Williams news., 1915-07-22
in my pocket Wait till I strike g

heard no answer, only the slap of the cards as they were flung onto the table; then the chatter of key as 1t turned in some distant lock.
 The bottles were brought forward and they sat down one on each side of the dusty mahogany table. The man facing me was Spencer, the other sat with his back my way.
 Well play till the hands point to three," announced Spencer, taking out his watch and laying it down where both could see it. Do you agree to | that?-unless I win and your funds go a-begging before that hour" T agree" The tone was harsh; it | was almost smothered. The man was | staring at the watch; there was a | strange set look to his figure; paus- | ing as of thought-of sinister thought, | should now say; then I never stopped to characterize it; it was fol sudden grab at the cards
 You'll win! I feel it in my bones" came in encouraging tones from the rich man. 'If you do"-here the storm lulled and his voice sank to an en- couraging whisper-"you can buy the old tavern up the road. It's going for a song; and then we'll be neighbors and can play-play-"
 The bills had all gone one way. They fell within Spencer's grasp. Sud denly hard upon a rattling peal which seemed to unite heaven and earth, heard shouted out:
 l three"
 1 Damn your greedy eyes!" came back in growl. Then all was still, fearfully still, both in the atmosphere outside and in that within, during which caught sight of the strangers hand moving slowly around to his back and returning as slowly forward, all under cover of the tabletop and a stack of half-empty bottles.
 l q can buy the Claymore tavern, can I? We'll, I'm going to-" rang out into the air as the speaker leaped to his feet. Take that, you cheat! And that! And that!" And the shots rang out-one, two, three!
 Spencer was dead in his Folly. I had seen him rise, throw up his hands and then fall in . heap among the cards and glasses.
 Then the man who stood there alone turned slightly and saw his face. I have seen it many times since; l have seen it at Claymore tav- ern. He put the weapon back in his pocket and began gathering up the money. When every bill was in his pockets he reached out his hand for the watch. Then saw him smile He smiled as he shut the case, he smiled as he plunged it in after the bills. Next moment woke to a realiza. tion of myself and all the danger of my own position. I had the instinct to make leap for the window over my head and clutch at it's narrow sill in a wild attempt at escape.
 But the effort ended precipitately He was coming toward me-a strain. ing, panting fgure-haf carrying, half dragging, the dead man who Topped aside from his arms. My senses blurred and I knew nothing till on a sudden they cleared again, and I woke to the blessed realization that the door had been pushed against my slen. der figure, hiding it completely from his sight, and that this door was now closed again and this time tightly and l was safe-safe!
 The relief sent the precipitation in reek from every pore; but the icy revulsion came quickly. As l drew UT knees to get a better purchase on the sill, heavens torch was suddenly lii up, the closet became pit of dazzling whiteness amid which I saw the blot oi that dead body, with head propped against the wall and eyes
 Remember, I was but fifteen. The legs were hunched up and almost touched mine. The door-the door there was my way-the only way which would rid me instantly of any proximity to this hideous object
 flung myself at it-found the knob turned it and yelled aloud-my foot had brushed against him. I knew the difference and it sent me palpitatine over the threshold; but no farther Love of life had returned with my es cape from that awful prison house } and 1 halted in the semidarkness into which had plunged, thanking heayer for the thunder peal which haG , drowned my loud cry
 For I was not yet safe. He wal still there. He had turned out all lights but one. He had not seen me
 and was going. could hear the
 sound of his feet as he went stun , bling in his zigzag course towards the ' door. Then every sound both on his f part and on mine was lost in swooI l of down-falling rain and l remember 3 nothing more till out of the blackness l before me. he started again into view t within the open doorway where in the