes !, protruding. Slavin, cursing
fercely under his red beard, having
drawn one card, his perplexed face in
stantly Frightening as he glanced at
it, went back into his hip pocket for
every cent he had, and added his pro-
fame demand for q chance at the
money. # .s .54 s.s
A fortune rested on the table, q for
tune the ownership of which was to
be decided In a single moment, and by
the movement of a hand. Willis was
gasping, his whole body quivering;
Slavin was watching Hampton's hands
as a cat does mouse, his thick lips
parted, his fingers twitching nervously.
The latter smiled grirnly hia r,ntinn