The Paducah evening sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1906-1929, 1908-02-25
.TheSpOilers.
~ REX B. BHAcH.
Cepyrighe fook By Rsx n Beach.
CHAPTER XIX.


ed for his disclosure of his errand. His
sallow skin was without trace of
color, his eyes We're strangely tired,
deep lines had gathered about his lips,
while his hands kept up constant little
nervous explorations as though for
days and nights he had not slept and
now lowered on the verge of some hys-
terra. He gave her the impression OF
a smoldering mine with the fire eating
close up to the powder. She judged
that his body had been racked by ey-
cry passion till now il hung faded anu
weary. yielding only TO the spur of his
restless, revengeful spirit.
After few objectless remarks he
began abruptly:
do you love Roy Glenister?' His
voice. Ike his manner, was jealousy
eager. and he watched her carefully as
she replied without bubble or deceit:
"Yes. Kid. and always shall. He Is
the only true man / have ever known
and I'm not ashamed of my feelings"
For a long time he studied her and
then broke into rapid speech, allowing
her no time for interruption.
| 1--WE held back and held back be-
cause I'm TO talker. | can't ba IN my
business. But this Is my last chance.
and I want to put myself right with
you. I've loved you ever since the
Dawson days. not in the way you'd
expect from man OF my sort perhaps.
but with the kind OF love that wo-
man wants. never showed my hand
FOR what was the use? That man out
held me. I'd have quit faro years back
only | wouldn't leave this country ~
long as you were part OF IT, and M
here I'm only gambler. ft for nothing
| else. I'd made up my mind TO let you
have him till something happened a
couple of months ago. but now IL can't
| go through. I'll have 10 down him
| 1t isn't concerning you. I'm not a
welcher. No. it's U thing ! can't talk
| about-a thing that's made me into a
| wolf. made me skulk and walk the
| alleys like a dago. It's put murder
| into my heart. I've tried to .assassi-
nate him. | tried il here last night
bnt-I was gentleman once-till the
, cards came. lie knows the answer
now, though. and he's ready for me. so
one Of us will go out like a candle
when we meet. felt that l had 10
tell you before cut him down or be-
fore he got me-"
You're talking like mailman
Kid" she replied, 'and you mustn't
turn against him now. He has trou-
bles enough. ! never knew you cared
for me. What a tangle it is. TO he
sure. You love me. | love him. he
loves that girl. and she loves a crook
Isn't that tragedy enough without
your adding TO IL? You come at a
bad time, too, for I'm half insane.
There's something dreadful in the air
tonight
'Ill have 10 kill him." the man NUT
tered doggedly. and. plead or reason as
she would. she could get nothing from
him except those words till at last
she turned upon him fierccly.
you say you love me. Very well.
let's see II you do. | know the kind
of a man you are. and | know what
this feud will mean TO him. coming
just at this time. Put IL aside and I'll
marry you"
The gambler rose slowly to his feet.
"You do love him. don't you?" She
bowed her face. and he WINGED, but
continued: II wouldn't rake you my
wife that way. didn't mean it that
way"
At this she laughed bitterly. "Oh. l
me TO expect 1t OF a man like you.
I understand what you mean now.
and the bargain will stand just the
same, IL that Is what you came for.
| wanted to leave this life and be good.
to go away and start over and play
the game square. but | see it's no use.
I'll pay. | know how relentless you
are, and the price is low enough. You
can have me-and that-marriage talk
III not speak of again. I'll stay
what am for his sake"
Stop" cried the Kid. you're
wrong. I'm not that kind OF sport
His voice broke suddenly. its vehem-.
ence shaking his slim body. "Oh, Che
ry, love you the way a man ought
W lONt n II = pht VI tht wv
good things left in me- and I want to
take you away from here where we
can both hide from the past, where
| we can start new. as you say"
you would marry me-" she asked.
an an hour and give my hearts
blood for the privilege. but l can't
stop this Ting. not even II your own
dear life hung upon It. I must kill
| that man."
She approached him and laid her
arms about his neck, every line OF her
body pleading, but he refused stead
tasty, while the sweat stood out upon
his brow.
She begged: They're all against
him, Kid. He's fighting a hopeless
fight. He laid all he had at that girls
feet, and I'll do the same for you"
The man growled savagcly. 'He got
his reward. He took all she had
Don't be a fool. i guess l know,
You're a faro dealer, but you haven't
any right TO talk like that about good
woman, even TO bad one like me-"
| Into his dark eyes slowly crept a
hungry look. and she felt him begin to
tremble the least bit. He undertook to
speak, paused, wet his lips. then care
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