Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1922-03-14
CHAPTER TT-COntinued

As the night advanced the game began
to go very badly for most of the others
and very well indeed for Barnette, with
little Mora for a good second. AS Bar
nette and Mora continued to win, Sifert
became more and more bitter with his
remarks. About midnight Protho got
up from the table remarking that he
never could have any luck in a game
where More was sitting, because Mora
was his jinx. He told me quietly as
we stepped out on deck for a little air
that he quit because he didn't want to
have trouble with Sifert and Seriano until
he had to, and that they were beginning
to get ugly.
by the way, protho, what is Sifert' 9
business ~ I asked.
I'D rather not try to tell you, Glad
ney." said Proth9 quietly. wait and l
think you'll see."
And SerianO, what's his basiness?"
They're partners"
9Th huh, thank you. Mr.. Protho. feel
greatly enlightened"
Protho laughed and said: lets go
in and engage in a game Of dominoes at
the nearest table to that bunch. Then
II there's a mix up, Wen be on hand"
Nelson, who, by the way, was the
sixth member Of our party and whom I
did not meet until I came on the ship,
and who had kept me on deck during the
early part Of the evening relating to
mo brave adventures BY land and sea, in
each Of which he was the hero, and
great gaming stories I'm which he was
Invariably the winner. came up just then.
and, recognizing Protho's voice in the
semi darkness, asked what we were talk
ing about.
@Oh." said Prothro dryly, I'VE were
discussing the raising Of poultry by the
Philo system. Know anything about 1t z"
We'll, yes" said Nelson, and Prothro
gave me a sly nudge. Il once ran a poul-
try farm I'm lower Canada-bas Canada,
as the Kanucks say. I used the Philo
system, and am bound to say l was
well pleased with 1t. It Is certainly
based on scientific"
Just then lady OF the Spanish type, a
rathee interesting beauty after the Latin
style, passed under lamp close by. and
Nelson suddenly left off the discussion OF
poultry to play the gallant to her.
We two did not take up our station in
the smoking salon any too soon. Bar
nette was rapidly raking in the money OF
Sifcrt and Seri3no, the Spaniard, always
with n sardonic smile on his handsome
dark face, q smile calculated to eXasper-
ate the most docile Of men. and that ST.
fert was not especially as he was suffer
Of the night before.
professional" heard him hiss as we
sat down.
Barnette tilted his cigar at an exssper-
ating angle as IL he were pointing Il at
the head of Sifert; his eyes twinkled, but
he said never a word
We'll, III play one more hand" said
slfert a moment or two later. Il didn't
know / was sitting I'm R professional
~ no
Barnette as usual treated the remark
with silence. but swung his cigar to a
more lnsolent angle He was backing
four queens and an ace was treadiug
softly for fear Sifert would take fright
and not bet To my SURPRISE could see
Rarnette's band-Sifert covered and
doubled the bet. Barn.tte called him
and they showed down. Sifert laid
royal heart flush upon the table. There
we're two queens Of hearts in sight. In
silence, as If the situation required no
words. Barnette reached out his long
arm for the money.
NO" cried Sifert, his red face flaming:
you're n cheat Gentlemen, look at the
back Of his queen Of hearts A blind
man could see It's out Of different
pack
SIN without word Barnette leaned
across the table and landed the speak
er n mar handed dow on the IeLt theck
which must have set his ears ringing.
At the same instant Seriano snapped a
knife from somewhere beneath his coat
and~4Nade a reach for Barnette But
PrOthro was too quick for him.
He caught tho mans wrist in pow
erful grasp and twisted It till the knife
fell to tho floor.
LISTEN" he said in 4 quiet but COM
manding voice. 'There's not going to be
any public brawl here. Barnette give
these scoundrels back what money
you've won from them, and you, too,
Mora In the future We'll make sure
we're playing with gentlemen"
"But he had card up his sleeve, and
-"
That's enough from you, Sifert.
know who slipped that card into the
pack And listen, Sifert, while I'm about
it / want TO tell you and your partner
there that I've got my eye on you. l
don't want to have to shoot either of you
you understand"
"Mr. PrOthro. l."
ooh you savy me all right just
wanted to warn you you're playing a
very dangerous game"
CHAPTER III.
did not in the least understand what