Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-07-24
The Red Mouse
A Story of Love, Jealousy and Politics
BY WILLIAM HAMILTON OSBORNE

are going to sit in ten-thousand- dollar
game tonight :"
Challoner drained his glass his example
however. was not followed by the Colonel
Instead. he put his arms akimbo, his fists
resting on his hips. and fitting back his
head he said with an air OF contempt:
Indeed! What with"
with your ten thousand :" 1t was we'll
said. Challoner's cool. passioness voice
gave to the declaration the character Of
infallihility
And YOU" Hargraves muttered in a
puzzled way.
Not a dollar" admitted Challoner
Colonel Hargraves rose; he threw into
his glance all his knowledge OF Challoner's
past
You must take me for a fool" he burst
cut and started for the door
But he had gone only few steps when
he felt Challoners clutch. turning he felt
the power OF Challoners eyes; and pres
emily under their compelling influence he
found himself once more taking his seat
He made no attempt to analyze his SEN
satons but he realized that Challoner had
made new impression In all the even
Qualities he had foreseen, he calculated on
Challoner's being a weakling. a wreck. But
TO his astonshment he saw within those
eyes nothing but success. Chafloner had
become a man not to be disregarded-a
man of strength.
my proposition is a perfectly fair one"
went on Challoner. you put UP ten thou.
sand cash"
And then--go OH"
Challoner lifted his arm and pointed
silently in the direction of the "Dreln-
court"
1ncredulity shone in the eyes Of Har-
graves; his scorn found vent in an attempt
at levity.
Rather like putting up something that
doesn't belong TO you. eh. Challoner?
Challoner was not feezed. II was the
answer he expected.
III looks that way. Hargraves" and
suddenly thrusting himself forward. "but
L can make II uncommonly dsagreea BILE
for the other claimant You don't know
me--Im an uncertain quantty--and women
are blamed queer. II win, keep the
ten thousand-and my chances"
And IL you don't VIM" a bit breath
lessly
IF you win" went on Challoner "you
Keep your ten thousand, and--Ill quit
without a murmur"
In the pause Hargraves thought hard
never IN his life had he thought harder
The more he studied Challoner the better
he liked the proposition. The moment was
fraught with something new and signif-
cant. In more ways than one he feared
Challoner, for he was by no means certain
or MS own place in the womans affections
And then in his mind there was one GER
tainty--Hargraves knew that the game was
already his; knew that Challoner. steady
though he seemed was unquestionably
drunk. Never was victory more certain
than at the present time
IF ! win" at last he said with great
earnestness' you will swear to leave me
you will leave us alone?"
Challoner nodded.
Hargraves seized his glass and extended
it to bind the bargain. Challoner seized
his. but found it empty. He left his seat
and came back with 1t filed
IT'S a go!" he said. and pressed n but
ton.
With the same sense OF responsibility
upon him, Pemmican responded and on
Challoner's order he went out and returned
with ten new packs of cards, tossing them
on the table with their wrappers unbroken
Gold hands" announced Challoner, five
hundred n throw"
Hargraves pulled forth his roll Of hills
and placed IL on the table; then pIacinu a
hand on the arm of Challoner. he exclaimed
vehemently, SO that the other should not
forget It:
TITS understood now. Challoner, that IL
I win you're to leave us alone-sure?"
Pemmican left the room and closed the
door behind him. Challoner smiled across
the table and a new, strange expression
crossed his features that Hargraves did NOT.
COulu not uHutrStdnu.
Sure" repeated Challoner, placing the
decanter upon the table. Then they started
in TO play.
Twenty minutes later Pemmican rushed
pell-mell into Room A.
There's big row on" ne said to HIM
self. "a row over lady and a game of
cards"
And 80 II proved.
There was a row on between the men who
occupied Room A. and but for the isolation
OF the room 1t was a row that might we'll
have reused the house
you've lost. ] tell you !" one of the men
exclaimed the other laughed boisterously
dehantly, VIGOROUSLY.
IF I've lost, so have you !" he answered
What followed happened in an instant
and before Pemmcan had been in Room A
thirty seconds For suddenly one of the
men there had whipped from his coat
pocket weapon that glinted in the white
light, as suddenly he had taken aim, and
then came fash, report, a cloud Of
smoke.
Pemmican looked on speechless
Presently one Of the men crossed the
room ana sank into chair In a dazed sort
Of fashion, his head lolling across the up-
holstered arm. while the other glanced about
him for an instant, looked at Pemnnican
looked at the hgure lying on the chair and
then started suddenly toward the door
Three minutes later Pemmican switched
off the lights and plunged the room into
darkness.
"A row over lady" he murmured
breathessly. "a row over a lady and .
game Of cards"
Al tvo o'clock that morning omoes
Keoyh, q the night ,seue1, petFoliing z
Al.aly 1iehfe4 theraueh ~ y ~ - q