, 1908-08-13
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S~ho toiu oAAI
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 I'LL.
and called loudly for a showdown, his
eyes ~protruding. Slavin. cursing
hercely under his red beard, having |
drawn one card, his perplexed face in
stantly Frightening as he glanced at
II, went back into his hip pocket for
every cen he had. and added his pro-
fame demand for q chance at the
money.
A fortune rested ON the table, 4 for
tune the ownership of which was to
be decided In u 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 n~e.vously.
The latter smiled grimly, his motion
deliberate. his eyes never wavering.
Slowly, n by one. he turned up his
cards. never ever deigning to glance
downward. his entire manner that of
unstudied Indifference. One-two-
three. Willis uttered y snarl like q
stricken wild beastt. and SAM back In
his chair. his eyes closed, his cheeks
CHASTITY. Sour. Slavin brought down
his great clenched first with & crash
on the table. q string OF oaths bursting
un~restrained from his lips. Five.
Hampton, never stirring 4 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 n coin, pushing the
stun heedlessly into the side pocket of
his coat. his gaze never once wander.
ing ron those stricken faces fronting
him. Then he softly pushed back his
chair mt stood erect. Willis never
moved, but Slayin rose unsteadily to
his feet, gripping the table fiercely
with both hands.
Gentlemen" said Hampton, grave
ly. his clear voice sounding like the
sudden peal of q bell. Il can only thank
you for your courtesy in this matter.
and bid you all goodnight. However.
before l go 1t may be OF some interest
for me to say that l have played my
last game"
Somebody laughed sarcastically. .
harsh, hateful laugh. The speaker
whirisd, took one step forward: there
was tie Sash Of an extended nm. .
dull crunch. and Red Slavin went
crashing backward against the wall.
AS he gazed up. dazed and ~bewildered.
from the floor. the lights glimmered
along . blue-steel barrel.
Not a move. you red brute" and
Hampton spurned him contemporary
with his heel. This is no variety
show. and your laughter was In poor
taste. However. If you feel particu-
larly hilarious tonight I'll give you
another chance. l said this was my
last game: I'll repeat it-this was my
last game! Now. damn you! II you
feel like 1t. Taught"
He swept the circle of excited faces.
his eyes glowing like two diamonds.
his thin lips compressed into a single
straight line.
Mr.. Slavin appears to have lost his
previous sense Of humor." he re-
marked. calmly. II will now make my
statement for the third time-this was
my last game. Perhaps some Of you
gentlemen also may discover this to
be amusing"
The heavy. strained breathing Of the
r,nfinn lASp prnuuH A. htS nn1U nnaUAr |
and u half smile of bitter contempt
curled Hampton's lips, AS he swept
over them u last defiant glance.
mot quite 80 humorous as 1t seemed
to be ut first. | reckon" he commented.
dryiy. "Slavin.' and he prodded the
red giant once more with his foot.
I'm going out; II you make any At
tempt to leave this within the
next i've minutes III Kill you in your
tracks, as l would . mad dog. You
stacked cards twice tonight. but he
last time l beat you fairly at your v
game"
He held aside the heavy curtains
with his left hand and backed slowly
out facing them. the deadly revolver
shining ominously In the other. Not
. man moved Slavin slowered at hin
from the floor, an impotent curse upon
his lips. Then the red drapery fell.
While the shadows Of the long night
still hung over the valley. Nadia. toss
ing r~estlessly upon her strange bed
within the humble yellow house at the
fork of the trails. WAS aroused to
wakefulness by the pounding Of q
horses hoofs on the plank bridge
spanning the creek. She drew aside
the curtain and looked out, shading
her eyes to see clearer through the
poor glass. All she perceived was .
somewhat deeper smudge when the
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