The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1908-01-03
CONTINUED from last week.)


$400 on card, and the Kid began real
~ to play. Glenister now lost steadily,
not In large amounts, but with tan
talking regularity. Cherry had never
seen cards played like this. The gam
bier was a revelation to her. His work
was wonderful III luck seemed to fan
the crowds eagerness, while, to add to
its Impotence, the cases came wrong
twice In succession, so that those who
would have bet heavily upon the last
turn had their money given back.
Cherry saw the confusion Of the
'hearse driver" even quicker than did
Bronco. Toby was growing ratified.
The dealers work was too fast for
him, and yet he could offer no signal
of distress for fear Of humiliation at
the hands Of those crowded close to his
shoulder. In the same way the owner
of the game could make no objection
to his helpers incompetence for fear
Mat come bystander would volunteer
10 fill the mans part. There were
many present capable of the trick. He
could only glare balefully across the
table at his unfortunate confederate.
They had not gone far on the next
game before Cherry's quick eye de-
tected sign which the man misinter-
preted. She addressed him quietly,
You'd better brush up your plumes."
In spite Of his anger the Bronco Kid
smiled. Humor in him was strangely
withered and distorted, yet here was
thrust he would always remember and
recount with glee in years to come
He feared there were other faro deal
ers present who might understand the
hint, but there was none save Mexico
Mullins, whose face was a study
mirth seemed to be strangling him. A
moment later the girl spoke to the case
keeper again.
LET me take your place; your reins
are unbuckled"
Toby glanced inquiringly at the Kid,
who caught Cherry's reassuring look
and nodded, SO he arose and the girl
slid into the vacant chair. This wo-
man would make no errors, the dealer
knew that; her keen wits were sharp
ened by hate-it showed in her face.
If Glenister escaped destruction to-
night it would be because human
means could not accomplish his down
fall.
In the mind of the new case keeper
there was but one thought-Roy must
be broken. Humiliation, disgrace, ruin,
ridicule were to be his. If he should
be downed, discredited and discourag-
ed, then perhaps he would turn to her
as he had in the bygone days. He
was slipping away from her-this was
her last chance. She began her du-
ties easily, and her alertness stimulat-
ed Bronco till his senses, too, grew
sharper, his observation more acute
and lightning like. Glenister swore be-
meath his breath that the cards were
bewitched. He was like q 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.
81 want bigger limit. Is this some
boys game? Throw her open"
The gambler shot triumphant
glance at the girl and acquiesced. "All
right, the limit is the blue sky. Pile
your checks to the roof pole" He be-
gan to shuttle.
Within the crowded circle the air
was hot and fetid with the breath of
men. The sweat trickled down Glen
listers brown skin, dripping from his
jaw unnoticed. He 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 at 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 wallng her
about and saw no women. They had
ocCh NiONucu Out iOuS SluCc IL
seemed as though the table formed the
bottom of sloplng pit of human faces
eager, tense, staring. 1t was well
she was here, she thought, else this
task might fail. She would help to
blast Glenister, desolate him, humiliate
him. All, but wouldn't she!
Roy bet 500 on the popular card
On the third turn he lost He bet 5000
next and lost. He set out stack of
$500 and lost for the third time. For
tune had turned her face. He ground
his teeth and doubled until the stakes
grew enormous, while the dealer dealt
monotonously. The spots flashed and
disappeared, taking with them wager
after wager. Glenister became con-
scious of a raging, red fury which he
had hard shift to master. It was not
his money-what If he did lose? He
would stay until he won. He would
win. This luck would not, could not,
last-and yet 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 fckle goddess had
really shifted her banner at last and