The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1908-01-24


business. But this Is my last chance,
and l 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 as
long as you were part of it, and up
here I'm only a gambler, fit for nothing
else. I'd made up my mind to let you
have him till something happened
couple OF months ago, but now it can't
go through. I'll have to down him.
1t isn't concerning you. I'm not
welcher. No, it's thing l can't talk
about-a thing that's made me into
wolf, made me skulk and walk the
alleys like n dago. It's put murder
into my heart. I've tried to assassi-
nate him. l tried it here last night
butt was a gentleman once-till the
cards came. He 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 I had to
tell you before | cut him down or be-
fore he got me-
You're talking like mailman,
Kid" she replied, land you mustn't
turn against him now. He has trou-
bles enough. l never knew you cared
Sor me. What tangle it is, to be
sure. You love me, l love him, he
loves that girl, and she loves crook.
Isn't that tragedy enough without
your adding to it? You come at a
bad time, too, for I'm half insane.
There's something dreadful in the air
tonight
"I'l have to 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 fiercely.
you say you love me. Very well,
let's see If you do. I know the kind
Of man you are, and l know what
this feud will mean to him. coming
just at this time. Put 1t 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 make you my
wife that way. / didn't mean it that
way"
At this she laughed bitterly. "Oh,
see. OF course not. How foolish of
me TO expect it of a man like you.
1 understand what you mean now,
and the bargain will stand just the
same, if 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
I'll 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 a sport"
His voice broke suddenly, its vehem-
ence shaking his slim body. ooh, Cher
~, l love you the way man ought
to love woman. It's one of the two
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.
"In an hour and give my hearts
blood for the privilege, but l can't
stop this thing, not even If your own
dear life hung upon it. 1 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 III do the same for you"
The man growled savagely. "He got
his reward. He took all she had
Don't be n fool. 1 guess 1 know.
You're a faro dealer, but you haven't
any right to talk like that about a good
woman, even to a 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
fully chose these words:
do you mean-that he did not-that
she is IA good girl?"
Absolutely"
He sat down weakly and passed Il
shaking hand over his face, which had
begun to twitch and jerk again as it
had on that night when his vengeance
was thwarted.
81 may as well tell you that l know
she's more than that. She's honest and
high principled. / don't know why I'm
saying this, but 1t was on my mind
and 1 was half distracted when you
came. She's in danger tonight, though
at this minute. / don't dare to think
of what may have happened, for she's
risked everything to make reparation
to Roy and his friends"
"What?'
"She's gone to the Sign Of the Sled
alone with Strive"
"Struvev shouted the gambler, leap
ing to his feet. alone with Strive on
a night like ths?' He shook her
fiercely, crying: what for? Tell me
quickv'
o.. IIola,,o