Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-02-15

gagged. only to have 1t lightly pooh
pOohed by the Colonel and also by
Maxwell, who joined them just then.
Hang the contract" was Maxwell's
immediate comment. ut must be
some picayune job in that town. Put
in any old bid high enough to make
no mistake about getting it. Your
firm doesn't expect to get everything
1t bids on, does It? You must not
break up our little game that way, you
know. That will never do"
1t spite of all the two colonies could
say, and in spite Of all the knowing
winks with which the barkeeper pune.
tured his advice, Frank was firm in
his determination TO go ashore next
morning. Opposed to the repeated ar.
gument of his tempters that "the firm
would never know" was his recollec.
tion Of Jennie's parting words: Think
Of me as If ! were standing beside
you, and you cannot lose
When the four sat down to play
their last game together that evening
nothing was said to Watkins abou,
Franks determination to leave them
next day.
Same old thing. suppose?" he de
manded as the cards were shufled.
That's right" answered Colone
Draper. -Four of q kind Is high, ant
call sight for your pile II you wan
to; but II you borrow to raise, 20,
must borrow to call"
"All right. Let her go!" was al
Colonel Maxwell had to say. az HI
placed q handful Of bills on the table
There was little change in Franz
Avery's luck. and he gradually added
to his winnings until he had severn
hundred dollars more velvet" in from
of him. The losers took It good.na
turedly, and seemed to enjoy the gam
just the same as II they were winning
The barlieeper sat and looked on b,
spells, and lost no opportunity to whis
per to Frank to push his luck.
Its q cinch." he said. You can
lose. It's the chance Of your life"
Along toward midnight. Fran
picked up four sevens pat on his owl
blind. Watkins. on his left, ha
queens up, but did not raise the ante
Maxwell just Clipped, but Drape
raised it twenty-five dollars on thre
kings.
Frank was too good q player to rails
then. which would probably drive tn
others out. so he put up the twenty
five as II 1t hurt him to do It, Wa
k:ns raised It fifty. on the principle O
making his play on two pairs befor
the draw. Maxwell saw both raise
after some hesitation, and the deale
just called, taking up tho pack at tn
same time to serve the draw.
Seeing that his opportunity for
killing had come. Frank raised It
hundred dollars. which he thought tina
the three men who were already in 10
seventy-five each would stand.
Watkins dropped like a shot. Coli
mel Maxwell not only saw the rais'
but came back two hundred and fft
harder, which drove out the dealer an
brought Frank up with a jerk. II
just called It and drew one card. Ma,
well stood pat and bet dollar.
Something in the nature Of an insp
ration. Or perhaps an almost impe
ceptible movement on the part of tn
; harkeeper. prompted Frank just
} call, and 1t was fortunate for him ths
he did, as the Colonel had four eight
This sudden and unexpected reverse
which cost him over four hundred do
, lars, gave Frank chill that he di
not recover from for several deals an
he found himself nervously fumblin
in his pockets and trying to count tn
money he had left. There was onl
about half an hour moro to play, an
, the chances of recovering any OF the
four hundred were very slim. Tn
barkeeper looked solemn and shoe
his head, as II he did not understan