The Paducah evening sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1906-1929, 1908-02-01

sat quietly thinking. removed
by her mental stress to such an
Il infinite distance from the music
and turmoil beneath that she was con
scious of II only as formiess clamor.
She had tipped chair back against
| the door. wedging Il beneath the knob
SO that she might he 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 impatiently, 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 buzz of talk In the next
commitment she heard name which
caused her to start listen, then drop
her preoccupatlon like a mantle \
man was speaking of Gienister. FIX
element thrilled his voice.
II never saw anything like 1t since
McMaster's night in Virginia city.
thirteen years ago. He's right"
We'll. perhaps So" the other replied
doubtfuly. but ! don't care To back
you. never 'staked' man in my
life"
Then lend me the money. III pay
it back In an hour, but for heavens
sake be quick | tell you he's aS
right as IA golden guinea. It's the lucky
night Of his life Why. he turned over
the black jack game in four bets. In
fifteen minutes more we can't get close
enough TO table To send In our money
with Il messenger boy-every sport In
camp will be here
I'm stake you TO fifty" the second
man replied, in tone tlat showed a
trace, OF his companions excitement.
So Glenister 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 We're com
ing to share his fortune, TO fatten like
vultures on the adversely of their fell
lows. Those who had no money TO
stake We're borrowing, like the man
next door.
She left her retreat and, descending
the stairs, was greeted by a strange
sight. The dance hall was empty of
all but the musicians. who blew and
fddled Justify in vain endeavor to draw
from the raDidly swelling crowd that
thronged the gambling room and
stretched to the door. The press was
thickest about table midway down
the hall. Cherry could see nothing Of
what went on there. for men and wo-
men stood ten deep about it and 9th
ers perched on chairs and tables along
the walls. A roar arose suddenly, fol
lowed by utter silence; then game the
clink and rattle of silver. A moment
and the crowd resumed its laughter
and talk
IAN down. boys" sounded the level
voice of the dealer. The field or the
favorite. He's made eighteen straigh'
passes. Get your money on the line.
There ensued another breathless in
slant wherein she beard the thud OF
dice: then followed the shout of tr'-
umph that told what the spots reveal
ed The dealer paid OFF. 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 ther'
was not a coin in his rack. Mexic,
Mullins approached Cherry, and she
questioned him.
"He Just broke the crap game" Mui
Inns told her. Nineteen passes without
losing the bones"