The evening world., 1909-02-16
a while, amid the lights and life ant
laughter OF Starks saloon.

laughter OF Starks saloon.
Being but a child by nature his means
OF distraction were primal and elemen-
tary and he began TO gamble, as usual
with hard luck. Tor the cards had ever
been unklnd TO him. He did not think
OF winnings or losinss. however-he
merely craved tho occupation; and It,
was this that induced him to sit at a
CANA In which Runnion played, although
ordinarily he would not have tolerated
even tac!tly such truce to his disIlkes
AS It was, he crouched in a corner. his
hat pulled down over his brow, his
swarthy face n darker hue beneath the
shadow, losing steadily, only now and
then showing a fash Of white teeth as
he saw his money go.
What mattered loss to hm' He had
TO more need OF money now than Nccia
dollars he had eked and scraped and
saved for her as she mad spent the
treasures Of his heart. and now that
the one had brought him no return he
wished to he rid OF the other. for he
was shortly to go again in search OF
his New Country" where no man
needs gold half so much as clean
heart. II would be long journey. far
to the West and North-a journey that
none OF his kind had ever Jared back
from, and he wished TO go light. as all
good adventures go.
Runnon annoyed him with his volu-
bilty, for the news OF his good fortune
had fred the man with a reckless dis
regard for money, and he turned TO
gaming as the one natural recourse OF
his Tx. As the irony Of fate would
have It, he won what the Canadian
lost, together with the stakes OF var
lous others who played for time with
him and then gave up. wagslns their
heads or swearing softly at the cards.
1t was shortly after midnight that
Stark came into the place. Poleon was
not too absorbed in his own fortunes
TO fail 10 notice the extraordinary fe-
rocity and exhllaration OF the saloon
keeper, nor that his face was keener
his nostrils thinner, his walk more
nervous, and his voice more cutting
than usual when ne spoke to Runnlon
Come here
"1ll be with you when I finish this
hand" said the player. over his
shoulder.
Come here' Stark snapped his
command and Runnlon threw down his
cards.
I'm right In the middle Of a winning
streak. You'll break my luck, Ben"
But the other only frowned .mpa.
tlently, and, drawing the reluctant
, gambler aside, began to talk rapidly
to him, almost within ear-shot Of
Poieon, who watched them. iLly won.
der.ng what Stark had to say tina.
could make Runnion start and act 20
queery. Well. It was their affair
They made bad pair to draw TO- He
knew that RunnIon was the saloon.
Keepers lieutenant and obcycd i'm.
plieity his seniors commands.
He could distinguish nothing they
said. nor was he at all curious until
knot OF noisy men crowded Up to
the bar, and, forcing the two back
nearer TO the table where he sat, his
sharp ears caught these words from
Runnion's lips:
Not with me. She'd never 20 with
me" and Stark's reply:
She'll go where send her, and
with anybody tell her to-
The Frenchman lost what followed,
Tor newly dealt hand required study.
He scanned his cards and tossed them
face up before the dealer; then he over.
heard Runnlon say:
cts the only one In camp. He might
sell 1t II YOU offered him enough"
A. this stark called one Of the men
at the bar aside. and the three segan
t. decker.
mot cent less" the third man an.
rounced, loudly. There amt another
Peterborough in town"
1t was Poleon's deal now, And WHEN
he had finished both Stark and Runnion
had disappeared. also tho man they
had accosted, which pleased the Cana.
dian. for now that REUNION was elm.
mated from the game he might win
a little. A steady, unvarying run of
bad hands Is uninteresting and does not
occupy ones mind as well as an coca.
sional change Of luck.