Graham guardian., 1913-09-26

Come along. let us put him o,It
Henderson was saying in I'm aside "a
Ormsby
"You were playing game here fUr u
stake not yours for the WANING" |
continued. Now ] suggest thai yuu
shuffe the pack-you three. who are sn
full Of valor-shunic the pack. | say
and draw for the Jack of clubs Whu-
ever Is the fortunate man ! shall take
pleasure in pitching through wonder
worry charming easement"
Agreed cried Henderson. aud the
three nung themselves into their ciIairs.
The alacrity OF their consent had un-
nerved me FOR Il moment D'Artagnan.
was sure. would have fought them
! as but consoled myself as the cards
rftled on the bare table with the re-
2 stect.on that. considering the fact that
| had never In my life laid violent
hands on q fellow being. | wus con-
Quoting myself with admirable assur-
ance. My weight has always hung
well within 1870. and physicians have
told me that | was incapable OF taking
on flesh or muscle. Any one of these
men could easily toss me through the
window had indicated as a means Of
their own exit
Shallenbergsr caught my eye and In
dicated with slight Jerk Of the head
that | had better run before II was too
late. The painstaking care with which
MsAderson had fallen upon the cards
was dlsquieting. to put 1t mildly. Dick
nudged mo In the ribs and offered to
hold my coat.
1T will not be necessary" replied
careIessiy. Tender your services to
the other gentlemen. Come. gentle
men-hurry. Let us not waste time
here
''If ormsby turns up the card you're
n dead man." Dick was muttering
gfoomily.
They're all alike to me-" replied
loudly. mfr. Ormsby Is very beauti-
full ] shall hope not to dishgure him
permanently" But as | spoke my
tongue was a wabbly dry clapper In
my mouth.
I was bending over now. watching
the three men pick up the cards. and
once, when 1 misread the Jack Of
~spades for the Jack Of clubs. shud.
der passed over me. They were down
to the last card. and Ormsby's hand
was on II.
Then looked NJ the floor to steady
myself. and hope leaped within me.
for there, by Ormsbys foot-a large
and heavy one-lay an upturned card.
the jack OF clubs, whose lone symbol
magnihed itself enormously In my
amazed eyes.
At this moment | became conscious
TAT something had occurred to dis
tract the attention Of the other men,
who were staring ut some one who
had entered noiselessly.
Gentlemen. you seem immensely In
terested In the turn Of those cards !
am glad to have arrived at the critical
moment MFR. Ormsby. win you kindly
MT the remaining card from the
tnblef''
Miss Octavia stood beside me. She
was dressed In dark brown riding
habit--the feather In her fedora hat
emphasized her usual brisk air.
Ormsby turned up the card. II was
the ten Of diamonds.
"Geutiemen, cried. pointing to the
card, what trick Is this? Can II he
possible that you have been triflng
with me In fashion for which men
have died the world over by sword and
pistolg'
kindly explain. Arnold. the nature
Of this dificulty." Miss Octavia com
-Tmanded.
: simply this. Miss Hollister. " ]
must answer. had offered TO fight
these three gentlemen In order. II was
agreed that the man who drew tho
Jack OF clubs from the pack with
which they had been playing should
he my hrst victim. They have shnfiied
their own cards and have drawn the
whole pack and there Is no jack OF
clubs IA the pnck. The only possible
explanation Is one tu which hesitate
to apply the ohvIous plain Saxon
terms :"
Ito be CoNTTuED)