Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-12-27
CHAPTER TX.

Forbes asked for his fifth hundred.
"A ten-dollar limit, with deuces wild,
and you open on two pair!"
Il keep forgetting" replied Forbes,
scowling. You'll never get me into
one OF these dashed deuces wild
again"
You always say that" retorted jill
son.
Well, mean It this time. Besides,
you fellows begin with two-call.four,
and you swear it won't go any higher;
and yet you boost 'er on the first
straight flush. And here's Gravity
holding hve of = kind-five Of kind,
gentlemen!--four times in the last
half hour
whats on your mind, Mort 2" asked
Crawford. You play good hand, but
you're on in Judgment tonight
It's my damned artistic tempera-
ment." Forbes smiled lamely. Two
cards. please"
Only I'VE minutes to play; only flve
minutes. He wanted to be alone, to
think 1t over. to make some plan. Old
Gravity! It simply wasn't possible.
Yet. there was that unforgetable cut
across the knuckles. To warn him
without alarming him. Old Gravity,
the lovablest man alive. .
crook!
What? oh, you start 'er, Carlyle!
Well, Just for change I'll boost her
another blue one.
Call"
-Four aces!" cried Forbes triumph
unity. And what do I get for EN-.
The ante and one lonesome bet. NY
luck!"
Twelve o'clock. boys" Jillson
threw the decks on the floor. Cash
In. Chips for money, money for chips"
droning the call of the professional
gambler. He produced . tab and PEN
ell and totted 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. I win ninety.six;
just enough to pay for the whisky and
tobacco and grub. I never yet heard
os host coming out on top of the
game. II wouldn't look WELL
The I'VE losers got out their check
books and made preparations to set
tie. Crawford's face seemed to grow
old and care-worn.
ILL.," he said. got any cash? I'm
sailing for italy IN the morning and
wont have time to bother with
checks"
Sailing for italy! Forbes tore up
three blanks before he succeeded in
getting one filled out properly. Italy.
Here was solution to the whole dark
business. He would write letter to
Crawford in Naples, telling him what
he knew, and that he must return the
jewels ct once. They would never be
traceable II sent by foreign parcel
post. Armitage and HOLSTER and Nor
ris might have to pay duty again, but
he doubted IL they would make any
trouble over that as long as they re-
ceived the Jewels intact. And all that
comedy at safe-opening had been .
mask; behind it had lain tragedy. The
evidence OF his own eyes; nothing
else could have made him believe it.
He heard Jillson saying: Il believe
l can Ak you out" He saw his host
90 to his safe and return with seven
hundred. You always carry q roll.
Wheedon. Let me have two hundred
and I'll give you my check for it.
Tho matter was arranged, and Craw-
ford put away the money. It hit
Forbes like blow between the eyes:
Crawford asking for cash! A man
whose income couldn't be the short
eide Of two hundred thousand q year!
Going along, Mort? Got my cleo
trio outside. and it won't be any trou-
BILE to drop you at the studio" Craw-
ford put his arm across the younger
mans shoulders.
Thanks. Glad to 60 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!?
"Pinched for money!" The cab
skidded, caught itself and went on.
Good Lord. no! What put that into
your head? Oh, say, are
you In need Of few hundreds? II
this nine hundred
No. I'm on easy street. But ! never
saw you take cash before. You're al
ways saying something about sending
the check when chaps ready"
u am going away, Mort. perhaps for
. long, long time; perhaps ten years;
perhaps shan't come back. Who
knows?"
Is II q woman ?"
4 Crawford laughed. You're always
seeing petticoats. No, Mort, not WON
an. only snow-image. Why can't
you pack up and come along with me?
Naples will Be beautiful now
TOO many contracts. haven't any
income like you. I earn lots OF money,
hut ! have to keep on earning It. And
just now I'm in . hole for new
model. BY the way, do you know the
Mearsons who live below Jillson?
Eyes"
well. I'd give . thousand for q
chance to draw her face, to have her
pose for me-" What had Crawford's
sensation been when he entered that
room?
Sorry can't help you"
Why not !'' g
'.The truth is. We are not on speak.
ing terms.
"Oh. we'll, dare say Jilison might
speak . word for me.