The Paducah evening sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1906-1929, 1908-02-04

- Il LAlJSAALl IL ILlN NANf
ed, then perhaps he would turn to her
as he had in the bygone days. lie
was slipping away from hcr-thiS was
her last chance. She began her du-
ties easily. and her alertnesS stimulat-
cd Bronco till his senses. too, grew
sharper, his observation more acute
and llghtning-like. Glenlster sworc be-
meath his breath that the cards we're
bewitched. He was like drunken
man, now as truly intoxicated as
though the fumes of wine had be
logged his brain. He swayed in his
seat, the veins of his neck thickened
and throbbed. his features were con-
gested. After awhile he spoke
IL want a bigger limit. Is this some
boys game? Throw her open
The gambler shot triumphant
glance at the girl and acqulesced. "All
right. the limit is the blue sky. Pile
your checks to the roof pole He he
gan 10 shuttle
Within the crowded circle the air
was hot aud fetid with the breath OF
men. The sweat trickled down Glen
isters brown skin. dripping from his
jaw unnoticed. lie arose and ripped
off his coat, while those standing be-
hind shifted and scuffed their feet i'm
patiently. Besides Roy, there were but
three men playing. They were the
ones who had won heaviest mt first
Now that luck was against them they
were loath TO quit
Cherry was annoyed by stertorouS
breathing at her shoulder, and glanced
back to find the little man who had
been SO excited earlier in the evening.
His mouth was agape, his eyes wide.
the muscles about his lips twitching.
He had lost back long since the hun
dreds he had won and more besides.
She searched the figures walllng her
about aud saw no women. They had
been crowded out long since. II
seemed as though the table formed the
bottom OF a sloplng pit of human faces
eager. tense. staring. II was well
she was here, she thought, else this
task might fail. She would help to
blast Glenister, desolate him. humiliate
him. All, tut wouldn't she,
Roy bet 500 on the popular card.
on the third turn he lost. He bet $500
next and lost. He set out stack Of
$500 and lost for the third time. For
tune had turned her face. lie ground
his teeth and doubled until the stakes
grew enormous. while the dealer dealt
monotonously. The spots flashed and
disappeared, taking with them wager
latter wager. Glenlster became con-
scious of raging, red fury which he
had hard shift To master. IL was not
his money-what II he did Loser He
would stay until he won. He would
win. This luck would not. could not,
last-and ye: with diabolic persistence
he continued to choose the losing cards.
The other men Jared better till he
yielded to their judgment. when the
dealer took their money also.
Strange to say, the tickle goddess had
really shifted her banner at last. and
I the Bronco Kid ives dealing straight
faro now lie was too good a player
to force a winning hand. and Clients.
ter's IN fortune became as phenomenal
I as lKS winning had beelG The girl Who
! figured I'm this drama was keyed 10 tie
highest tension. her eyes now on her
counters. now searching the profile Of
her victim. Glenister continued TO lose
aud lose and lose. while the girl gloat-
ed over his swift coming ruin. When
at long intervals he won bet. She
shrank and shvered for fear he might
escape. If only he would risk II all
everything he had. He would have to
come to her then,
The end was closer than she realized.
The throng hung breathless upon each
move II the players. while there was no
sound but the noise Of shifting chips
and the distant ianglc nf the orchestra.
The lookout sat far forward upon his
perch. his hands upon his knees. his
eyes frozen 70 the board. dead cigar
clincheI between his teeth. Crowded
upon his platform We're miners tense
and motionless as statues. When a
man spoke or coughcd. a score Of eyes
stared Mt him accusingly. then dropped
TO the table again.
Glenister took from his clothes bun
die of banknotes so thick that il re
quired his two hands to compass a..