Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-11-17

| 49, OuJ OIL Tue GUY 81 Ino' 'A1J
the table top.
Zone die, one throw, ace high?' he
asked curtly of Rios.
The Mexican nodded.
1t was in the air that there would
| be big play, and men crowded around.
/ Briefly, the uuusual presence OF q
woman, here at Fat Ortcgas, was for-
| gotten.
Select the lucky cube" kendric in
| vited Rios. The Mexican S slim brown
! fingers drew one of the dice toward him.
choosing at random. II. ,
| kendric opened vest and shirt ano
after moment Of fumbling drew forth
and slammed down on the table n money
belt that bulged and struck ike leauen
bar. n
Gold and United States banknotee'
he announced. keep your eye on me- me.
Senor Don Ruiz Rios dc Mexico whiie
! | count EN-
Unbuttonins the pocket flaps, he be-
gan pouring forth the treasure when
| be had brought back with him after
two years in Old Mexico. Boyish ana
! gleeful. he enjoyed the expressions tnat
came upon the faces about him as he
counted aloud and Rios watched him
with narrow, suspicious eyes. he sorteu
The gold, arranging in piles OF tWenties
and tens, all American minted ns
! emootbed out the baukuotes and stacked
them. And at tn" end, looking up
smilingly. he announced: ,.,,...
AN even tcn thousand dollars
Genor." r..u
You damn fool.' cried out Twisty
Barlow Historically. why, man;
with that pile me an you coutu sai.
back into San Diego like kings. M"
that dago will pick you clean On you
know it,"
No one paid any attention to BARROW
and he, after that one inyol luntary out
burst. recognized himself for the 1901
and kept his mouth shut, though WIN
Ruiz Rios dark face was almost Orl'
entail in its immobility. He did not even
look Interested. lie merely CONSIDERED
after dreamy. abstracted fashion ,;,
Again quick eager hand was ialu
on his arm. again his companion WIS
percd in his ear. Kios nouded Guilty
and turned to Ortcga. ~,
Have YOU the money in the house!
he demanded. =.
"Seguro.' said the gambling house
ovncr. II expected Senior kendrlc.
'You do me proud" laughed jim.
"J,et's sec the color of it IN American
money ,,
Win most men the winning or losing
If ION thousand dollars, though they
playcd heavily. was matter OF hourE
and might run on into days II lhck
varied tantallzingly. All Of the zcst OF
those battling hours Jim hGndrlc
meant to crowd into one moment: IheIc
was much Of love in the heart OF lieau
long Jim kendric, but 1t was low
which had never poured Itself tnroeSI
the common channels, never ldeht,uey
itself with those two passions VIII
sway most men: he had never hnoM .,a II
loyo for n woman and in him there was
no money greed For him women dlG
NOT como even upon the rim of his most
distant horizon: as for money, ~neh
ho had none of it he sailed forth JOY
ously in it's quest, holding that there was
plcutv of 1t in this good Old world ana
that il was as rare fun running II do"n
! as hunting any other big game. when
, ho had plenty Of 1t he had no thouGlil
Of other matters until he had spent II
D or given it away or watched 1t go IL
merry way nCrOss a table with greer
Q ron like feet Of golden argosics on
fair emerald sea voyaging IN Sarch o.
y 4 port Of adventure. Ills love was re
c served for his friends and for his ad'
Q yenturings, for clear dawns in solltar!
7
q woods. for sweeps of desert, TOR VIVA
s he would have called Life.
"Ready?" Ruiz Rios was ashini
coldly. Ortega had returned with
Q drawer from his eafe clasped in his IN
" hands; the money was counted an'
= piled. ~ ,
Never had there been a game like tni
H.. at Ortcgas. Men packed closer ant
- closer, pushing and Crowding. Th
:. Mexican slowly ratified the single III
II in the cup. Then. with a quick ler
. Of the wrist, he turned 1t out on IN
table. II rolled. poised, settled. IN
~ result amply satisfied Rios and TO IN
~ line Of the lips under his small bIacJ
mustachc came tho hint OF snlIle'
- had turned up q eix. -,
e THE ace Is high :" cried jim. Fl
!. caught UP die and box, lifting th
- y, cuppcd cube high above his head. III
! cves we're bright with excitement, hi
t" checks we're flushed, his voice rang ou
eagerly.
"Oit Of six numbers there is only on
u ace" smiled Ruiz Rios.
/. zones all ! want, senor,' laughe
Jim. And made his throw.
|. When large ventures are MADE !
10 money or otherwise, 1t would seem tha
pr tho goddess of chance IS no myth, bu
notcnt spirit and that she takes
n. firm deciding hand. At time lb
+. This. when two men geek to put Il
IN naught her many methods of proiongin
" susnense, she in turn seeks stubborn
nt to nut at naught their cndeavors to de
feat her aims. Had Jim Kendric throw
m the acc then he would have won an
AZ ito thing would have been ended; ha
M bc shaken anything less than six IL
or spoiIs would have been the Mexican
That which happened was that out {
the gamblers cup kendric turnc
another six.
Ruiz Rios impassive face masked n
emotion: Kendric's displayed frank
his sheer delight. He was playing b
game: he was getting bis fun:
IN "A tic. by thunder!' he cried out
nd huge enjoyment.
na Were getting run for our none!
ch Mexico. Shall | shake next
. Follow your hand,' said Ruiz Ri'
70 Lriehy.
ne That which followed next wou
'er have appeared unbelievable to any W.
'th have not over and over watched the il
MS Cxplicsbe happenings of gaming II
iS' tle. Kendric made his second thro
Ter and lifted his eyebrows qu! Mlcally
-, the result He had turned out the deuc
ltu the lowest number possible. y lit
~ eagerly. while men began 10 .nutter
PIE their excitement, Rios snatchcd up Cl
~! and die md threw. Once already lie hi
counted ten thousand as good as wOr
., nov he made the same mistaNc, +,
IaSS the incredible happened and he 70