Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-10-11

ness. Nothing moved in the room. The
circle of eyes stared steadily upon the
three who sat with expressionless faces
blanched with the pitiless struggle that
was going on. For minute that seemed
endless the soundless battle continued.
Psychic forces exchanged invisible sword
thrusts across the table. Nerve wrestled
with nerve that covered, but still fought
on.
The whole scene vanished for Frenchy.
It seemed to him that he was the center
of silent hollowness; only a voice, that
was rather an ache felt than sound
heard, kept up a pitiless jeering.
They'll stay-they'l stay" shrieked the
little devil. your bluff won't work.
you're dead horse and they're crows
CONSCIOUSLY
They're weakening"' beat the heart of
Frenchy
"Deuces-ha, ha! Deuces! And they're
both got face cards-deuces-ho, ho!-go-
ing home. eh?. Win on deuces? Ho. no.
no! Deuces?" The inSiStent devil laugh
ed spitefully.
RAISE you five hundred more!"'
The words echoed and re-echoed in the
lonesome hollowness. Frenchy stared at
his cards.
Five hundred more!''
Frenchy WINGED and shivered. It SEEM
ed to him that long thin-bladed knife
had reached out of the silent hollow that
surrounded him and stabbed him twice
in the breast.
''Ho, no, ho" went the little devil at
the back of his head. Stay with EN-!
Put up the horses-everything on the
deuces. Ho no, ho.''
But I can lay down now and save the
horses" urged the sick heart of Frenchy.
You won on the deuces once" shrieked
the little devil. Didn't you-ddn't your"
Frenchy now heard his own voice grow
ing up out of the hollow. Taken: my
five horses and outfit are good for it,!
Then he emerged from the soundless
hollow and was aware of the circle Of
glittering eyes staring down on the field
whereon he had just staked five years of
his life and his last cherished dream.
Full hOuse-aceS on queen"
Frenchy heard the words and grinned
exultantly. The little spiteful devil was
silent.
Frenchy dropped his cards face up and
reached for the bottle. 'Ho. no, hor'
went the little devil dancing all over his
brain. Everything lost on the deuces-
dead horses for the crows to pick! He
he, he!''
A ripple of EXPLANATIONS ran about the
circle of loungers as they leaned forward
to see the hand upon which Frenchy had
Staked all that he owned.
''Deuces! By the jumping-four dirty
deucesv
''Deuces?"
-Four of EN-"
''How's that for a bluff"
Fool play"'
A buzZing undertone of comment filled
the room and steadily grew into a chat
tering as of crows about a spot where
something had just died. Frenchy SEEM
ed not to hear. He was busy filling and
refilling glasses. The man with the four
kings quietly raked in his winnings. And
the hOrSes?" he suggested
Frelchy set the drained glass down
with a bang, and with a snake-like for
ward thrusting of the head leered hide
ously at the winner. Cant you shut up
about the horses?" He forced the words
menacingly through his shut teeth.
A hush fell upon the loungers they
looked upon the pinched, malignant face
with the upper lip lifted quiveringly and
the close set teeth showing beneath. This
was no longer the Frenchy of legend; that
Frenchy had always been known as one
who lost or won large sums with the utter
nervelessness of a machine. This was no
longer the face of Frenchy-the gay, care
less naughty face of him who flrted with
fortune. This was a new Frenchy-a
terrible Frenchy. with a coiled snake
lurking just behind each glittering eye
ball. This face sent a shiver through the
crowd-like the sight of an ugly knife
unsheathed in anger.
The loungers with affected carelessness