The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.) 1912-1922, 1913-10-02
The Siege Of
The Seven Spitors
By
MEREDITH NICHOLSON
Copyright. 1910. BY Meredith Nleholsos
CONTINUED from Last Issue.)

CONTINUED from Last Issue.)
'Thel SUMMON the Coroner by tele
phone, for l shall not be taken alive
l answered quietly, trying to recall my
youthful delight in Porthos, Athos and
.Aramis.
Come along, let US put him out,
Henderson was saying in an aside to
Ormsby
You were playing game here for a
stake not yours for the winning"
continued. "Now suggest that you
shuttle the pack-you three. who are SO
full of valor-shuttle the pack, l say,
and draw for the Jack of clubs. Who
ever is the fortunate man l shall take
pleasure in pitching through yonder
very charming easement"
Agreed" cried Henderson. and the
three flung themselves into their chairs.
The alacrity Of their consent had un-
nerved me for moment. D'Artagnan,
l was sure. would have fought them
all, but l consoled myself as the cards
ratified on the bare table with the re-
fection that, considering the fact that
l had never in my life laid violent
hands on a fellow being, was con.
Quoting myself with admirable assur-
ance. My weight has always hung
well within 100, and physicians have
told me that was incapable of taking
on flesh or muscle. Any one Of these
men could easily toss me through fthe
window had indicated az means of
their own exit.
Shallenberger caught my eye and in
dicated with slight jerk Of the head
that l had better run before it was too
late. The painstaking care with which
Henderson had fallen upon the cards
was disQuieting, to put it mildly. Dick
nudged me in the ribs and offered to
hold my coat.
1T will not be necessary" I replied
Tender your services to
the other gentlemen. Come. gentle
men-hurry. Let US not waste time
here"
III Ormsby turns up the card you're
dead man." Dick was muttering
yloomily.
They're all alike to me-" replied
oudly. "Mr. Otmsby is very beauti-
'ul. ! shall hope not to dis6gure him
permanently" But AZ spoke my
eakes : W b BY Dry clsppee in
ny mouth. :
l was oenolng over now. watching
~ three men pick up the cards. and
once, when misread the Jack Of
spades for the jack Of clubs. q shud-
der passed over me- They were down
to the last card. and Ormsby's hand
vas on it.
Then looked ut the door to steady
myself. and hope leaped within me.
Tor there. BY Ormsby's foot-a large
md heavy one-lay an upturned card.
The jack Of clubs. whose lone symbol
itself enormously In my
amazed eyes.
At this moment became conscious
hat something had occurred to dis
|ract the attention Of the other men.
who were staring at some one who
lad entered noiselessly.
Gentlemen. you seem immensely in
crested in the turn Of those cards. |
I'm glad to have arrived at the critical
moment Mr.. Ormaby. will you kindly
lift the remaining card from the
able!'
I Miss Octavia stood beAide ME. She
vas dressed In q dark brown riding
labit-the feather In Der fedora hat
9nphasiaads haRs aaus} shrtsk aAf:sA
Ormsby turned up the card. 1t was
he ten of diamonds.
"Gentlemen." cried. pointing to the !!
ard, what trick is this? Can It he
,osslble that you have been tri6ing |
With me In a fashion for which men
ave died the world over By sword and
'istnlr'
Kindly explain. Arnold. the nature
I this difficulty Miss Octavia, com.
handed.
Simply this. Miss Hoilister. II I
aust answer. had offered to light
hese three gentlemen In order. 1t was
greed that the man who drew the
ack Of clubs from the pack with
phich they had been playing should
e my first victim. They have shuffipd
heir own cards and have drawn the
rlole pack and there IL no jack Of
Tubs in the pack: The only possible
xplanation is one tn which I hesitate
D apply the obvious plain Saxon
erms.''
ut dropped out. that's all! Yon
ont dare pretend that we threw ont
be jack to avoid ORA wing it, protest
d Ormsby. though saw from the
lances the trio exchanged that they
Inspected one another Orulsby and
'orse bent down To Loeb for the MISS
~ card hut before they found It |
Topped forward and drove my fist
pom the table with all the rower /
ould put into the blow.
"Stop!' cried. II gave you every
pportunity to stand up and take a
'ouncing. b,tt need hardly xay that
fter this contemplate knavery re-
use to soil my hands on yon:'
sSnn uns, 60 knrn~ 11~-An~ | 4