The Montgomery tribune. (Montgomery City, Mo.) 1892-1910, 1908-02-28
strangers, and Hampton smiled sof,iy

tnem. HIS s~atlsfaction was In noways
lessened by the sound Of their voices,
when incautiously raised in anger
over some unfortunate play. He I'm.
m~ediately recognized them as the iden-
tical individuals who had loudly and
vainly protested over his occupancy of
the best rooms at the hotel. He
chuckled grimly.
But what bothered him particularly
was Slavin. The cool, gray eyes, glanc-
Ing with such apparent negligence
across the cards in his hands, noted
every slight movement OF the red.
bearded gambler, In expectation Of de-
tecting some sign of trickery, or some
evidence that he had been selected by
this precious trio for the purpose of
easy %plucking. Knavery was Slavin's
style. but apparently he was now
playing a straight game, no doubt real.
izfng clearly, behind his impassive
mask Of a face, the utter futility of
seeking to outwit one of Hampton's
enviable reputation.
1t was, unquestionably, . fairly
fought four-handed battle, and at last,
thoroughly convinced of this, Hamp-
ton settled quietly down, prepared to
play out his game. The stakes grew
steadily larger. Several times drinks
were served, but Hampton contented
himself with a gulp OF water, always
gripping an unlighted cigar between
his teeth. He was playing now with
apparent recklessness, never hesitat.
ing over a card, his eye as watchful as
that Of a hawk, his betting quick, con
fdent, ~audacious. The contagion of
his spirit seemed to affect the others,
to force them into desperate wagers.
The p~erspiration was beading Slavin's
forehead. and now and then an oath
burst unrestrained from his hairy lips.
Halves and Willis sat white-faced, bent
forward a~nxiously over the table, their
fingers shaking as they handled the
fateful cards, but Hampton played
without perceptible tremor, his utter
ances few and m~onosyllabic, his calm
face %betraying not the faintest emo
ton.
And he was steadily winning. Occa-
sionally some othtr hand drew in the
growing stock of Gold and bank notes,
but not often enough to offset those
continued gains that began to heap up
in such an alluring pile upon his por.
ton Of the table. The lookers-on who
had come in begaA to observe fItis, and
gathered more closely about hiy chair,
fascinated by the luck with which the
cards came floating into his hands, the
cool judgment Of his critical plays, the
reckless abandon with which he forced
success. Suddenly he forced the fight
to a finish. The opportunity came in
a Jackpot which dawes had opened.
The betting bet1n with q cool thou
sand. Then Nampton's turn came.
Without drawing, his cards yet lying
downward before him on the board,
his calm features as immovable as the
Sphinx, he quietly pushed his whole
accumulated pile to the center, named
the sum, and leaned back in his chair,
his eyes cold, impressive. Halves
threw down his hand, wiping his
streaming face with his handkerchief;
Willis counted his remaining roll, hest
tated, looked again at the faces of his
cards, flung aside two, drawing to fill,
and called loudly for a showdown, his
eyes p~rotruding. Slavin, cursing
fiercely under mis- red beard, having
drawn one cad, his perplexed face in
stantly Frightening as he glanced at
it, went back into his hip pocket for
every cent he had, and added his pro-
fame demand for q chance at the
money.
A fortune rested on the table, a for
tune the ownership of which was to
be decided in a single moment, and by
the movement of a hand. Willis was
| gasping. his whole body Quivering;
| Slavin was watching Hampton's hands
as a cat does a mouse, his thick lips
parted. his fingers twitching nervously.
The latter smiled grimly, his motion
deliberate, his Eyes eve wavering.
Slowly, one by one, he turned up his
cards, W even deigning to glance
downward, his entire manner that Of
unstudied indifference. One-two-
three. Willis uttered q snarl like q
stricken wild beastt, and sank back In
his chair, his eyes closed, his cheeks
CHASTITY. Four. Slavin brought down
his great clenched first with q crash
on the table. a string of oaths bursting
unrestrained from his lips. Five.
Hampton, never stirring a muscle, sat
there like a statue, watching. His
| right hand kept hidden beneath the
table, with his left he quietly drew in
the stack Of bills and coin, pushing the
stun heedlessly into the side pocket Of
his coat, his gaze never once wander.
ing from those stricken faces fronting
him. Then he softly pushed back his
| chair and stood erect. Willis never
| moved, but Slavin rose unsteadily to
his feet, gripping the table fercely
| with both hands.
Gentlemen" said Hampton, grave
ly, his clear voice sounding like the
sudden peal OF a bell, Il a only thank
vou for vour courteSv in his matter