Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1907-10-31

S4OO md lost for the third time. For
tune had turned her face. He ground
his teeth and doubled until the stakes
grew enormous, while the dealer dealt
monotonously. The spots flashed and
disappeared, taking with them wager
after wager. Glenistcr became con-
scious of raging, red fury which he
had hard shift to master. It was not
his moncy-what II he did lose? He
would stay until he won. He would
win. This luck would not, could not,
last-and yet with dlabolic persistence
he continued to choose the losing cards.
The other men Jared better TIL he
yielded to their judgment, when the
dealer took their money also.
Strange to say, the tickle goddess had
really shifted her banner at last, and
the Bronco Kid was dealing straight
faro now. He was too good player
to force a winning hand, and Clients
ter's III fortune became az phenomenal
as his winning had been. The girl who
figured in this drama was keyed to the
highest tension, her eyes now on her
counters, now searching the profile of
her victim Glenster continued to lose
and lose and lose, while the girl gloat-
ed over his swift coming ruin. When
at long intervals he won a bet, sho
shrank and shivered for fear he might
escape. II only he would risk it all
everything he had. He would have to
como to her then!
The end was closer than she realized.
The throng hung brea thless upon each
move Of the players, while there wns no
sound but the noise of shifting chips
and the distant jangle of the orchestra.
The lookout sat far forward upon his
perch. his hands upon his knees, his
eyes frozen to the board, a dead cigar
clinched between his teeth. Crowded
upon his platform were miners tense
and motionless as statues. When a
man spoke or coughed, a score of eyes
stared at him accusingly, then dropped
to the table again.
Glenister took from his clothes bun
die Of banknotes so thick that it re-
CURED his two hands to compass it.
Onlookers saw that the bills were
mainly yellow. No one spoke while he
counted them rapidly glanced at the
dealer, who nodded, then slid them
forward till they rested on the king
He placed "copper"" on the pile. A
great sigh Of indrawn breaths swept
through the crowd. The north had
never known bet like this-it meant
a fortune. Here was a tale for ones
Grandchildren-that man should win
opulencc in an evening, then lose 1t in
one deal. This final bet represented
more than many of them had ever
seen at one time before. Its fate lay
on a single card.
Cherry Malotte's fingers were like ice
and shook till the buttons Of her case
keeper ratified. her heart raced till she
could not breathe, while something rose
up and choked her If Glenlster won
this bet he would quit She felt it. If
feel, the man who was playing for 4
paltry vengeance, compared to her
whose hope Of happiness, Of love, Of
life hinged on this wager?
Evidently the Bronco Kid knew what
card lay next below, for he offered her
no sign. and as Glcnister leaned back
he slowly and firmly pushed the top
card out OF the box. Although this
was the biggest turn OF his life, he be-
trayed no tremor. Ills gesture display
ed the nine of diamonds, and the
crowd breathed heavily. The king
had not won. Would it lose? Every
gaze was welded to the tiny nickeled
box. If the face card lay next beneath
the nine spot. the heaviest wager in
Alaska would have been lost: IL it still
remained hidden on the next turn the
money would he safe for a moment
Slowly the white hand Of the dealer
moved back. His middle finger touch
ed the nine Of diamonds. 1t slid
smoothly out Of the box, and there in
its place frowned the king of clubs. At
last the silence was broken
Men spoke some laughed, but in
their laughter was no mirth. 1t 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 ut 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 proved and sullen, his jaw
thrust forward, his hair low upon his
forehead. his eyes bloodshot and dead.
I'll sit the hand out II you'll let me
bet the finger" said he.
Certainly" replied the dealer.
When man requests this privilege,
1t 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-
ment of the bettor's responsibility. 1t
Is safe, for no man shlrks gambling
debt In the north, and thousands may
go with nod Of the head though never
a cent be on the board.
There We're 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 In 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 the ease players"
who risked money only on the final