Putnam patriot., 1914-07-03
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By LOUIS JOSEPH VANCE

piug "fat eaHitf Gi lHe~st q Aud yet ron rou.dn'i have v0n against me to- nigHt II caH1 I.5= he doHa nm in ducjble tt is lj.mot mg day Of days
 reHHeld la8.hsa a -aetalHny
 "Aluyhe it n5Es tlrt way to you Bar areH-t yga 1ff-ttr Irm9furea lau haven't banked tbat nad yel Eea know. Au7 minute sapething m.4'f happen to maEr f9u think oth"rwi~e Nothing fse Chat k going te hap pea p SyaMite retafted. With calm conviction -fHe nrbs with me
 ~Eale#e ms.- iH led tle athsr with eou2iug@a -I8yJsfty. .lm sacA bum ioar lm willing 10 sfaEe my last S-g1 9u tdc aapasItioa tlat y0a doat Ie4ee tHfz HaH=c dollar richer than son entered tts
 4R8ae@ s8a P Sft8rite instantly aIf eet u@H 0fh il you pay ne sJe0 Is fhaf nsatT
 @EzartIT
 ~BHt Ubefe shHft we meet 10 settle tbe Huaer:
 reu8eld smiled cheerfnny "Dine uitb ne at tHe Bizarre this evening at 7e
 If lose. vIth pleasure. Other wi-e= yoa are 10 Ae ms guest"
 "Ifs 6raln I.m curious to know how Haa came iu hmt In here ea my ser@aaI r of introduction Where dd Eu ea Ez.
 .E8m4 Il h 9 hat Jeff in my pos aessfHH HF eeHIemau in q great HarrE whom mHrb desired to see ae3Ia and therefore presumiug him To 5e }Ir Bailey PHaed-came here to H0l
 ~rHe gentleman was unknown to Hpuze
 Entirely mu young man with m ggly mouth rather faneies him self. 1 should sly. T bit of q bonnder You recognize this sketeh|
 "Peruaps Pen6eld murmured thouphtfuly
 His uumc>"
 "Perhaps he wouldn't thank me for telling you that"
 "Very we'll Now. why and how are you going to separate me from my wnnIngsE
 By force" said Mir Penfeld. with engaging candor "It dcsolates me to descend to rough neck methods. but am larger stronger man than you Mr"-
 "Sybarite." said the little man flush ing "P.-by the grace of God-Syba= Fitcgs
 "pellehfed to make your acqnaint ance MT Syharite But before we lose our tempers, what do yon say to T fair proposition. Leave with me what you have won tonight. and I'll pay fl back to the last cent with interest within six months"
 "I have every confidence in your pro fessioual houor" r. SybarIte replied hnudly up to the certain point 10 which we have attained tonight But the truth is | need the money
 You're unwise,n said the other and sighed profoundly. I'm sorry. You obtige me to eo the limit"
 Not I On the contrary, l advise you against any such dangerous course"
 "pangerousYs Ys
 "If you interfere with me I'll go to the police"
 The poiret" Peuheld elaborated m infection of derisien ''l keep this pre- cinct in my vest pocket"
 "POSsibly-so fnr as concerns your maintenance of this gambling house But murder-that's another matter"
 Again the gambler sighed. What must be must" said he, rising Mov. Ing to the wall. he pressed q call but. ton and simultaneously whipped q re- Yolver Into view, "I hope you're moi 4fmed," he protested sincerely. II would only make things messy, And then hate to have my employees run any risk
 You are sunmonlng posse 1 take its" inquired r SyburIte likewise on his feet
 "Utf dozen huskies." aSseuted the othes If you know your HttIe book sou'H come tnroueh a once aud save yourself q mauhandJus .'lt's too had." r. Sybarite regretted pensieely. and east desperate glance round the room.
 Bnt exactly at tue moment when de. spair entered into the heart of the lit- tle man -dlsposSessing altogether his cool assumption of confidence in his star-there rang through the house d
 
 l der penetrated even through the closed door to the lounge. Another followed | fl instantly and at deliberate Intervals third and fourth Instantly the door was thrown open, and. with the instantaneous effect of | Il Jack in the box. Pete showed a dirty gruy fnce of fright on the threshold.
 Good Lord. boss" he yelled Kun for yo life. We's raidedr He vanished | With au oath Pendeld started to- ward the door and instantly r. Syha- rite shot at his gun hand like terrier 1 1t the throat of a rat Momcntarily the shock ef the assault staggered the gambler and as he gave ground. reei. ing. r. Sybarite closed one set ot sinewy fingers tight round his right wrist and with the other seized and wrested the revolver away.
 Tue incident was history in a twin king r. Syharite sprang back. arm ed, the situation reversed
 Recovering, PenAeld threw him cry of euvenomed spite and iu one strid' left the room. He was turning up ths stairs. three steps and au oath at {