The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1908-03-19
CHAPTER XIII.

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sat quietly thinking, removed
by her mental stress to such all
Il Infinite distance from the music
and turmoil beneath that she was con-
scious OF 1t only as a formless clamor
She had tipped chair back against
the door. medging 1t beneath the knob
SO that she might be saved from inter.
ruption, then flung herself into an
| other seat and stared unseeingly. As
she sat thus and thought and schemed
harsh and hateful lines seemed to eat
into her face. Now and then she
moaned impstiently, as though fearing
lest the strategy she was plotting
might prove futile; then she would
rise and pace her narrow quarters.
She was unconscious Of time and had
spent perhaps two hours thus when
amid, the bus; Of tsih IN the next
eorspartnent she bead name which
caused hsr 70 start. Hsten. then drop
her preocenpatioa like q mantle. A
man xas kpelklng or Gienister. EI-
citemeat thrilled his seAce.
"I never saw anything like It since
MeMaster's night in Virginia City.
thirteen years. sgo. He's right"
"Weil, perhaps so." The other replied
doubtfully. "but / don't care to back
you. never 'stakef a man In my
life"
Then lend noe the money. Ill pay
Il. back In an hour, but for heayen's
sake be quick. tell you he's as
right a. q golden guinea. It's the lucky
night Of his life. Why. be turned over
the black jack game In four bets. In
dfteeh minutes more We can't get close
enough to table to send In our money
with a messenger boy-every sport in
camp will be here"
"I'll stake you 10 ffty," the second
man replied. In tone that showed a
trace Of his companion's excitement.
So Glenlster was gambling, the girl
learned, and with such luck as to break
the black jack game and excite the
greed Of every gambler In camp. News
Of his winnings had gone out into the
street, and the sporting men were COM
ing to share his fortune, to fatten like
yultures on the adversely of their fel-
lows. Those who had no money to
stake were borrowing, like the man
next door.
She left her retreat and, descending
the stairs. was greeted by strange
sight. The dance hall was empty Of
all but the musicians, who blew and
f1ddled Justify in vain endeavor to draw
from the rapidly swelling crowd that
thronged the gambling room and
stretched TO the door The press was
thickest about a table Midway down
the hall. Cherry could see nothing Of
what went on there. for men and wo-
men stood ten deep about 1t and 9th
erS perche1 on chairs and tables along
the walls. 4 roar arose suddenly, fol-
lowed by utter silence; then came the
clnk aud rattle Of silver. A moment
and the crowd resumed its laughter
and talk. u, -
"All down. boys" sounded the level
voice Of the dealer. The field or the
favorite. He's made eighteen straight
passes. Get your money on the line
There ensued another breathless In
slant wherein she heard the thud Of
dice; then followed the shout OF tn
umph that told what the spots reveal
ed. The dealer paid of. Glenister
reared himself head and shoulders
above the others and pushed out
through the ring to the roulette wheel
The rest followed. Behind the circu-
lar table they had quilted, the dealer
was putting away his dice, and there
was not q coin In his rack. Mexico
Mullins approached Cherry. and she
questioned him.
He lust broke the crap game" Null
Inns told her. Nineteen passes without
losing the bones"
How much did he VIM
"Oh. he didn't win much himself.
but it's the people betting with him
that does the damage! They're gam
blers. most Of them, and they play the
limit. He took out the black jack bank
roll first, $4,000. then cleaned the Tub
By that time the tin horns began TO
come in. It's the greatest run 1 ever
see."
Did you get inT'
Now, don't you know that / never
play anything but bank? II he lasts
long enough to reach the faro layout,
I'll get mine"
The excitement Of the crowd began
to infect the girl, even though she
looked on from the outside. Tho ex.
ultant voices. the sudden hush. the
tensity of nerve it all betokened, set
! her a-thrill. A stranger left the throng
and rushed to the spot where Cherry
and Mexico stood talking. He was
small and sandy, with shifting glance
and chipless jaw. His eyes glittered,
his teeth shone ratlike through his dry
lips, and his voice was shrill. He
| darted toward them like some furtive,
frightened little animal, unnaturally
excited.
81 guess that isn't so bad for three
h-~ @4N