The San Francisco call. [volume], September 29, 1907, Page 15, Image 15

About The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913

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The San Francisco Sunday Call.
THE SPOILERS
CHAPTER Xll— Contlßued .
. * rv V heavens! He's slipped through
l-^you." stormed the politician.
\} "No he hasn't Hft may.be'
hidden aboard somewhere
among th* coal bunkers, but I think
he's still ashore and aiming to make a
quirk run just before she sails. He
hasn't left the beach since daylight,
that's sure. I'm going out to the ship
now with four men and search her
aprain. If we don't bring him off you
<an bet he's lying out somewhere in
town and we'll get. him later- I've
stationed men along the shore for two
juilcs."
"l won't have him set away. If he
should reach Frisco . Tell your
men I'll give $SQO to the one that finds
' him." - ~
Three hours later Vcorhees returned.
".She sailed without him."
The politician cursed. "I don't be
lieve it. He tricked you. I know he
did."
Gleiiistcr grinned into a half eaten
. sandwich, then turned upon his back
and lay thus on the plank, identifying
the speakers below by their voices.
He kept his post all day. Later in
the evenjng he heard Struve enter. The
man had been drinking. *"
"So he got away, eh?" he began. "I
was afraid he would. Smart fellow,
that Wheaton."
"He didn't pet away," said McNamara.
"He's in town yet. Just let me land
him in jail on some excuse! I'll hold
him till snow flies." Struve sank Into'
a chair and lit a cigarette with waver
ing hanfl.
"This 's a hell of a game, a'.n't it.
Mac? ' D" you s'pose we'll win?"
The man overhead, pricked up his
ears.
"Win? Aren't we winning? What
do you call this? I only hope we can
lay hands on Wheaton. He knows
things. A little knowledge I' a dan
perous thing-, but raorelis worse. Lord!
If only I had a man for judge in place
of .Stllluian! I don't know why I
brought him."
-That's right. Too weak. He hasn't
Rot the backbone of an angleworm. He
I ain't half tho man that his niece is.
w here** a. girl for you! Say! What 'd
'\u25a0we do without her. eh? She's «t pippin!"
GlenSFter felt a sudden tightening of
wry muscle. What right had that
man's liquor sodden lips to speak so of
her?
"She's a brave little woman all right.
Just look how sho. worked Glenlster
and his fool partner. It took nerve to
bring- in those instructions of j^jurs
alone; end if it hadn't been for her
v,-e'd never have won like this. It
makes me laugh to think of those two
m*;n stowing her away in their state
room while they slept between decks
ivith the sheep, and her with the papers
in her bosom all the time. Then, when
we got ready to do business, w/iy, she
up and talks them Into giving us pos
session of their mine without a fight
That's what I call reciprocating a
man's affection."
Glenister'.s nails cut into his fiesh,
while his face wrnt livid at the words.
lit- could not grasp It at once. It made
linn sii-k— physically sick — and for many
mmm-iiLs lie strove blindly Mo beat back
the hideous suspicion, the horror that
rtw> lawyer had aroused. His was not a
doubting disposition, and to him the
girl had seemed as one pure, mysteri
ous, apart, angelically incapable of de
otit. He had loved her, feeling that
some day she would return his affec
tion without fail. In her gr*>at un
clouded eyes be had found no lurking
place for double dealing. Now — God:
It couldn't be that all the time she
had known!
He had lost a part of the lawyer's
- speech, but peered through liis observa
1 'ion hole again. ,
McNamara. was at th* window gas
i:is out into the dark street, his back
toward tb«i lawyer, who looked In the
chair, babbling parrulous-ly of the girl.
Glenister ground his teeth — a frenzy
iws.sitsed him; to loose hJ» anger, to
rip through the. frail ceiling with naked
hands and fall vindictively upon the
two men.
"She looked good to me the first time
I saw her." continued Struve. He
paused, and when he spoke again a
change had coarsened his features.
"Say, I'm crazy about her, Mac. I tell
you, I'm crazy — and she likes me — I
know she does — or, anyway, she
would "
"Do you mean that you're In love
wltli her?" asked the man at the win
dow, without shifting his position. It
s<vnied that utter indifference was in
his <juesti«>n. 3ltliough where the light
sliotie <-n his handK. tight clinched be
hind his back, they were Woodless.
P'L*>ve her? Well — that depends —
! You know how it is — " he chuckled
irselv. His face was gross and
uesttal. "I've got the judge where I
want him. and I'll have her — "
Ills miserable words died with a
purgle, for McNamara had silently
leaped and throttled him where he eat.
pinning him to the wall. GlenUter
.saw the big: politician ehlft his flngera
slightly on Struve'B throat and then
drop his left hand to his side, holding
his victim writhing and helpless with
his right, despite the man's frantic
struggles. McNamara's head was
thrust forward from his shoulders,
peering into the lawyer's face. Struve
tore ineffectually at the iron arm
which was squeezing his life out, while
for endless minutes the other leaned
his weight against him. his Idle hand
behind his back, his legs braced like
stone columns, as he watched his vic
tim's struggles abate.
Struve fought and wrenched while
his breath caught in his throat with
horrid, sickening sounds, but gradu
ally his eyes rolled farther and farther
back till they stared out of his black
ened visage, straight up toward the
ceiling, toward the hole through which
Glenister peered. His struggles les
sened, his chin sagged, and his tongue
protruded, then he sat loose, and still.
The politician tlung ' him. out. Into the
room to that lie fell limply, upon his
face, then stood watching him. Finally
McNamara passed out of the watcher's
vision, returning with a water bucket
With his foot lie rolled the unconscious
wretch upon his back, then drenched
him. Replacing the pail, he seated
himself, lit *t cigar, and watched the
returu of life into his victim. He made
no more, even to drag him from the
pool in which he lay. c
Struve groaned and shuddered,
twisted to his side, and at last'sat up
weakly. In his eyes there was now
a great terror, while In place of ; his
drunkenness was only fear : and faint
ness — abject fear of the great bulk that
sat and smoked and stared at him. so
fishily. He felt uncertainly of his
throat and groaned again.
"Why did j'ou^dq that?** he whls-;
pered: but the other made no sign. He:
tried to rise, but his knees, relaxed;, be
staggered and felL At last he gained
liin feet and made' for the' door: then^
when his hand was ; on ' th« knob, ; : Mc-
Namara spoke through his teeth, with
out removing, his cigar. -
"Don't ever talk about her againl
She is going to marry me." -
When' he was alone he looked curi
ously up at -the- celling lover This head.
"The rats are thick In this shack," h©
mesed. "Seem* to me I heard a whole
tvrtrm of them."
A few momenta later a figure crept
through the hole In , the roof of . the
house next door and.tuence down. into
the street. A block ahead t was the
slow moving form of Attorney Strove.
Had a stranger met them both, he
would not have known which . of th*
two had felt at his throat the clutch
.of a stranger, for each, was drawn and
haggard and swuyed a* he went
Glenlster unconsciously turned toward
hi* cabin, but at leaving the lighted
streets the thought of its darkness and
silence made him shudder. Not now!
He could not -bear that stillness and
the company of his thoughts. He dared
jiot be alone. Dextry would be down
town, undoubtedly. - and - he. too." must
get Into the light and " turmoil. He
licked hie lips and found that they
were cracked and dry.
At rare intervals for tho past 10
years he had Etaggered in from a long
inarch where, for hours, he had waged
a bitter war with cold, and hunger,
his limbs clumsy with* fatigue, his
garments wet and stiff, his mind ' Black
and sullen. At such extreme seasons
he had felt a consuming thirst, a
thirst which burned and scorched un
til his very bones cried out feverish
ly. Not a thirst for water, not a
thirst wjiich ealen snow could quench,
but a savage yearning of his- whole
exhausted system for some stimulant,
for some coursing fiery fluid that would
burn and strangle. A thirst for whis
ky — for brandy! Remembering these
occasional ferocious desires, he had
become charitable to such unfortunates
cs were too weak to withstand slmllat
temptations.
Now with a shock he caught.him
self In the grip of a thirst as in
sistent as though the cold. bore down
and the weariness of endless heavy
miles wrapped him about It-was no
foolish wish to drown his thoughts
nor to bania!; the grief that preyed
upon hisa. but only , thirst: Thirst —
a crying, trembling, physical lust to
quench the fires that burned inside. He
remembered that it had been 'more
than x year eince he had tasted whis
ky. Now the fever of the past few
hours had parched his every tissue.
As he elbowed In through the crowd
at the Northern those next him made
room at the bar. for they recognized
the hunger that peers thus from
men's faces. Their manner recalled
GienSster to his 'senses and he
wrenched himself away. This was not
some solitary. 1 snow-banked roadhouse.
He would not stand and soak himself,
shoulder to shoulder with stevedores
and longshoremen. This was some
thing to be done in secret. He had
no pride In it. The man on his right
raised a glass, and the young man
strangled a madness to tear it from
his hands. Instead,, he hurried back
to the theater and up to a box, where
he drew the curtains.
"Whisky:" he «aid thickly to the
waiter. "Bring It to me fast Don't
you hear? Whisky!"
Across the theater Cherry Malotte
iiad seen him enter and Jerk the cur
tains together. She arose and went to
him, entering without ceremony.
"What's the matter, \u25a0 boy?" she ques
tioned.
"Ah I am so gl&4 you oame! Talk
to me."
"Thank you for your, few well chosen
remarks," she laughod. "Why don't you
ask me to spring some good, original
jokes? You' look like the finish to a
sis days' go as you please. What's up?"
b'lie talked to him for a moment un
til the waiter entered; then, when she
seert what he boro. she snatched the
glass from the tray and poured the
whisky en the floor. Glenlster was on
his feet and had her by the wrist.
"What do you Wan?» lie eaid
roughly.
"It's whisky, boy, and you -don't
drink."
"Of course Ifs whisky. Bring me
another," he shouted to the attendant.
"What's the matter?" Cherry Insisted.
"I n«v«r saw you act f o. You know
j'ou don't p rink. I won't lot you. It's
booze—r-booze. I tell you, fit for fools
and brawlers. Don't drink it, Roy. Are
you In trouble?"
"I say I'm thirsty — and I wJH have
it! Kan- Co you know what it is to
smolder inside and feel your veins
burn dry?" ,
"If» something about that girl," the
woman said, with quiet conviction.
"She's double crossed you."
"Well, so che has-i-but what of- It?
Tia thirsty. Bhe's going; to marry Mir-
Namara. lv* been a fool." He ground
his teeth and reached for the drink'
with which the boy had returned.
"McNamara is a crook, but he's a
man. and li*» never drank a drop in his
life," The girl said It casually, evenly,
but th« other etoppod the glass half
way to Ills lips. •
"Well, what of U? Go on. 'You're
good at W. C. T. U. talk. Virtue be
comes you.*'
She flushed, but continued, "It simply
occurred to me that if you aren't strong
enough to handle your own throat,
you're not strong enough to beat a
man who has mastered hlg."
Glenlster looked at the whisky a mo
ment, then set It back on the tray.'
"Bring two lemonades," he uald. and
with a laugh which.' was t half ja. soTj
Cherry Malotte leaned forward and
kissed him. -
"You're too good a man .to drink.
JCow, tell me all about it,"
"Oh, It's too long! I've just learned
that the girl is in." hand and glove, with
the judge and McNamara— that's all.
She's an advance agent — their lookout.-
She brought In their Instructions, to"
Struve and persuaded Dcx and me to let
them ; jump our claim. She got us to
trust in the law and In' her uncle. Yes,
she hypnotized my property out of me
and gave It to her lover, .this ward*
politician. Oh. she's smooth, ,- with "all
her Innocence! Why, when she smiles
she makes . you glad > and good " and
\u25a0warm, and her eyes are a's honest and
clear as -a mountain .pool, but she's
wrong-i-she's wrong — arid—great. God :
How I love her!" He dropped his face
Into his : harids.:[lSg«BßaEj
-."\u25a0 When she had. pleaded '.with '. him for
himself a; moment .before -Cherry Ma
lotte; was genuine and girlish; but now.
as he epoke thus of the other woman'a
chang*" came over her ..which --he", was too
disturbed to not*.. She took on the sub
tleness that' maske«r her :as a rule, and
her eyes were not pleasant.
"I 'could have told you all that and
more."
"More!; What more?" he questioned::
•. "Do you' remember when. I -warned
'*you and Dextry , that they were coming
to search your; cabin/: for the\ gold?
.Well, that Eirjputvthem on- to you. I
found it out : afterward. ;, She ; keeps- the^
keys to McNamara's safety vault where
your dust ties,' : and ' she's^ the one ! who
handles the. judge.: Itilsn't McNamara"
atall." The woman 'lied' easily,, fluent
ly, and Uie man .believed her. A:"' "" :
i "Do you remember; when they broke
} Into your safe and took.t hat money?"
:.. rY<js." •- : \u25a0 J : ; \u25a0 ;, . . \u25a0;\u25a0 ;- ; - ; \u25a0 :
-'."Well, ".what made * them think you
lhad'. ten - thousand '; in • there?" : "•
"I don't know.",. \» : ;
'"Ido.; Dcxtry" 'told her."
„ • Glenlster arose. "That's all I want
to 'hear now. I'm going crazy. My
mind aches, for. l've never had a fight
like this and it hurts. You see, I've been
an animal all these " years. . When I
wanted to drink I drank, and what I
wanted I got, because I've been strong
enough to take it This is .new to me.
I'm going downstairs now and try to;
think of something else— then I'm go-""
ing home."
When he had gone she. pulled back
the curtains, and leaning her chin '.ln
her hands, .with elbows, on .the: ledge,;
gazed down upon > the crowd. The show
was over and the dance had begun, but
she did not see it, for she was thinking,
rapidly with, the -eagerness of One, who \u25a0
sees -the end of__a, long; and weary
search. Sho; did not; notice thoJßronco
Kid beckoning to her nor the man-.with
him, so. the gambler. brought his friend
along and invaded her box. He intro
duced the- man as' Mr. Champion.
"Do you feel llkcdtinclng?" the new
comer Inquired. .
"No; I'd rather look on. I feel so
ciable. Yo^u'ro a society.rnari, Mr. Cham
pion. Don't you know anything of in
terest? Scandal or the like?"
"Can't ?ay that I <10. My wife at
tends to all that for the family. But I
know there's lot of it. It's funny to
me, the airs some of those | people as
sume" up here, just a« though we ;
weren't all equal, north of 53...1 never
heard -.the like."*- .
"Anything new and exciting?" ' ln
quirrd Bronco, mildly interested.
"Tho last 1 heard; was * about the
judge's niece. Miss Chester." ;
\u25a0 Cherry Malotte turned abruptly, while
the Kid slowly lowered tho front legs
-of his chair to the floor. ' : y
"What was it?" she inquired.
"Why. It seems she compromised her
self- pretty, badly with • this/ fellow.
Glenlster coming up on the steamer last
jjtpring. Mighty brazen,, according to
my wife. Mrs. Champion 'was on the
same ship and says she was horribly
shocked." ' , :•- r '\u25a0 i
Ah ! Glenlster had ; told her. only \u25a0 hal f
the tale, thought the girl. '\u25a0:'. The truth
was baring Itself. At ; that; moment;
Champion thought she looked the typ
ical J creature of the durioe halls— the
crafty, jealous, malevolent adventuress.
"And *the; hussy masquerades as a
lady," she sneered.^
"She is a lady," said the. Kid.; He sat
bolt upright and rigid, and the knuckles ;
Of his clinched hands were:veryrwhlte.
In the ".shadow-they did not;noto' that
his . dark face -was ghastly, ", nor ;. did ,he
say more except : to bid Champion : good
by.when he left her later on.' 1 .After the^
door^'had closed, however, {the-; Kid
arose and stretched his, muscles, .; not.
languidly, - but as though * to\ take out .
the cramp of long tension.': He 'wet- his
lips, and his mouth:.was:so.drj\ that the
sound caused the'girl. tolook up.
"Whatare you grinning at?" ' Then,
-.as thelight- struck his face, she start- .
cd. "My-! ' How you look!, Whai ails'
you ? ;Are: you' f=lck?"; jNo one, V f rom v
Dawson down, had ; seen the Bronco
Kid as he looked tonight.' \\. : ,
'\u25a0 * "No. .-I'm not sick,". he, answered,' in
a.cracked voice. ' v , *;\u25a0'. -.". ' : '\u25a0 \
Then the girl laughed. harshly.
"Do j'ou love that girl, too? : Whyr
she's got every. man In town crazy."
- She^wrung her hands," which'. is: a'l bad >
:. sign In ': a capable . person,*' and \u25a0 as ; Glen
: I ster crossed the: floor below :in r. : her
\u25a0 sight she said, "Ah-h— l could kill him
for that!"
.; "So could I," said the Kid, and left
her without adle.u.: ;
CHAPTER XIII
In .Which a Man I* Possessed of v Devil
rr— "Oß a. long time Cherry Malotte sat
I "quietly thinking, removed .by. her
§ niclital stress to euch an* infinite
distance -from the -music and ;tur-,
moil -beneath that she was conscious of
lt!only.as a, formless clamor. Shchad
tipped "a chair back against the dor,
: wedging it beneath the knob, so that
she-might be saved from interruption,
then flung herself Into another seat and
- stared unseeingly. \u25a0 As she' sat thus; and
thought,; and schemed,; harsh iandjhatei
' fill ; lines ~. seemed "l to'j eat Jinto i hcr| facet
\u25a0Now and- then^ she 'moaned; impatiently,'
,as.j though fearing-lest th6;strategy she
was ; plotting? might ; proved futile; , then
she "would ? rjso; and »; pace \u25a0 her f narrow
: quarters. 4 ; She :was]unconsclous of, time,
r arid * had ?"speri t-. perhaps \ two] h buYs 111 1 h us.;
when amid the buzz of; talk in the/iiext^
compartment {she'jheard fa| name iwhichi
caused her •' to ;\u25a0 start,' • listen,; then i'drop \u25a0
<2Qg^KSKT^l@O©, EV HAf&ER © B£OiHE&->
her preoccupation like a mantle. A man
was speaking of Glenlster. Excitement
- thriljed = his voice. • t
fSr-.fl , never saw anything like it since
McMaster'e Night in Virginia City, 13
years ago. "He's right";
.•"Well, perhaps so," the other replied,
j doubtfully, I "but SIS I don't care 'to back
'you. I never 'staked' a man In my life."
"Then lend me" the ; money. I'll pay
i% : back .In an] hour, but for heaven's .
sake be quick. I tell you he's as jrl ght '
as a golden guinea,* rt*s"the lucky night*
aof his life.': Why, *he turned ?'over ; the ",
'] black Jack game; in four, bets. "In 15
minuter? more we can't get close enough*.
Ito a table' to send In our money with a .
messenger > boy— -every sport' In camp "/
win be here.'.' . . :>\u25a0
- "I'll stake -you to flfty," the second
man replied, in a tone that showed a
trace of his companion's excitement."
-So • Glenister was J gambling, : the girl ,
learned, ;and with such 1 luck as-t6 break'
• the black jack .. game : and excite ; tha
greed of every, gambler In'camp. 'News \u25a0
of his ; winnings, -had! gone out into the "
street, and the sporting men t were com
ing to shafe : his fortune, to fatten like
vultures' on the "adversity; of . their fel
lows. , : Those "who ': had no money - to J
stake were borrowing, like the "man
next door. ;_ - - .
She left, her retreat, and, > descending -
the stairs, ; was; Kreeted by;a strange
sight. The dance hall /was empty ' of
all but the .who blew and
fiddled lustily,. In ; vain \. endeavor.. ;to
draw from the rapldlyswelling.crowd
that thronged '\u25a0: the gambling- room and
stretched to ;the : door.- ; The press was : :
thickest \u25a0{ about a table ; midway, down
"the ha 11 ..; Cherry \ could see \ nothing \ of ' :
what went .'.' on \u25a0;; there,; for : men and
women stood \ 10 deep about it and bth« .
ers perched on; chairs and tables along '
the walls. : : A roar arose suddenly, fol-?
lowed by utter silence; then camo^the
clink andrattle of BllveK," A moment,
and the crowd resumed its laughter
. - * - \u25a0\u25a0 *\u25a0
"All, down,, hoye," sounded the level
? voice of 'the -dealer. "The field- or the r
favorite. He's made 18 straight
passes. ' Get your : money on;
the Mine." There ensued another
breathless Instant. wherein . she
heard the thud of dice, then followed
the shout^ of. triumph that' told what
.the; spots revealed. 1 ; The dealer paid
i off. Glenister ] reared himself head | and
shoulders above: the -others and pushed :
out ; through the ring to the roulette
\u25a0wheel."' The rest followed. Behind the
: circular table " they, had quitted,"' the \u25a0
dealer Iwas? putting away his: dlce,\ and
there. was not a coin In his rack. Mexico ;
\u25a0 Mulllns approached Cherry, .and she
questioned; him.
.^"He just "broke the. crap game," Mul- \u25a0
tins told, her; ""l9' nasaeo without losing
the bones."
/" ""How much did -he win?"
; "Oh,; he didn't"; win • much himself.
" but x It's % the j people- betting "with him
that '* does ; the ? damage! /They're „ gam
blers, 1 most of 'them,' and -they, play :tho
\u25a0•! limit"*' He \u25a0-* took out .the,; Black I '" JackS
bank \u25a0\u25a0 rbll first, then .; cleaned the
Bylthat;time the tin horns' be
gan to -come in. It's .the; greatest run
-.. I r ; ever i. see.""-~^§pl2pHHH
.
. "Now,/ don't t'you, know, that I never
playtanythlng^but l 'bank?' .If he lasts
.long enough; to reach the faro, layout
I'll r get % mine." ... ' ; . '
. ; ~:The j excitement of the crowd began*
.: to"'infectvthe viglil. {even .though; :she]i
if looked ':_pri' from, the outside." The Vx-
Ultant ; Voice?. : the . sudden* hush, : tho
/tensity, of nerve it; all 'betokened; ; .set :
her a- thrill. A strariKerrteft the; throng.
;. and 'lushed. to j the .^ spot ".where -Cherry '
.; and i Mexico : stood \u25a0 talking. W,. He rlwas*
;\u25a0''" small? and: "sand>\ -v with 'shifting ']. glance;
/'and :ch hiless " jaw. -\u25a0-- His /eyes glittered, '\u25a0\u25a0
.his '\u25a0 teeth", shone ratlike \ through' his ' dry •\u25a0
' \u25a0" lips. 7 -;- and"- his ; voice \u25a0 was v shrill.'- He
•darted towards them like some= ; fur
/tive,',:'• frightened/ little" animal,', unnat
urally; excited. BP"*"B94SPSqbHB9Es|
-"I guess t.thatr lsn't-, so bad for^three
bets'." Heshook'a sheaf jof^; bank; notes?
' at them; T^^BSSSS^' '-'-• \u25a0
"Why don't you stick?" inquired Mul
\u25a0lins.. . - ' '"" '"""'" : ' '''-' "''TTfltfßfKlißjffl
\u25a0-\u25a0" '"I* y am .too wise." - Ha! ; Ijknow wheri\
\to fqulth ; He .'can't win steady— he ' : don' t :
.play.c any] system." .;.•.''';. \u25a0 '\u25a0'
; \u25a0 "; V-Then T "he \ has a good chance," said
\u25a0 : the"?girl^;'' vs: -"-;';- ;: *- / ;;';.- \u25a0' •';;-;\u25a0\u25a0- ; ;\u25a0 : '
iSj^There'i he^goes inow," the little ; man :
cried Tas ' the Tuproar, arose. .•"litoUl you
-' he'd^iose"."^A t -,the -voice i of .s the?rhulti-? rhulti- : t
itude" he|wayered ? asUhoiigh affected- by{
r s6me(powerful {'magnet.Vj. . V
.."But; tie\wonfagaih,'.« said Mexico. . •
rv* "No'^ Did: he? Lord 1. 1 quit* too" soon."-
He; scampered 'back; Into "the ; other
Rex E.
Beach
room, only ..-.t0,, return, hesitating, his
money tightly: clutched. '
"Do you s'pose it's safe? I never saw
a man bet so reckless. I guess I'd better
quit, eh?" KHe^noted the; sneer: on the
womarf's face, and without * waiting a
reply.: dashed off again. . They, saw him
clamorously/ fight -his, way in' toward
a post • at : the • roulette table. "Let me
through!- I've got money : and I^ want
to play: it!" . .. : .; -'.--.
v "Pah!'* ,x" said r. Mullins disgustedly.
He 1 ? one of thenir-Vermont desperadoes
that never laid a bet till he was 30. If
Glenlsterjoses; he'll: hate vhlm for life."
'-.'There Tare plenty ? of ; ; his }. sort I here,"
the girl "remarked; ''his? soul would fit
in asflea; track.";i .She spied the Bronco
Kid sauntering back -; toward;-, her "and
joined -him. He: leaned;' against -f the
wall, '.watching ,'the^ groseamer thread
of smoke ; twist upward \u25a0• from his cigar-:
ette,'; seemingly v oblivious ,to the sur
roundings, end showing, no hint ' of . the
emotion \u25a0\u25a0\u25a0 he * had displayed two 'hours
before- \u25a0 ; ,; - ' \u25a0-.>-'\u25a0 -.\u25a0
'This is a big killing, Isn't It?" said
the girl. \u25a0./\u25a0'-. :.;\u25a0; ..,.;. . ;."--. '\u25a0\u25a0
Thegambler nodded, murmuring In
differently. . I' ' ,>, -;\u25a0• -"\u25a0."•>-., V- \u25a0-'\u25a0* *•\u25a0'\u25a0
."Why'aren'.t you dealing bank.. Isn't
this your shift?" ' \u25a0:\u25a0\u25a0.
\u25a0 ~"lquit:la3t;night." "'
"Just^.in time -to .miss this affair.
Lucky for you." '. :' - . '•'\u25a0-.
r"Yes;cl-ownr "Yes;cl-own the place- now. Bought
it yesterday." ."'\u25a0 \u0084-".;, \u25a0'..,' ' ' .
"."Good; heavens "Then it's your money
he's winning." ;. ' \u2666
'\ "Sure, at the rate of a thousand a
minute." ; . . . ~ \u25a0 .'.'."-'.
She. glanced at the long trail of dev
astated tables behind Glenister and his
followers.' Atthat<instant;the* sound
told that the. miner had won'agaln, and
it • dawned ; upon,; Cherry,. that i the gam
bler >besido ; her stood * too ; quietly, that
his .hand* and voice^ were too steady,
his glance too 'cold to be natural. The
next moment approved her instinct.!
' The imualcians,; grown .; tired of ; their
endeavors to lure>back the dancers, de
termined ;to Join the excitement, and
ceased^playing; The : leader laid .d own
his; violin, the, pianist^ trulled^up the
keyboard .with a departing .twitter and
quit -.. his;, Ktool. , They; all^crossed the
hall,-; headed -for- the crowd. ."srtJm'e ,of
them making ready to bet. As they ap"-.
proached -the Bronco,; Kid, .his lips
thinned and slid 'apart; slightly, ".while
outtof'hls heavy.: lidded, eyes ;. -there
flared •' unreasoning rage., .Stepping,
forward; he ; seized - the foremost- man
and" spun him about ; violently. \u25a0%
."Where T are ? you 'l going?" -;.;
. "Why, -nobody; wants: to, dance, so we
thought ? we'd ' go _;> but \u25a0 front r f or ; a\u25a0. bit."
. "Get back.: damn, you!" ' It;. was ; his
flret . chance^to^vent the passion within
him.; A"; glance ;at his .maddened fea
tures was : sufficient ; for ;, the I musicians',
and they did * riot \ -"delay.^ By ? the 'time
they -had , resumed :. their Vdutles. ; ; how
ever/ the curtains; of ;composure: had
closed, uponHhe' Kid, masking hla'emo
tion again ; but . f rom , her : ;brlef- glimpse
Cherry? Malotte'knew^that .* this man
was \ not > of |ice,'; as' some supposed.'*"; He
turned -to-. her i and .said, -."Do -you; moan
what.' youTsald : upstairs?" l
.':*"l:don't"understand.".
"You said you'could kill Glenister.";'
. "I . cou ld.'4s|f§Jiif3^9mß33 ",'"\u25a0\u25a0\u25a0\u25a0' '
"Don't , you love— "..*. ..."
\u25a0 "I hate hini.";§he interrupted. hoarse
ly.," He : gave her; a mirthless smile,- and
spying V; the? crap r dealer . leaving:: his
bankrupt table, called 'him over- and
said :" « • .'. \u25a0'. y~ ;.V \u25a0'•;\u25a0 '-V \u25a0\u25a0 \u25a0 .' . ;"\u25a0 \u25a0'
??i^Toby, >l>want . you to 'drive, the
hearse' Glenister "cbeglns -to play
faro. I'll ' : deal. ; * Understand ?".;;/ ? ';. "
; "Sure: / Going •' tv . give; him); a. ; little
i work,Veii?*. ! :. ; -^'-l^: *;:.!-,; ; ; - \u25a0"'\u25a0\u25a0\u25a0/ \u25a0"••v" \u25a0;-.: : \u25a0 ' .;
"I nevci\"dealt:a' crookedicard : In this
camp." ; exclaimed:the^Kid/-"but;i'll 'lay'
.that;mah tonight^or -'I'll' kUlVhlm! ; I'll
usc^, aVsand^tell.'r* see !^ Ana*; I k want .to"
'explain'- my ' slgnalsjto] yOtt^vlf you ; miss
tho j signs': you'll rq'ueer ids', both, and put
the*house]onUheiblink.",< - ; ; •; *;
v^He^rapidljf : i rehearsed : his signals : in a
jargon |whichSto^a| layman £would have
been unintelligible. ;lllustrating;themiby
certain, i almost \imperceptlble3shlf tings
of i the " fingers \ or^ changes in' the \u25a0 posif
tion : of; hist hand, so' slight 'as; to ; thwart
discovery: ...Through ?*'.ijt fcallj:;( the -girl
stoodjbyjandpfollowedlhls^everyf.word
"and \ imotlbnTwi th ledger J attention.".^ She
heeded rio'explariationjof : terms they
used;v>:SheSkneT>c;;them2all*:-knew;that
the ."hearse; driver"^ was-; the* manV who
kept the cases,': knew* all\the xodeof the
"lnsldejjif e." /'To* her"? I t]was • all / .as ; an
open / page; . • and'; she 1 memorized [; more
q li lckl y/5 thab 1 Toby^the f, signs \u25a0 by
which ":"' the * Bronco ft Kid ' proposed to
i signal what card he had smuggled from
3 the;, box for; held -back. 1 /"" -v- .' . :* '
: . In I faro ; it Aa customary* f or^ the • case
keeper/ to si t on the opposite side •• of
> the \u25a0 table , from the . dealer, with a de
;vice,before- him' resembling* an abacus.
Jor/, Chinese adding .machine.. When a
' card Is :• removed from the faro" box .by
; the i dealer. ; the r.fhearse. . driver" \u25a0 moves
a button opposite a corresponding card
on hi 3 little machinerin order that the
players at; a glance may tell what spots
have been played or are still In the box.
His duties, though simple, are import
ant,, for; should .-he! make, an error and
should; the position . of his counters not
tally with' the cards, ln Llhe box on the
."last turn." :alh .beta: on the table are
-declared vold.'.When honestly dealt faro
Is the fairest«bf.:<kll- gambling, game*.
;butit;ls intric^y».ahd % may hide much
knavery. .When Ihe game Is crooked it
: is 7 f atal,^ for- out- of the ' Ingenuity of
generations of card- sharks there have.
-been > evolved a : multitude ' of - devices
with -which to" fleece the unsuspecting.
:: These .are \so carefully : masked that
none of the : initiated imay know them,,
while the- freemasonry .; of the craft Is
strong and "di*covery unusual.
; Instead of : using a familiar arrange
ment like the "needle-tell," wherein an*
ilnvisiblei lnvisible Needle, pricks- the 'dealer's
; thumb, thus '\u25a0 signaling tha presence of
" certain cards, the 5 Bronco ,Kld had de
termined to use % the ' - '* ai «4-teW«^. lo
.which -certain [cards have '%een rough-
I ened | or, sand-papered slightly. Jso \u25a0 that.
by pressing more heavilyon the top or
exposed \ card, the one ; beneath 'would
stick to v Its : neighbor . above, and \u25a0: thus
enable -him to,; deal two -with one mo*
; tlon,"' If the occasion demanded. .- This
roughness ; would likewise , enable him
;to -detect hidden .presence of a
marked card by the faintest scratching
sound .wh«n he dealt ,• In this manipu
;latlon It; would be- necessary. al«o, to
Ehave \u25a0 the ; edges ' of ! some of the paste
boards a trifle,' so that, ,when the deck
- was forced ; firmly' against one side' of
the box,".there woul<l be exposed a frac
tion of the small figure In the left hand
I corner,, of the concealed card. Long
practice In the < art of jugglery lends
'such proficiency as to. baffle discovery
and to rob the game of Its uncertainty
da surely as the player is robbed of his
money.""* It is, "of course, vital that the
confederate case keeper be able to In
terpret ; the I dealer's signs perfectly In
"order to move the. slldlng'ebohy disks to
correspond, else trouble- will accrue at
the completion of the hand when the
• cases come out wrong.
Having completed his instructions,
Cherry wormed .her way toward .the
roulette wheel. She wished -to watch
.Glenister, but could; not get near him
because of the crowd. The men would
not I make room for her. '\u25a0 Every eye
was glued - upon the table as though
salvation lurked in its rows of red and
black. .'They were packed behind It
until the 'croupier had barely room Jo
spin the ball,- and, although he forced
them back.' they pressed forward, again,
» Inch l by Inch, drawn b*y the song of the
ivory, "drunk with , its , worship, mad
dened by the breath of chance.
- . Cherry gathered that Glenister was
: : still " winning, for a j glimpse of the
wheel rack between the shoulders of
those ahead showed that the. checks
'. were nearly out of it , ,
;.:,; Plalnly.'lt. waa but a question 1 of mln
-utes, 7; BO-she- backed ; out; and took her
station -beside the faro table where the
Bronco JCId was dealing. His face wore
its colorless -mask of Indifference. His
long .white \u25a0 ... hands" moved slowly with
the certainty; that V betokened absolute
mastery of his art He was waiting.
The ex-crap dealer was keeping cases.*
: The group; I eft; the roulette table in
-a . few moments ; and . surrounded her.
OlenUter among- the others. He was
.not the man she knew. In place of the
'"dreary hopelessness with which he had
left her, his face was flushed and reck
less, .his collar was open, showing the
base of his -." great, .corded neck," while
the lust of the game had coarsened him
till he was again; the violent, untamed,
primitive man of the frontier." "His self-
i restraint :andidlgnUy" were "gone. He ;
had tried t.he : new ways' and they were
not for him. lift slipped back and the
past swallowed- him. .
After? leaving Cherry he had sought
*ome mental relief by idly risking, the
silver in 'his pocket ,He bad let the
coins Ho and double*, then double again
and ' again. ' He : had ' boun Indifferent
whether he won "or , lost so assumed a
l reckless disregard for the laws of prob
ability, thinking that he would shortly
Jose the - money he had won and then
.go home. He did. not; want ;lt ;Wh«n:
his luck /remained the same he raised*
the stakes, but i t . did . not change— he
could not- lose. -Before he realized It,
other men were betting with 'him. anl
1 mated - purely ."• by greed and erase of
the sport: First one, then another,
joined; till game after game was closed,
and each moment the crowd, had grown
In size and enthusiasm.' so that Its fever
\u25a0 crept i Into \ him. imperceptibly : at first,
but ,e\'er: Increasing, till the mania
mastered hini.T-.7L7
;. He paid no attention to; Cherry as he
. took his seat He had eyes for noth
ing, but : the "lay ' out" . She clencned
her;hand» and prayed for his ruin.
"What's-' your' limit, Kid?" he in
"quired. \u25a0.".'.. . \u25a0'• \u25a0..
, '.'One;. hundred, and ., two," the Kid
answered. • which' in \u0084 the .. vernacular
i means 'that any " sum up .to $200 ;may
1 be f laid « on one card save only , on , the
last turn, when the amount is lessened
by hal f^r^SSHBBtfSBS/SSUB^
\u25a0 more ado they commenced.
; The Kid -handled- his cards . smoothly,
.'surely; paying;; and" taking, bets -with
. machlnellke '.; calm. "The onlookers
ceased^talklng 1 and prepared to watch,
for ;' now ' came the crucial tesf of the
> evening.': •' Faro '; is,' to "other games as
.war! ls to jackstraws.
, For '- a "time Glenister- won steadily
tilK there; came a J moment-; when many
stacks "of chips lay on the deuce.; Cherry
saw . thejKid t"flsxshV- to the case keeper,
and ': the next moment he had "pulled
two."-' -'The'deuce 105t. ," It was his first
substantial T gain, and \u25a0 the ' players paid
no attention. At -; the end . O f half •an
hour ; the winnings were . slightly in
favor .of! the "house." ' Then Glcnlster
said. I '"Th'ls'ls.t6o"slow. '•\u25a0 I want action."
i : "All right." snslled; the; proprietor.
"We'll double: the limit."
; .Thus ; It • became -\u25a0 possible -\u25a0 to wager
$40t).*on? a. card, and the -Kid^ began
really . to_^; play. v £jGlenister.v now.-^lbsti
•6te,adHy," not Jh. large but with;
tan 1 taljzi ng » regularity). " ;' C^herry-'" : had
\u25ba' never' seen 'cafds-played ,like lthis. .. The
i gambler,; wai "a \u25a0' revelation"; to her^— his
:;\u25a0 work Vas \ lll', luck seemed
to fan the crowd's^ eagerness. ; while, ; to
-add;" to itsilmpatierice, the cases came \u25a0
wrong twice in I.^succession.-,,1 .^succession.-,, :"so> '.that
those who would have .bet'-heavlly . upon
the r last : turn had ; their monef 'given
;--back.v. Cherry say/ the confusion- of ; the
: ."hearse 'driver"^ even '^quicker, than ; did
:-'Brbncb\T_6by^wasj growing" rattled. The
• dealer's t vorkjwas too fast forhim/and
"yet". he'. could foCfer' no jslgnal; of distress,
annihilation af*. the hands of
< those crowded close" to'hlsshodlder. , In
the * same, ;.way|- the ; owner/ of -the
: game could -Tniake ' no -. objection to " his "
> helper's ;Tihcompetence -for fear that
would ' volunteer :Uo
fill ; the-; man's , part— there. wer^» many
• present '3 capable ;of f, the v trick. 'He
: could i bnlyv glared balef ully ,"\u25a0 across ~- the
r :table'at l hlsiunfortunate confederate.
MHKBBBHnHBBBKBMHB
; They. had not gone far, on the "next
game , before Cherry's quick eye de
tected a' si£n which the man misin
terpreted. She addressed him quietly.
**You. better brash up your plumes."
In spite of his unger the Bronco Kid
smiled. Humor in him was strangely
withered and distorted, yet here was a
thrust he wouM always remember and
recount with glee In years to come. Ho
feared '• that there were other faro
dealecs present who might understand
the hint, but there was none save Mex
ico Mulllns, whose 'face was a study-—
mirth seemed to be strangling him. A
moment later the girl spoke to tha
case keeper asaln.
"Let me take your place; your reins
are unbuckled."
- Toby* glanced inquiringly' at th«
Kid, " who caught Cherry's reassuring
look, and nodded; so he arose and the
Slrl slid 'into the vacant chair. This
woman would , make no errors— the
dealer knew that; her keen wits were
sharpened by hate— lt showed lrt her
face. If Glenister escaped destruction
tonight It would be because human
means could not accomplish his down
fall.
-- In the mind of the new case keeper
there was but one thought — Roy must
be broken. Humiliation, disgrace, ruin,
ridicule were to be his. If ho should be
downed, discredited and discouraged,
then perhaps he would turn to her as
be had In the bygone days.. He was
slipping away from her — this waa her
last chance. She. began her duties
.easily, and her alertness stimulated
Bronco, till his senses, too. grew
\u25a0harper, bis observation more acute and
lightning. like. Glenlster swore be
neath his' breath that the cards wero
bewitched. He was like a drunken
man, \u25a0 now as truly Intoxicated as
though the fumes of wine" had befogged
his brain. He swayed in his seat; tha
veins in hfs neck thickened and
throbbed: his -features were congested.
After a while he spoke,
. "I want a bigger limit. Is this some
boy's game? Throw her open.**
The gambler shot a" triumphant
glanc« at the girl and acquiesced. "All
right, the limit is the blue sky. Pile
your checks to the roof pole.** He be
gan to shufje.
- Within {he crowded circle the air
was hot and, fetid. The sweat trickled
down Glenister's brown, skin, dripping
from 'his jaw* unnoticed. He arose and
ripped off. his coat.' while those stand
ing, behind shifted and scuffled their
feet impatiently. Besides Roy there
wera but three men playing. They
wero the ones who had won heaviest
at first. Now the luck waa against
them they were loth to quit.
Cherry was annoyed by stertorous
breathing at her shoulder, and glanced
back to find the little man who had,
been so "excited earlier in the evening.
His mouth was agape, his eyes wide,
the muscles about his lips twitching.
He had lost back, long since, the hun
dreds he had won and more besides.
She searched the figures walling her
about and saw no women. They had
been crowded out long since. It seemed
as though the table formed the bottom
of a sloping pit of human faces — eager,
tense, staring. It was well she was here,
she thought," else this task might fail.
'She would help to blast Glenlster, dcso T
late . him. humiliate, him. Ah, but
wouldn't ; she!
Roy bet $100 on the "popular" card.
On tlte third turn he lost. He bet ?20»
next and lost. He set. out a stack of
$400 and lost for the third time. For
tune had turned. her face. He ground
his 1 teeth and doubled until the stakes
grew enormous, wbllc the dealer dealt
monotonously. • The spots flashed and
disappeared, taking with 1 them wager
after wager. Glenlster became con
scious of a raging, red fury which ho
had hard shift to master. It was not
1 his money — what .'lf .fie did lose? He
would stay until ,he won. He would
win.l — This luck would not, could not
last-;— and yet with diabolic persistence
he continued to choose the, losing cards.
The'other men fared till he"
yielded to their Judgment, when tn»
dealer took their* money also
* Strange to say. the fickle goddess had
really shifted her banner at last, anil
the Bronco Kid was dealing straight
faro now. He was too good a player
;to force a winning hand, and GJenister's
111 fortune became as phenomenal as his
winning bad been. The girl who ns
uredin, this drama was keyed to tha
highest tension, her eyes now on her
.counters, now searching the profile of
her victim^ Glenister continued to lose
and lose and' lose, while the girl gloated
over ..his swift, coming ruin. When at
long intervals he won a bet she shrank
and shivered for fear he might escape.
If only he would risk it all— everything
he had. He would have to come to her
then!' '
The end was closer than she realized.
The throne hunc breathless upon each
move of. the players, while there. waa*
no sound 'but the noise i>f shifting
chips and the. distant. janerU' of the or
chestra." The lookout, sat fit r forward
upon his perch, his .hands upoir his
knees, his eyes frozen to thy board, a
dead cigar, clenched between his teeth.
Crowded upon" his platform were min
ers tense and motionless as statues!
When a man spoke or coughed a. score
of eyes stared at him accusingly, then
dropped to the table again.
.Glenister took from his clothes a.
bundle of banknotes,* so thick that it
required his two . hands to i-ompaas It.
Onlookers saw that the bills were
mainly ( yellow. ; <No . one \spoke while
•he counted them rapidly^ glanced at
the dealer, who nodded, then slid them
.forward-' until 'they -rested on the kin§r.
He 1 placed a "copper" «on the pile. A
great sigh. of indrawn breaths swept
through the .crowd. -.The north had
never knoWn a bet like this-j-lt meant
a fortune. v; Here was a tale for one's
grandchildren^tbat a man should win
opulence "in an evening, then' lose It
In one deal. This final bet represented
more than many of them had ever seen
at one \u25a0 time . before. Its fate lay on a
single card:
'.Cherry Malotte's fingers were like ice.
and shook till the. buttnng of her case*
.keeper rattled, her heart raced till she
could not' breathe, while something rose
.up. and 'choked her. If Glenister won
.this .bet he: would. quit; she felt It.", it
he lost, ah! what eouhl; trie' Kid
there feel, the man .who was* playing
for a paltry vengeance, compared to her;
whose hop« of happiness, of love, of lifo
hinged on this wager? ,~
Evidently, -tho Bronco Kid knew
what * card .- lay next " b«'low. . for he
•offered her no sign, arvl as Glenister
.leaned back he slowly and firmly
pushed • the "top ' <>ard oat of th«"
box. Although' thi3 " was 1 , the Wg
. gest turn of his ;' life, he betn*yed
no tremor. His gesture, displayed
thenine'of diamonds, and. the crowd
breathed heavily. ..The kin j? had not won.
.Would it lose? Every graze was weld
ed -. to ' the; tiny nickeled box. .If the
face ' card j" lay- next beneath the nine
spot," J the heaviest ,wager in Alaska
would have been'., lost; if .it " still re
mained hidden on the next turn, the
money would be safe for a moment.
";"-.. Slowly ; the" white hand of_ the dealer
moved back ; i his middle - flng er^touched
the" nine \u25a0of \u25a0 diamonds; -It . slid " smoothly
out of the box, and there: in "Its place'
frowned theking of clubs. -At last th*
silence 1 was r broken.,.
(To* Be ContlnuadLi