Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1928-07-19

| Christie's gaze. That question had
been expected, but it was none the
less dreaded when it came.
He spoke deliberately-and only to
ask another question; but his voice
lacked its accustomed pitch and reso-
nance. "Who told you was gam
blerY' he asked.
Christie whirled. "This NAM
Christie pointed to Starbuck-"told
me so just now-is it true?' The
words came like bullets.
SelwOod looked at Starbuck coldly
and long; then he turned his gaze
back to Christie. The truth had to
come. II am a gambler" he said.
He saw her Mortified amazement as
| the realization of what his words
meant sank in; it made it the harder
| to face her with what now seemed
even to him a shameful fact. ''YOu
| told me-" she responded with ire
NOR and anger fast rising in her
eyes, "you were mining man."
It was no time for evasion; in the
parlance Of Selwood's kind, Christie
was calling. Nor would he if he could
have tried to deceive her further.
II am a mining man." he said. 81
didn't tell you l was gambler-be-
cause l didn't want to be classed with
the cutthroats and jailbirds that in
fest this town and call themselves
gamblers" He spoke slowly and
| pointed with his left hand, his arm
resting on the blankets, to Starbuck-
''the kind Of thieves" he continued
| evenly, shat call themselves gam
| blers and divide their stealings with
this man" Starbuck started, furi-
Gus. 'The kind" Selwood went on,
without raising his voice, "that this
man blackmails for a living"
"Stand away, Christiep Starbuck
| shouted the words. With a violent
oath he sprang forward. Haynes
jumped, and grabbing him, threw his
arms around him. Selwood, notion
less beside the blankets, waited with
only his eye fixed on his enemy,
while Haynes demonstrated with the
enraged man and reminded him of
Christie's presence. Christie in
panic found herself caught between
the two men. She tried to signal
Selwood to let her pass, for words
stuck in her throat. But he would
not bulge, and he compelled her
| to stand and listen. I'm just a
common gambler" he went on re-
morselessly, 'but nobody can say
| I'm not a square gambler. I back
my game against the game of other
men-no man can say worse than that
of me. Turn him loose, Haynes"
| added SelwOod, contemptuOusly;
| you're not doing me any favor by
standing there"
Christie, thoroughly frightened,
called desperately to her father, who
| had heard the commotion and came
hobbling back. Fyler interviewed and,
demonstrating in turn with the two
angry men, asked Selwood to step to
one side that Starbuck might pass
out.
"I'll settle with you and your es-
tablishment both together. You've
bothered this town long enough.
Watch outT exclaimed Starbuck
viciously as he passed SelwOod.
Selwood, much to Haynes surprise,
did not even attempt retort. He
was compelled, with his life at stake,
to watch Starbuck's eyes, But apart
from that instructive caution, it
seemed as if he did not hear Star
bucks threats or gave them no heed.
There was much more weighing on
his mind than Starbuck's words.
Christie, hurrying to the back of the
store, left Selwood to his pillar of
blankets. He gazed, rather discour-
aged, after her retreating form; lift
ed and inspected his unlighted cigar
as if looking for company. Then,
summoning resolution, he took his hat
in his hand and followed Christie to
the rear of the store. She was busy
ing herself with the shelves. He stood
a moment beside the counter; she
gave him no attention.
After a moment Of being ignored,
he broke the silence. "You haven't
heard the whole story"
'Tve heard enough"
81 didn't mean to tell any more
now" he said steadily. "But some
day I'd like you-to hear everything"
She whirled toward him with her
old impetuosity but without her light
heart. Her eyes flashed. "And I
thought" she burst out resentfully, 81
thought, that among all the vile men
of this vile town there was at least
one WHO was clean-handed ~ Selwood
made no effort to break the silence.
"Well!" she exclaimed turning back
to her shelves, ''it's no matter!"
81 suppose this means-you're
through with me-"
II am"
"You haven't heard the whole story"
he repeated quietly. "But if you're
through with met wouldn't interest
vou-onvuay