The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1917-06-28
CHAPTER X.
~Fslss Dice"

- Ing upon cushions. with Tisha
on one side and Sidonia. the
blond bouri who had fascinat.
\ ed him. on the other. summoned Sa-
dyk, the jeweler Pharis bought with
a liberal hand. decking each Of the
girls with bracelets and anklets OF
gold and large gold rings. while his
slaves with the treasure chest paid out
many golden shekels to the overjoyed
sadyk.
let this girl have whatever pleas
eth her." ordered Pharis analiy as Sa.
dyk held up the glittering golden neck.
lace on Ills hand and dangled It before
the ayaricious eyes Of Tisha. The girl
clapped her hands and gave q cry OF
Joy.
Jether. watching furtively at this by
play and. mad with jealousy and rage,
rushed forward Just rs Tisha was
about to place the necklace upon her
shoulders. He grabbed the bauble
roughly from the old jeweler and turn
cd defiantly toward the sea captain.
81 have bought this necklace!" he
cried loudly.
aye. at q thousand shekels," agreed
sadyk humbly But thou hast not
yet paid for It."
"walt 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
pleased cry and Involuntary threw
her arms around the neck OF the boy.
my Jether!'' she whispered. Thou
dost love me after all"
sadyk. the jeweler. coughed nerv.
ously.
II will bring thee thy money In q
moment" said Jether madly and turn
ed toward the house. Servants OF Ma.
dina had already brought out table,
and Put. with several others. was die
NUT. the Arabian. had just won 1000
shekels from Put and roughly demand
ed the money, which Put reluctantly
paid over. Suddenly Jetber 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 q thousand she
kels.
The game seemed 90 easy. Jether
besitated, overcome by q nameless
fear. He shook and trembled a.
though chilled Suddenly q laughing
cry from Tisha as she returned to the
arms OF the sea captain made him In
boxicated with Jealousy. He pushed
his way through the throng.
II will cast dice with thee" he said
unsteadiiy. Tola and Nadina exchang.
ed glances and nodded, while Merbel.
who but a moment ago had refused to
lend Jether a single shekel. looked at
the boy In surprise. wondering where
be had secured money with which to
gamble.
"Ah. Jether, throw thou" cried Put
gladly. for he liked Jether. "for thou
sand shekels."
For a thousand shekels. aye. But
throw thou frst." replied Jether II
have drunk much, and my hand II un.
steady"
b, Put laughed, picked up the dice and
2, threw them. The two squares Of ivory
rolled over and over and settled on
their sides.
Seven" he criod. ANNOYED.
Jether picked up the two dice. He
drew back as II 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 Jethers lucky
throw came from all.
THY money" demanded Jether nerv-
ously.
NAY. thou shalt not quit a 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 t."
agreed" replied Jether. -Four thou
sand shekels"
He was about to throw with the falss
dice whsn he felt his arm gripped a
In Q visa He turned. Merbel, the
faiss friend who had intended to boz.
eaH end had put Il az until too late,