The St. Mary banner., 1919-10-25

"NoW, Senor Tore" resumed the old
man when Stairway had returned, Il
am to give you your gamblers chance.
| have learned that Il month ago you
killed man in San Antonio. Now"
leaning forward little, "are they look
ing for you along the border? Have
you good chance of getting across
without being shot"
Torres cheeks grew little pale. He
returned De Ia Guerra's gaze, however,
and answered steadily:
Il should have, perhaps, one chance
in ten thousand
"Good! | thought sol"
The old Spaniard slipped his hand
again. into the table drawer and the
thing he brought ont this time he hand
ed to Tore.
Here is your chance. senor," he said
sternly.
1t was a dicebOX!
what do you mean?" snapped Tore.
II mean this: You shall shake the
tItc SOu lONt 81 well, anu lIiC StdhC
high enough to satisfy even you! If
you win, there Is another packet of
banknotes ready for you, and horse
to carry you as far and as fast as you
can wish to go. If you lose-there is in
the stable lame horse which you are
to ride across the border!"
The dusky red ran back into Torres
cheeks.
with whom do / shaker" he asked,
a little hoarsely, his fingers growing
white about the box.
with the bitterest enemy you have"
retorted the old man with dignity. DO
you know who it isl"
"You?" queried Tore, with snarling
emphasis.
YOURSELF You shall cast twice, with
a single die. The ace is high in this
game, senior. II your first throw is
higher than your second, then you go
free. VIII you throw now? l shall be
glad when you are gone"
Tore rose swiftly to his feet, draw
ing near the table, his eyes burning like
flames, his cheeks flushed. For mo-
ment he stood with the die rattling in
the box, which he shook slowly back
and forth.
"One throw" he whispered. "One
good throw, and I drink many another
good bottle of red wine, l kiss many
another pair Of red lips, live on in
my gay little existence. One good
throw Ah!"
He had thrown.
1T Is the acew cried Tore with
suddenly up-fung head. "My lady Of
chance is kind to me, senor!"
you have another throw" De la
Guerra reminded him. "The ace can
not be beaten, but it may be tiedw
Now Tore scoOped the die up in his
box and with no moment of hesitation
turned it out upon the table. Again
Tore had thrown an ace!
"Try again." said De la Guerra crisp
ly. at is growing late"
With a curse Tore again caught up
the die. again it ratified in the box,
again it rolled half across the table
"A four!' he gasped
"a four is not bad" De la Guerra
reminded him. ut may win. Again,
senor."
A four! If he turned three next
time, or a deuce, he was saved. If the
die showed an ace again, six or five,
he was losti
Apain he took I'M tho die again cast
This time his hand, holding the dice
box. followed close to the rolling cube.
1T is the six" said De la Guerra
sternly. "You were about to touch IT,
senor.'
Tore threw down the box. He had
lost-against himself! But his head
flung proudly up. "And now" he cried.
where is my lame horse? 1t is late, as
you say"
He bowed and went out into the pa.
ito, where Gaucho and half dozen OF
the cowboys were waiting. De la
Guerra sighed.
"He is brave man." he said gently.
"Ah. well, he has one chance In ten
thousand. Well, for brave man"
Then they heard the galloping Of sew
eral horses headed toward the border.
CHAPTER XIV.
Hen<I,,eion