The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1908-05-08
{ [.Continued from page 2. !
Y AsS019
= SA..S


q no time for interruption.
~T've held back and held back BE-
A-luse I'm no talker. I can't be In my
xaess But this Is my last chance,
and | want to put myself right with
you. I've loved you ever since the
Dawson days, not in the way you'd
expect from man Of my sort perhaps,
but with the kind Of love that wo-
man wants never showed NY hand,
for what was the use: ThNt man out
helI me. I'd have cult faro years back
only | wcri mt leave this country as
long as you were part of 1t, and up
here I'm o2ly gambler fit for nothing
else. I'd mace u my mind to lot you
have him till something happened q
couple of months ago. but now it can't
20 through. Ill have TO down MIN.
1t isn't concerning you. I'm not
welcher No, it's thing l can't talk
about--a thing that's made me into a
wolf, made me skulk and walk the
alleys like a dago. It's put murder
Into my heart. I've tried to aSSassi-
nate him. l tried it here last night
butt was gentleman once-till the
cards came He knows the answer
now, though. and he's ready for me, so
one Of us will go out like candle
when we meet felt that l had to
tell you before cut him down or be-
fore he got me-
,AYou're talking like madman.
Kid" she replied, land you mustn't
turn against him now. He has trou-
bles enough. I never knew you cared
for me- What tangle it Is. to be
sure. You love me, l love him. he
loves that girl, and she loves a crook.
Isn't that tragedy enough without
your adding to it? You come at a
bad time, too, for I'm half insane.
There's something dreadful in the air
tonight
"I'll have to kill him." the man NUT
tered doggedly, and, plead or reason as
she would, she could get nothing from
him except those words till at last
she turned upon him flercely.
"You say you love me. Very we'll.
let's see IL you do. know the kind
OF a man you are. and l know what
this feud will mean to him, coming
Just at this time. Put 1t aside and I'll
marry you"
y The gambler rose slowly to his feet.
4'You do love him. don't you?" She
bowed her face, and he WINGED. but
continued: Il wouldn't make you my
wife that way. I didn't mean 1t that
way"
At this she laughed bitterly. "Oh, /
see. OF course not. How foolish OF
me to expect it Of man like you.
/ understand what you mean now.
and the bargain will stand just the
same, II that Is what you came for.
wanted to leave this life and be good,
to 90 away and start over and play
he game square, but see it's no use.
I'll pay. l know how relentless you
re, and the price Is low enough. You
IAN have me-and that-marriage talk
I'll not speak Of again. I'll stay
what am for his sake"
"stop." cried the Kid. You're
Axrong. I'm not that kind Of sport"
lis voice broke suddenly, its vehem-
ence shaking his slim body. "Oh, Cher
~, ! love you the way man ought
to love a woman. It's one Of the two
good things left in me, and 1 want to
take you away from here where we
can both hide from the past, where
we can start new, as you ~ly."
~You would marry me? she asked.
''In an hour and give my hearts
blood for the privilege, but I can't
stop this thing. not even If your own
dear life hung upon 1t. l must kill
that man."
She approached him and laid her
arms about his neck, every line Of her
BODY pleading, but he refused stead
astly, while the sweat stood out upon
g brow.
She begged: They're all against
N, Kid. He's fighting hopeless
n. t. He laid all he had at that girls
ct, and I'll do the same for you"
Che man growled savagely. "He got
,reward. He took all she had
Don't be a fool. guess / know.
)u're faro dealer. but you haven't
y right to talk like that about a good
;man, even to a bad one like me-
INTO his dark eyes slowly crept a
pgry look, and she felt him begin to
kble the least bit. He undertook to
esSs, paused, wet his lips. then care
lily chose these words:
do you mean-that he did not-that
le Is "a good girl?'
absolutely"
He sat down weakly and passed a
baking hand over his face, which had
gun to twitch and jerk again as 1t
Tad OH that night when his vengeance
may as we'll tell you that know
5 more than that. She's honest and
u Drincipled. l don't know why I'm
this, but 1t was on my mind
was half distracted when you