The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1916-05-26
AFOUL OF
VILLAS MEN
BY
Capt. George B. Rodney
CONTINUED from Tuesday,

The girl passed her hands loving
ly over the old miners sparse hair
The light in her eyes told Kynaston
what the loss of her father would
mean to Dorothy. Then suddenly il
came to him that he was playing the
fourth hand. and that on the upshot
OF this one hand it depended whether
or not that light should dawn again
in Dorothy Uptons eyes.
He bit his lips till the blood came
and ran down, a salty trickle, into his
mouth. Upton looked at Kynaston
grimly as he flung the fifth card into
the widow and settled himself TO play
his hand.
Patience and shuttle the cards.
as the Spaniards say. Wait bit,
Kynaston."
He laid down his hand for a mo
ment and shakingly lit cigarette.
Who've you got at home, KyDas.
tom"
Sister. Why? What's that got to
do with it?"
How old are you, SOM"
twenty-five Still, why?"
An I'm siXty-tive. Did YOU aim
at that man. KynastOn? As God IS
your Judge, answer met"
And straight as shot came Kvnas-
tons answer Il aimed as deliberate
ly at him as | ever aimed at anything
in my life. Did youo"
! did. An without lyin' more than
ordinarily do, l can say that if did
miss it's the first time FOR a long time.
Did you see the body?"
No. They covered it up with the
blanket toe quick for me 20 see. Why
i wonder if it's possible that we
both plugged him.
That's got nothing to do with it,"
seid Kynaston roughly. They only
claim one of us. Play your hand. Up
ton! What ails yOu?"
"Nothin', only I'd like to bet that
If you killed him he's got two bullet.
holes in him. | must say don't like
the idea OF havin' a clean miss set
down against me-takin up the
widow, are you?"
For kynaston, the play passing TO
him, quietly laid down his hand ana
picked the five cards from the center
of the table
Wouldn't have me stand on two
small pairs with the stakes we're play
in for. would you?'
There was little mirth in the lest
Just so do men jest who, standing on
the Peaks of Peril, look down into the
Valley of the Shadow. Just so have
Anglo-SaXon men jested from time i'm
memorial, playing with death as bows
do with marbles. holding it indeed to
be little thing where honor is to be
gained
The Older man speculated. Then
he threw down card. This gave him
the right on the next play to throw
down one card and pick up two.
Shall we turn up the cards?"
The sweat had started again on
kynaston's face, but he summoned a
Taught was the poorest imitation
that was ever heard-and flung down
his hand face up. 1t was one ace, one
king, one seven and-two fours,
III you've got anything at all In
your hand as it is, you have me beaten.
/ can't better my hand from what
threw down. In the name OF Heaven.
Upton. show down."
Upton, with a quick look at his
young opponent, laid his hand quietly
upon the table. Three jacks peered
out from behind a seven spot.
Il was aiming to speculate again
on the next round if you hadn't
dropped out an then try for the four
jacks. Want a drink"
kynaston nodded, smiling wanly at
his host.
TITS all right, old man." he said
presently. ITS as il should be. You
see you've got Dorothy to look after
--and-Td have liked that job myself
II the cards had fallen the other
way"
Upton whistled.
Good Heavens, boy, Does she
knowT
kynastoD shook his head softly.
NO. 1t came too late for me to |
tell her. She must never know, Up
ton. Not a word of this. II 20 down |
at dusk. You must ret the ladies
In the back room on some pretext.
They would raise the deuce and all IL |
they knew-and then III walk on
down.
Il shall not take rife with me.
but will take that little thirty-eight
automatic Of yours 1t may come in
handy In the time of need, and can
hide that where O. heavy gun would
be detected. And now. If you don't
mind, old fellow, IN trouble you for
q sheet or two of paper.
If / am reported as killed over
here the American papers would jump
TO the conclusion that had deserted.