The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1907-08-29
(Continued.)

card lay next below, for he onered her
no sign, and as Glenister 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 tTemor. His 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; If it still
remained hidden on the next turn, the
money would be safe for moment.
Slowly the white hand Of the dealer
moved back. His middle finger touch
ed the nine of diamonds. It 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 at his waist without count
ing. The case keeper passed 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. Ho
sat- heavy browed and suIlen. his jaw
thrust forward, his hair low upon his
forehead, his eyes bloodshot and dead.
9TH sit the hand out If you'll let me
bet the finger" said he.
Certainly" replied the dealer.
When a man requests this privilege,
it means that he VIII call the amount
Of his wager without producing the
visible stakes, and the dealer may ac-
cept or refuse according to his judy
ment Of the bettor's responsibility. 1t
is safe, for no man shirks a gambling
debt in the north. and thousands may
go with nod of the head though never
a cent be on the board
There were still a 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 lease players"
who risked money only on the final
pair. thus avoiding the chance of two
cards of like denomination coming to-
gether, in which event c'splits" it Is
called the dealer takes half the mon
ey. The stakes were laid at last and
the deal about to start when Glenister
spoke. Walt! What's this place
worth, Broncoi"
''What do you mean?'
you own this OUTFIT" He waved
his hand about the room. well, what
does it stand you?"
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?
Counting bank rolls, fixtures and
all, about $4,000. Why?"
interest in the Midas against your
whole layout"
There was an absolute hush while
the realization of this offer smote the
onlookers. 1t took time to realize it.
This man was insane. There were
three cards to choose from-one would
win, one would lose, and one would
have no action.
OF all those present only Cherry Ma
lotte OWNED even vaguely the real rea-
son which prompted the man to do
this. 1t was not "gameness" nor alto
gether a british stubbornness which
would not let him quit. 1t was some
thing deeper. He was desolate, and
his heart was gone. Helen was lost Ia
him-worSe yet, was unworthy-and
she was all he cared for. What did he
want OF the Midas, with its lawsuits,
its intrigues and its trickery? He was
sick of it all. Of the whole game, and
wanted to get away. If he won. very
we'll. If he lost, the land of the aurora
would know him no more
When he rnt his proposition the
debating. TIE girl saw that he stu
lied the cards in his box intently and
that his fingers caressed the top one
ever so softly during the instant the
eyes of the rest were on Glenister
The dealer looked up at last, and Cher
ry saw the CLEAN of triumph in his
eye. He could not mask it from her.
though his answering words were hesi-
tating. She knew by the look that
Glenister was pauper.
Come on" insisted Roy hoarsely
turn the cards"
You're ont"
The girl felt that she was fainting.
She wanted to scream. The triumph
of this moment stified her-or was il
triumph, after all? She heard the
breath of the little man behind her
rattle as though he We're being throt-
tied and saw the lookout pass shak-