Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1909-04-30
4 Satan 4
.SanderSOn

he rogue 10 sou know the meaning
OF the word honor or right or justlccf
Have you u single purpose OF mind
which Isn't crookedY"
You're Just like the rest then"
Hugh retorted. .iust because | did
that one thing you'll give me no more
chance. Yet the tirst thing did with
that money was 10 square myself.
paid every debt OF honor had. That's
why I'm in the hole now But get
no credit for It, even from yon. ! wish
you could put yourself In my place"
Harry had been looking steadily ut
the sallow face with Its hoof print of
the satyr. not seeing It, but hearing
his own voice say to Jessica: Il was
my brothers keeper. see 1t now"
And out of the distance, 1t seemed. his
voice answered.
Put myself In your piacel wish
could! ! wish to God | couldf'
The exclamation was Involuntary.
automatic. the cumulative expression
of every throe OF conscience Harry
had endured since then. the voice OF
that rotnorse that hili cried mistakenly
for PREPARATION. dnaiiig IN his ears tho
fateful question thar God asked ~
Cain. Suddenly whlrl Of rage seit,.sl
him. unmcasured. savage. malicious
He had despiscd Hugh now he tslEetl
him hated him because be was Jessi.
cas- husband and, more than all. be
cause he was the syfsh0i of hs own
self abasetnent daredevil side of
the old Satan Sander~pn that he hatl
chained and barred rose up end took
him by the throat He struck the oasS
wninscoting with his tist, feeling fel
mist grow before bis eyes.
$50 yon paid every debt OF honor
you had eh? You acknowledge n
gamester's honor but not the obIiga-
ton OF right action between man and
man! Very well. Give me that pack
OF cards. You want money here It
isv'
He swiftly turned the clicking COM
bination Of the safe, wrenchcd open
the door and took out two heavy can
vas bags. lie snapped the cord from
the neck of one OF these, and ring
Ing stream OF double eagles swept
jingling on the table. He dipped his
hand in the yellow pile. A thought
mad as the boots OF runaway horses
was careening through his BRAIN He
felt an odd lghfness OF mind, tense
tingling of every nerve and muscle.
Here is two thousand dollars--yours
IL you win it--for you shall play for 1t,
you gambler, who pays his debts OF
honor and no other You shall play
fair and straight IL you never play
again.
Hugh gazed at Harry In startled
way. This was not the ministerial
Harry Sanderson he had known-this
! figure with the white. infuriate face.
the sparkling eyes and the strange.
/, yelled look. This reminded him of the
| reckless spirit of his college days, that
| he had patterned after and had stood
! In awe or.
How can | play" he said, when
you know very well | haven't sou
markee?"
Harry stuffed the gold back into the
bag. He snatched the cards from
Hugh's hand and box of waxen en-
(, yelope waters from his desk. There
was strange light In his eye, a tremor
In his fingers
1T is | who play with money! be
said my gold against your conn
| tersl Each OF those hundred red disks
represents a day OF your life-a day.
| do you understands red day OF your
sin! A day OF yours against double
eagle! What you win you keep. But
for every counter | win you shall pay
me one straight, white day. clean
day, lived for deceDcy and for the
right!'
/ Hugh's eyes were fastened on the
gold In Harry's fingers. Two thousand
! dollarsl If luck came his way he could
go far on that--far enough to escape
the nameless terror that pursued him
in every shadow. Money against red
/ waters? Why. 1t was plenty II he won.
and II he lost be had staked nothing
! What fool Harry wasi
Harry saw the shrewd, calculating
/ look that came TO his eyes. He caught
his wrist.
Not herci" he said hoarsely. He
flung open the chapel door and pushed
him aside. He seized one OF the altar
candles. III II with match and stuck
! 1t upright In Its own wax on the small
communion table thar stood just In
side the altar rail-, with the cards. the
red waters and the bags OF coin. He
/ dragged two chairs forward
"Now." he said Ia strained voice.
| put up your hand your right hand
and swear before this altar. on the
/ gamblers honor you boast OF. win or
/ lose. to abide by this gamer
| Hugh shrank- He was superstitious
| /S
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