Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1917-06-21
he avaricious eyes of Tisha. The girl
capped her hands and gave cry of

Joy.
Jether watching furtively at this by
play and, mad with jealousy and rage,
rushed forward just as Tisha was
about to place the necklace upon her
shoulders. He grabbed the bauble
roughly from the old jeweler and turn
ed defiantly toward the sea captain.
| II have bought this necklace!' he
cried loudly.
AYE, at thousand shekels." agreed
Sadyk humbly. But thou hast not
yet paid for it,
"Wait but moment for thy money"
commanded Jether as he placed the
necklace around the neck of the girl.
Tisha, who did not yet suspect that
Jethers gold had vanished. gave a
! pleased cry and involuntarily threw
her arms around the neck of the boy.
"AIy Jether!" she whispered. Thou
dost love me after ALL
| Sadyk, the jeweler, coughed nerv
ously.
II will bring thee thy money in a
moment" said Jether madly and turn
ed toward the house. Servants of Ma
dina had already brought out a table,
and Put, with several others. was die
| ing. AS Jether approached him Hadra-
NUT the Arabian, had just won 1000
| shekels from Put and roughly demand
ed the money. which Put reluctantly
paid over. Suddenly Jether noticed
that Nadina was close by his side and
that she was trying to hand him some
thing unobserved.
"The dice" she whispered. 'Thou
canst not lose"
Jether felt his fingers close over the
two small squares OF ivory. He clutch
ed them nervously. He pushed his way
through the throng. This time Hadra-
nut and Put threw again, and once
more Hadra NUT won a thousand she
kels.
The game seemed so easy. Jether
hesitated, overcome by nameless
fear. He shook and trembled as
though chilled. Suddenly laughing
cry from Tisha as she returned to the
arms of the sea captain made him in
toxicated with jealousy. He pushed
his way through the throng.
II will cast dice with thee" he said
! unsteadily. Tola and Nadina exchang-
ed glances and nodded. while Merbel,
who but a moment ago had refused to
lend Jether single shekel, looked at
the boy in surprise. wondering where
he had secured money with which to
gamble.
"Ah. Jether, throw thou" cried Put
gladly, for he liked Jether. "for thou
sand shekels."
For thousand shekels, aye. But
throw thou first" replied Jether. II
have drunk much and my hand is I'M
steady"
Put laughed, picked up the dice and
threw them. The two squares Of ivory
rolled over and over and settled on
their sides.
Seven" he cried, annoyed.
Jether picked up the two dice. He
drew back as if to adjust his robe.
He held his hands out of sight behind
the cloth for a moment and changed
the dice. He threw
Twelve"
A cry of surprise at Jether's lucky
throw came from ALL
Thy money" demanded Jether nerv-
ously.
NAY. thou shalt not quit winner.
Two thousand shekels." insisted Put.
Jether picked up the two dice, quick
ly exchanged them for the honest ones
and tossed the ivory squares to his
friend Put.
Two thousand shekels. Throw thou"
he said huskily
Put tossed the dice upon the table.
Nine" he cried
Jether again picked up the dice, made
the same substitution and threw the
false dice upon the board. Once more
there was a murmur of surprise over
the result.
Twelve" spoke .Jether exultantly.
Thy money"
Nay, let us again double the stakes"
cried Put, half angrily at the turn of
fortune. -Four thousand shekels will
make it,
Agreed" replied Jether. -Four thou
sand shekels."
He was about to throw with the false
dice when he felt his arm gripped as
in wise. He turned Merbel, the
false friend who had intended to Dor
row and had put it off until too late,
held his arm and seized the dice from
his nerveless fingers.
Zone moment, friends" he cried.
Wait and see. Look "
He tossed the dice upon the table,
Twelve" he said sternly, looking at
Jether, who hung his head in shame as
he felt the inevitable exposure. Again
it is twelve-once more twelve. Thou
wilt find it is always twelve"
. Slowly Put reached across the table,
He picked up the false dice and threw.
, Twelve" he whispered in surprise.
Again he tried. Twelve always
, twelve"
The men drew aside from Jether,
| leaving him as one stricken with the
| pla