Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-06-20
ter took no part, but sat bulked over
his and 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 fnish the
hand. As Bronco paused before the
last turn, many Df the bylstandets
made bets. Thsy Wste the ''cass-play.
ers" who risked money on the Anal
pair, thus avoiding the chance OF two
cards Of like denomination coming
together, in which event ("splits" 1t Is
called) the dealer takes half the
money. The stakes we're laid at last
and the deal about to start when
Glenister spoke. wait! what's this
place worth, BronooY"
What do you mean?"
"You own this outft?" He waved
his hand about the room. seWell, what
does it stand your"
The gambler hesitated an instant
while the crowd pricked up Its ears,
and the girl turned wondering, trou.
bled eyes upon the miner. What would
he do now? Va
Counting bank rolls, fixtures, and
all about hundred and twenty thous-
and dollars. Why"
"I'll pick the ace to lose, my one
half interest in the Midas against your
whole damned layout"
| There was an absolute hush while
the realization Of this offer smote the
on-lookers. It took time to realize 1t.
| This man was insane There were
three cards to choose from-ofl would
win, one would lose, and one would
have no action.
OF all those present only Cherry
MHlotte OWNED even vaguely the real
reason which prompted the man to do
this. 1t was not "gameness," nor al
together british stubbor6ness which
would not let him quit. 1t was some
thing deeper. He was desolate aud
his heart was gone. Helen was lost
to him Worse yet, was unworthy, and
she was all he cared for. What did
he want Of the Midas with its lawsuits,
| It'll intrigues, and it's trlckery? He was
sick of 1t all-of the whole game ind
he wanted to get away. If he won,
very we'll. II he lost, the land of the
Aurora would know him no more.
When he put his proposition, the
Bronco Kid dropped his eyes as trough
debating. The gin saw that he studied
the cards III his box intent1y and that
his fingers caressed the top one ever
SO softly during the instant the eyes
Of the rest were on 4lenister. Tho
dealer looked UP at last, and Cherry
saw the CLEAN OF triumph In his eye;
he could not mask 1t from her, though
his answering words were hesitating.
She knew by the look that Glenister
was pauper.
Come on insisted Roy, hoarsely
Turn the cards"
You're on!"
The girl felt that she was fainting
She wanted to scream. The triumph
Of this moment stified her-or was II
triumph, after all? She heard the
breath of the little man behind her
rattle rs though he were being throt
tied, and saw the lookout pass shat.
Ing hand to his chin, then wet bis
parohed lips. She saw the man she
had helped to ruin bend forward. his
lean face strained and hard. an odd
look Of pain and WEAKNESS in his eyes
She never forgot that look, The crowd
| was frozen In various attitudes pi
eagerness, although 1t Had not yet re-
covered from the suspense Of the last
great wager. 1t knew the Midas and
what 1t meant. Here lay half OF 1t
| hidden beneath q tawdry SQUARE OF
pasteboard. With maddenine delib
GRAFTON the Kid dealt the top card
Beneath it was the trey OF spades
lGlenister said no word nor made q