The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1914-01-12
A
DoubleG,arne
By HARRY VAN AMBURC

Mighty dull this lounging about a
hotel waiting for something said a
ran to another who occupied chair
| beside him.
| We'll. yes. rather. Cards Is about
the only way to pass the time. And
get up party TO play 'em."
Il couldn't do that" said the other.
| for don't know soul socially in the
town. l expected TO finish my bust
ness here today and get out this even
| ing, but i didn't succeed"
Il know several men who board
| here" said the other. Il was thinking
| of getting up little game of poker
this evening in my room. five cent ante
or something like that"
81 wish You would and let me in"
The party met. and the man who
didn't know anybody was introduced
/ by his friend to the others as Mr..
| Wheelock. the introducer's name be-
| ing Jones They sat down to play
with Il five cent ante. but kept raising 1t
till it reached dollar. Mr.. wheelock
didn't object and bet as high as any OF
the party. sometimes winning and
| sometimes losing.
/ 1t was not long before Wheelock dis
! covered that. though he neither lost
| nor won much. the money he staked
| was gradually passing out of his hands
! ard WAS supplied b. new five dollar
! bills. all en- the same bank The fact
| didn't seem to surprise him. nor did
be object to it. He did not even com
ment upon it. But Mr.. Jones. from
| whom the bills came. remarked that
he had had $1,000 paid him that after
noon at bank and il had been given
/ him all i'm these new FIVE dollar bills
on the bank from which he had receiv-
ed the money. This explained his hav-
| ing so much of ii all of the same de-
/ nomina ton.
While the game was in progress a
bell boy raped at the door and asked
if Mr. Wheelock was in the room On
| being told that be was he handed i'm a
bouquet Of flowers Wheelock receiv-
ed the flowers with evident astonish-
ment When the others rallied him at
looked embarrassed and declared that
he didn't know woman in the place.
and If he had made a mash" he was
entirely unconscious of it.
However" he said. gentlemen.
trust that you will drink to the lady.
whoever she may be. with me- And.
rising. he pressed the electric button
and on the arrival of a waiter ordered
bottle Of wine. The quitting of wine
and the game went. on together after
this. but none of the men present seem
ed to care to drink to excess. MIR.
Jones. In whose room the party were.
was especially abstemious. barely SIP
ping his wine.
But Mr. wheeiock and one or two
Of the others having finished the bottle.
the first named ordered another. and
when 1t had been left in the room
Wheelock followed the waiter out for
some purpose and when he returned
shut the door and turned the key un-
known to the others. He then deftly
J slipped II up hfs sleeve and after re-
Stunning his seat. being hidden by the
table. transferred It to his pocket.
1T seems to me- remarked one Of
the party. that those flowers have a
very decided perfume"
Every decided" chimed fin another.
J ut makes me feel like turning in"
said a third.
|, Perhaps we'd better open a win
r dow" observed the host. "and get
some air. Would you object. Mr.. whee-
/. Iock?"
Certainly not"
Jones went to window and tried
to open it. 1t seemed to be stuck He
went to another which also resisted
his efforts. Mr.. wheelock seemed to
, he intent on the cards. but his mind
was on the windows. He had gained
access to that very room during the
day and had driven nail into the sash
Of each window
Jones turned away with a frightened
look on his face There were two
games being played in his room-one
:, by himself. the other by Mr. whee-
Y lock. Jones staggered to the door and
!, tried TO open it Finding it locked. be
looked more frightened still
Some one has locked us in here
he said. I'VE must get out"
He caught on to the back of chair.
The perfume from the flowers was
! overcoming him. He returned to the
L window and made another effort to
Y lift the sash. He failed and was on
his way to the other window when he
7 sank down unconscious
, Meanwhile the others Of the party
were also giving way to the effects OF
the flowers and one by one either roll
ed down to the floor or bent over un
: conscious on the table Wheelock
r eounteracted the fumes by holding a
r vial under bis nose When all except
v himself had succumbed ~ summoned
y a waiter and directed him to bring the