The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1908-05-14

uu OoStENiuS tut sirc VI t6v fktts
rather SYSTEMATICALLY exhibited BY
them. His satisfaction was In noways
iessened by the sound OF their voices,
when incautiously raised In anger
over some unfortunate play. He i'm.
mediately recognized them as the iden.
| teal individuals who mad loudly and
vainly protested over his occupancy of
the best rooms at the hotel He
chuckled grizzly.
But what bothered him particularly
was Slavin. The cool. gray eyes. glanc.
ing with such apparent negligence
across the cards In his hands. noted
every slight movement OF the red.
bearded gambler. IN expectation OF de
tecting some sigr OF trickery. or some
evidence that he had been selected BY
this precious trio for the purpose Of
easy plucking. Knavery was Slavin's
style. but apparently he was now
playing straight game. no doubt real
izing clearly. behind his impressive
mask OF a face, the utter futility of
| seeking 10 outwit one OF Hampton'g
enyiable reputation.
u was. unquestionably. a fairly
fought tour-handed battle. and at last.
thoroughly convinced OF this. Hamp
ton settled quietly down. prepared to
| play out his game. The stakes grew
| steadily larger. Several tines drinks
| were served. but Hampton c<ateu.ed
himself with a gulp OF water. always
| gripping an unlightsd cigar between
his teeth. He was playing now with
apparent recklessness. never hesitat
| ing over a card, his eye as watchful Ne
that OF hawk. his betting quick. con.
| fident, audacious. Tho contagion OF
| his spirit seemed to affect the others.
| 10 force them into desperate wagers.
The perspiration was beading Slavin's
| forehead. and now and then an oath
burst unrestrained from his hairy lips.
Halves and Willis sat white-fsced. bent
forward anxiously over the table. their
fingers shaking as they handled the
fateful cards. but Hampton played
without pcrceptible tremor. his utter
ances few and monosyllabic. his calm
face betraying not the faintest emo
| ton.
And he was steadily winning. occa.
sionally some other hand drew In the
growing stock of gold and bank notes.
but not often enough to offset those
continued gains that began to heap up
in such an alluring pile upon bis por'
ton OF the table. The lookers-on who
had come In began 10 observe this. and
gathered more closely about his chair.
fascinated by the luck with which the
cards came floating into his hands. the
cool judgment of his critical plays, the
reckless abandon with which be forced
success Suddenly he forced The eight
to a finish. The opportusit. came in
| Jackpot which Halves had opened
The betting began with . crol thou.
sand. Then Hamptons turn came.
Without drawing. his cards yet lying
downward before him on the board,
Ills calm features as lmmoyable as the
Sphinx. he quietly pushed his whole
accumulated pile TO the center. named
the sum, and leaned back In HIS chair
his eyes cold. impassive. Halves
threw down his hand. wiping his
streaming face with his handkerchief:
Willis counted his remaining roll. hest
tated, looked again at the faces OF bis
cards, flung aside two. drawing to all,
and called loudly for a showdown. his
eyes protruding. Siayin, cursins
fercely under hlz red beard. having
drawn one card his perplexed face In
stantly Frightening as he glanced II
IL. went back into his hip pocket FOR
every cent he had. aud added his pro
fame demand for q chance at tue
money.
A fortune rested ca the table. a for
tune the ownership of which was &C
be decided in a single moment and by
the movement OF hand. Willis wat
gasping, HIS whole body quiyering;
Slavin was watching Hampton's hands
as a cat does a mouse. his thick lips
parted. his fingers twitching nervousiy,
The latter smiled grimly, his motion
deliberate, his eyes never wavering
Slowly, one by one. he turned up his
cards. never even deigning to glance
downward, his entire manner that O
unstudied indifference. One-two-
three. Willis uttered a snarl like
stricken wild beastt. and sank back In
his chair, his eyes closed, his cheeks
CHASTITY Four. Slavin brought dowr
his great cienshe< first with crasf
on the table. string of oaths bursting
unrestrained from mis- lips. Five
Hampton, never stirring a muscle. sat
there like a statue. watching. HE
right hand kept hidden beneath the
table, with his left he quietly drew IL
the stack OF bills and coin. pushing the
stun heedlessly into the side pocket Of
his coat, his gaze never once wander
ing from those stricken faces fronting
him. Then he softly pushed back his
| chair and stood erect. Willis neva
moved, but Slavin rose unsteadily u
his feet, gripping the table fierceiy
with both hands.
Gentlemen" said Hampton. grave
~. his clear voice sounding like the
sudden peal OF bell. Il can only thank
you for your courtesy In this matter
and bid you all goodnight. However.
before I 60 1t may be Of some Interest
for me to say that have played M
last game"