The Jasper news. [volume] (Jasper, Missouri) 1898-1924, 1917-02-22
CHAPTER VII.
The Gambling Room.

They confronted each other blankly.
To Mans confusion was added her en-
barrassment ut her personal appear
ance. Her hat was wet, and the limp
shoulders of her khaki jacket and the
front of her silk blouse showed the
whiting effect of the rnin. In one hand
she clutched wet riding gloves. Her
cheeks, either from the cold rain or
mental stress, fnirly burned, and her
eyes, which had seemed when he en-
countered her, fired with some resolve,
changed to an expression of dismay.
This was hardly for more than an
instant. Then her lips tightened, her
eyes dropped, and she took step to
one side to avoid De Spain and enter
the gambling room. He stepped In
front of her. She looked up, furious.
"What do you mean?" she exclaimed
with indignation. LET me pass"
The sound of her voice restored his
selfpossession. He made no move to
get out Of her way, indeed he rather
pointedly continued to obstruct her.
you've made mistake, / think" he
said evenly.
~ have not" she replied with resent
ment. LET me pass"
81 think you have. You don't know
where you are going" he persisted, his
eyes bent uncompromlsingly on hers.
She showed increasing irritation Mt
his attempt to exculpate her. II know
perfectly well where l am going" she
retorted with heat.
"Then you KNOW" he returned stead
lily. "that you've no business to enter
such a place.. s~us-
| His opposition seemed only to anger
her. II know where have business.
[need no admonitions from you as to
what places / enter. You are imperti-
nent, Insulting. Let me pass!"
His stubborn opposition showed no
signs Of weakening before her resolve.
"One question:" he said, ignoring her
angry words: "Have you ever been In
these rooms before?"
He thought she quailed the least bit
before his searching look. She even
hesltated us to what to say. But II her
eyes fell momentarily 1t was only to
collect herself. "Yes," she answered,
looking up unflinchingly.
Her resolute eyes supported her de-
fiant word and openly challenged his
interference, but he met her once more
quietly. 81 am sorry to hear It," he
rejolned. ,"But that won't make any
difference. You can't 60 In tonight"
81 will 60 in," she cried.
"No," he returned slowly, "you are
not going ln-not, at least, while am
here"
They stood immovable. He tried to
reason her out of--he determination.
She resented every word he offered.
"You are most insolent," she exclaimed.
"You are interfering in something that
is no concern of yours. You have no
right to net In this outrageous way.
If you don't stand aside I'll Gull for
help"
Mani" De Spain spoke her name
suddenly and threateningly. His words
fell fast, and he checked her for an
instant with his vehemence. "We met
In the gap week ago. / said was
telling you the exact truth. Did !
do it?"
81 don't care what you said or what
you did"
Answer me-" he said sharply; "dld
tell you the truth?"
| 81 don't know or care"
"Yes, you do know"
"What you say or do"
81 told you the truth then, and l am
telling 1t now. i will never see you
enter gambling room as long as
can prevent 1t. Call for help II you
like"
/ She looked at him with amazement.
She seemed about to speak-to make
another protest. Instead. she turned
suddenly away, hesitated again. put
both hands to her face, burst Into
tears. and hurried toward the stairs
De Spain followed her. "Let me take
yeu to where you are going?"
Nan turned on him. her eyes blaz.
Ing through her tears, with a single
scornful. furious word: "Noi" She
quickened her step from him In such
confusion that she ran into two men
| Just reaching the top of the stairs
They separated with alacrity. and gave
4 her passage. One of the men was
lLefeyer. who. despite bis size. was ex'
" q