Williams news., 1916-08-10

"'Pas.ence and shuttle the cards.' as the Spaniards say. Wait bit, Kynaston."
 He laid down his hand for mo- ment and shakingly 1t a cigarette.
 'Who've you got at home, Kynas- ton?"
 ,-~"sister. Why? Whats that got to do with it?" ,a
 How old are you, son?'
 Twenty-Five. Still, why?"
 An I'm sixty-ive. Did you aim at that man, Kynaston? AS God is your judge, answer mel" 'E
 And straight as a shot came Kynas- tons answer; :1 aimed as deliberate ly at him as I ever aimed at anything in my life. Did d'you?" T did. An without lyin' more than ordinarily I do, I can say that if did miss it's the first time for. long time. Did you see the body?"
 "No. They covered it up with the blanket too quick for me to sec Why?"
 'T wonder if it's possible that we both plugged him.
 That's got nothing to do with it," said 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. I must say I 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 and 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?'' s%
 There was little mirth in the jest. 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 tested from time i'm memorial playing with death as boys do with marbles, holding it indeed to be little thing where honor is to be gained
 The older man speculated. Then he threw down a 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 laugh-it was the poorest imitation that was ever heard-and flung down his hand face up. It was one ace, one king, one seven and-two fours! ss
 If you've got anything at all in your hand as it is, you have me beaten I can't better my hand from what I threw down. In the name of Heaven, Upton, show down!"
 Upton, with quick look at his young opponent, laid his hand quietly upon the table. Three jacks peered out from behind a seven spot .s
 T was aiming to speculate again on the next round if you hadn't dropped out an then try for the four jacks. Want drink 9"
 Kynaston nodded, smiling wanly at his host
 Its all right, old man," he said presently. Its as it should be- You see you've got Dorothy to look after --and-I'd have liked that job myself if the cards had fallen the other way"
 Upton whistled
 Good Heavens, boy! Does she know?"
 Kynaston shook his head softly.
 'No. It came too late for me to tell her. She must never know, Up ton Not word of this. IT go down at dusk. You must ct the ladies in the back room on some pretext. They would raise the deuce and all if they knew-and then I'll walk on down.
 T shall not take a rifle with me, but I will take that little thirty-eight automatic of yours. It may come in handy in the time of need, and I can hide that where heavy gun would be detected. And now, if you don't mind, old fellow, I'll trouble you for a sheet or two of paper
 "f l am reported as killed over here the American papers would jump to the conclusion that I had deserted. Then I'll have couple of notes that I'd like you to deliver whea-when- when I've gone down there'
 "Kynaston! I don't like to ask you this-but, man and boy, I've known the army for fifty years, and I know that an officer doesn't get chance to put by any money. Were your peo, ple army people?'
 Yes. Why?"
 'Ts your sister dependent upon you in any way?
 "None of your business, Mr. Upton." said the youngster. "No enc need be concerned in this matter but you and me. We played the game. 1 lost, and I mean to pay
 There was no mistaking the tears in the old mans eyes as he looked steadily at his opponent.
 'I know" he said slowly, fiddling With the pack though his nanos