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

| lows. those VINO nu0 no money 10
stake were borrowing, like the man
next door.
She left her retreat and, descending
the stairs. was greeted by a strange
sight. The dance hall was empty of
all but the musicians, who blew and
flddled Justify In vain endeavor to draw
from the rapidly swelling crowd that
thronged the gambling room and
stretched to the door. The press was
thickest about a table midway down
the hall. Cherry could see nothing Of
what went on there, for men and wo-
men stood ten deep about 1t and 9TH
ers perched on chairs and tables along
the walls. A roar arose suddenly, fol
lowed by utter silence; then came the
clnk and rattle of silver. A moment
and the crowd resumed its laughter
and talk
"All down, boys" sounded the level
voice Of the dealer. The field or the
favorite. Hes made eighteen straight
passes. Get your money on the line"
There ensued another breathless in
slant wherein she heard the thud Of
dice; then followed the shout of tr-
umph that told what the spots reveal
ed The dealer paid off. Glenister
reared himself head and shoulders
above the others and pushed out
through the ring to the roulette wheel.
The rest followed, Behind the clrcu-
lar table they had quilted the dealer
was putting away his dice, and there
was not q coin In his rack. Mexico
Mullins approached Cherry, and she
questioned hin.
HE Just broke the crap game" Mul-
Inns told her. Nineteen passes withou.
losing the bones"
i How much did he VIM
"Oh. he didn't win much himself
but it's the people betting with him
that does the damage. They're gam.
blers, most Of them. and they play the
limit. He took out the black Jack bank
roll first, $4,000, then cleaned the Tub.
BY that time the tin horns began to
come in. It's the greatest run l ever
Sec"
Did you get in?"
Now, don't you know that I never
play anything but bank? II he lasts
long enough to reach the faro layout,
I'll get mine"
The excitement Of the crowd began
to infect the girl, even though she
looked on from the outside. The ex-
ultant voices, the sudden hush the
tensity Of nerve /. all betokened. set
her a-thrill. A stranger left the throng
and rushed to the spot where Cherry
and Mexico stood talking. He was
small and sandy, with shifting glance
and chlnless jaw. His eyes glittered,
his teeth sbone ratlke through his dry
lips, and his voice was shrlll He
darted toward them like some furtive,
frightened little animal unnaturally
excited
II guess that isn't so bad for three
! BETS" He shook a sheaf of banknotcs
at them
"Why don't you stick" inquired Null.
Inns
II am too wise. Ha! I know when
to quit, He can't win steady-he don't
play any system
Then he has a good chance" said
the girl.
There he goes now" the little man
cried as the uproar arose. II told you
he'd lose" At the voice Of the multi
tude he wavered as though affected by
some powerful magnet.
But he won again." said Mexico
mo. Did he? Lord! quit too
soon,"
He scampered back into tho other
room, only to return. hesitat!ng, his
money tightly clutched.
do you s'pose It's safe? never
saw a man bet SO reckless. I guess
I'd better quit, eh?" He noted the sneer
on the woman's face, and without wait
Ing a reply dashed Off again. They
saw him DANGEROUSLY fight his way in
toward a post at the roulette table.
LET me through! I've got money, and
I want to play it!'
"Pah!" said Mullins disgustedly.
Hes one Of them Vermont despera-
does that never laid bet till he was
thirty. II Glcnister loses he'll hate
him for life"
There are plenty Of his sort here"
the girl remarked. His soul would ut
in fen track" She spied the Bronco
Kid sauntering back toward her and
Joined him. He leaned against the
wall, watching the gossamer thread of
smoke twist upward from his ciga-
rette, seemingly oblivious to the sur
roundings and showing no hint of the
emotion he had displayed two hours
before.
This is big killing. isn't it7" said
the girl.
The gambler nodded, murmuring In
differently.
why aren't you dealing bank3 Isn't
this your shift"
II quit last night"
Just In time to miss this affair.
Lucky for you"
Yes; l own the place now. Bought
1t yesterday"
Good heavens! Then it's your mon
ey he's winningw
Sure, at the rate Of a thousand q
j minute"
She glanced at the long trail of dew.
astated tables behind Glenister and
his followers. At that instant the
sound told that the miner had won
again, and 1t dawned upon Cherry that
the gambler beside her stood too quiet
ly, that his hand and voice were too
steady, his glance too cold to be nat.
ural. The next moment approved her
instinct.
The musicians, grown tired of their