The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1914-05-14

ed Jillson.
well, mean IL this time. Be-
sides, you fellows begin with two
call-four. and you swear IL won't
go any higher; and yet you boost
'er on the first straight-flush. And
here's Gravity holding five of a
kind-five of a kind. gentlemen!
-four times in the last half
hour"
What's on your mind, Mort?"
asked Crawford. You play a
good hand, but you're off in judy
ment tonight"
TITS my blasted artistic tenn
permanent" Forbes smiled lame
ly. Two cards, please"
Only five minutes to play; only
five minutes. He wanted to be
alone. to think il over, to make
some plan. Old Gravity! 1t sim
ply wasn't possible. Yet, there
was that unforgetable cut across
the knuckles. To warn him with
out alarming him. Old Gravity,
the lovablest man alive. Z.
a crook!
What? Oh. you start 'er. Car
vile? Well, just for change I'll
boost her another blue one."
Call"
-Four aces." cried Forbes, tri-
umphantly. And what do | get
for EN-? The ante and one lone
some bet. My luck"
Twelve o'clock, boys" Jillson
threw the decks to the floor.
Cash in. Chips for money,
money for chips, "-droning the
call of the professional gambler.
He produced a tab and pencil
and jotted down the losses and
the winnings, taking particular
care that these tailed with the
advances from the bank.
Crawford, you old smooth
guy, you win nine hundred and
four dollars. l win ninety-six;
just enough to pay for the whisky
and tobacco and grub. | never
yet heard of host coming out on
top of the game. 1t wouldn't look
we'll"
The five losers got out their
cheek-books and made prepare
lions to settle. Crawfords face
seemed to grow old and care
worn.
"Jili," he said, got any cash?
I'm sailing for Italy in the morn
ing and won't have time to bother
with checks"
Sailing for Italy! Forbes tore
up three blanks before he sue
ceeded in getting one filled out
properly. Italy. Here was a So
luton to the whole dark business.
He would write a letter to
Crawford In Naples, telling him
what he knew, and that he must
return the jewels at once. They
would never be traceable If sent
by foreign parcels-post. Armit-
age and Hollister and Morris
might have to pay duty again,
but he doubted il they would
make any trouble over that as
long as they received the jewels
intact.
And all that comedy at safe
opening had been a mask; behind
it had lain tragedy. The evidence
of his own eyes; nothing else
could have made him believe 1t.
He heard Jillson saying: 81 be-
lieve l can fix you out" He saw
his host go to his safe and re-
turn with seven hundred. You
always carry a roll, Wheedon.
Let me have two hundred and I'll
give you my check for it."
The matter was arranged, and
Crawford put away the money.
1t hit Forbes like blow be-
tween the eyes: Crawford ask
ing for cash! A man whose in
come couldn't be the short side
of two hundred thousand a year!
Going along, Mort? Got my
electric outside, and 1t won't be
any trouble to drop you at the
studio" Crawford put his arm
across the younger mans Shout
ders.
Thanks. Glad to go with you"
To get the owner of that arm out
of the reach of the police was all
Forbes cared about. Once in the
cab he said: Gravity, are you
pinched for money!"
Punched for money!" The cab
skidded, caught itself and went
on. Good Lord, no! What put
that into your head? E.
oh, Isay, are you in need of a
few hundreds? If this nine hun
dred
"No, I'm on easy street. But
I never saw you take cash before.
You're always saying something
about sending the check when a
chaps ready"
81 am going away. Mort, per-
haps for a long, long time; per-
haps ten years; perhaps | shan
come back. Who knows?"
''Is It a woman"