Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-06-20

move. Some one coughed, and It
sounded like a gunshot. Slowly tie
dealers fingers retraced their way. He
hesitated purpcseiy aid leered 1T The
girl, then the thrse-spot disappeared
and beneath tllay the ACE az the king
had lain On that other wager It spell.
ed utter ruin to. Gi6niat0r He raised
bis eyes blind1y, and then the death
,, like silence Of the room wXB aha tered
by a sudden crash. Cherry MalottA
had closed her check.rAck Violently,
at the same time crying shriil and
clear: IS
"rhat bet is OIL The cases are
wrong!"
dlenister half rose, oserturning his
ohair; the Kid lhngea forward across
the table, and his wonderful hands,
tense and talon-like; thrust themselves
forward as though reaching Tor the
riches she had snatched away. They
worked and writhed and trembled as
though in dumb fury. the nails sinking
into the oil-cioth table.tover. His face
grew 1ivid and cruel, while his eyes
bla1ed at her till ahe shrank from hin
affrightedly, bracihg herself away from
the table with rigid arms.
Reason came slowly back to Glen
lister, and understanding with 1t. Hs
seemed to awake from a nightmare.
He could read all too plainly the gam
bler's look OF bafled hate as the man
sprawled ON the table, his arms spread
wide, his eyes glazing at the cover
Ing woman, who shrank before him
| like a rabbit before snake. She tried
to speak, but choked. Then the dealer
came to himself, and cried harshly
through his teeth one word:
Christ" ,,s
He raised his fist and struck the
table SO violently that chips and cop.
pers leaped and rolled, and Cherry
closed her eyes to lose sight Sof his
awful grimace. Glenister looked down
on him and said:
II think understand; but the
money was yours, anyhow, 50 don't
mind" His meaning was plain. The
Kid suddenly jerked open the drawer
before him, but Glenister clenched his
right hand and leaned forward. The
miner could have killed him with a
blow. for the gambler was seated and
at his mercy. The Kid checked him
self, while HIS face began to witch
as though the nerves underlying It
had broken bondage and were dancing
In q Wild, ungovernable orgy.
"You have taught me lesson,'' WIS
all that Glenistet said, and with. that
he pushed through the crowd and out
into the cool night air. Overhead the
arctic stars winked at him; and the
sea smells struck him. clean and fresh.
AS he went honaeward he heard Che
distant, full-throated plant Of wolf
dog. It held the mystery and sadness
OF the North. He paused, and. barring
his thick, matted head stood for d
long time gathering himself together.
Standing SO, he made certain coysn-
ants with himself, and vowed solemnly
never to touch another card.
At the same moment Cherry MaIotte
came hurrying to her cottage door,
fleeing as though from pursuit or from
some hateful, haunted spot She paus-
led before entering and flung her arms
ward into the dark in wide gesture
of despair.
CHAPTER XIV.
why did / do It? oh! why did /
do it? | can't understand myself"
My dear Helen, don't you realize
that my ofilcial position carries with
it certain social obligation which it
is our duty to discharga?"
II suppose SO, Uncle Arthur; but ]
would much rather stay at home"
Tut, tut! Go and have good
time
Dancing doesn't appeal to me any
more. left that sort OF thing back