Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 416 — page 8: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

tae 3 a % - “ —* : . ’ ‘ 7 . e > * ian « ‘, ‘4 7 '» a ds Balto rs "es : 7 9 Th | the cs :) . * “|. mary run, of patience at the delay. —" + EE = —- —_ onte ° ow! _— See —_—-- and I beg of you to accept it.’ ‘* First prove your words.” ‘*T had made up my mind to chance the turn, with a couple of thousand, but you got ahead of me, and staked your money precisely as I had intended. All the evening I had been play- ing directly opposite to your choice, and 1 couldn’t veer around so suddenly; so I held my money. You lost, and by preventing my bet- ting, saved me two thousand dollars, By rights, one-haif belongs to you, and there itis. Oblige me,” ‘*That’s too thin, old fellow,” said Penning- ton, with a short laugh, picking up the bills and handing them to Monte Jim. ‘'I don’t know why you're so mighty anxious to get rid of your money, but you can’t shove it off on me in that style!” ** Blow it in, and we'll divide winnings,” urged Monte Jim. * Thanks, but that ain’t my style. I play my own money or none. If your pocket is running over, no doubt there are other gentlemen here who will oblige you by taking a portion,” ** Will you accept it as a loan, then?” Alva Pennington stared wonderingly into the face of the strangely-persistent sport. He saw something in those deep-blue eyes that puzzled him, and from intending to sharply reject this final offer, he caught himself asking: ‘Tell me why you persist in forcing this money on me, and then I'll give you an answer once for all.” Monte Jim laughed faintly, and hesitated for a moment, casting a swift glance around him, But when he spoke his tones were clear and dis- tinct enough for all to ¢atcth. ** Well, you know I’m a gambler, and like the majority, Iam slightly superstitious. Firmly believing you have a better right to that money than I have, I offered it to you. If I took it back again, I believe ill-luck would haunt me until I got rid of it for good and all, I came here with the express purpose of breaking the bank, but if you still refuse to take the money, as a loan, if nothing else, Pll have to draw out.’ ** Oh, if you put it in that light, I don’t mind,” said the young man, drawing back the bills. ‘I never yet saw the cash that I deemed unlucky, until after I’d lost it for good.” During this conversation, so out of the ordi- Curly Kaine had been quietly shuf- exhibiting an unwonted degree ow, when a decision Lad been reached, he placed the pack inside the fling the cards silver box, and calmly waited for bets to be placed. Pennington passed the bills across the table to receive their equivalent in chips, then placed _,a couple of bets on the cards, following the same system that had led him to grief before. And with an impassive countenance, Monte Jim wagered the same amount on the same cards, but played them to win for the bank, by “ cop- pering.” Steadily Curly Kaine drew forth the cards, -making several turns before any bets were wou orlest. The first change that came took tho form of a ‘* split,” two queens coming out in the same turn, and in accordance with tho laws verning the game, he was entitled to take one- ee, Fale the amount staked on the card, that privi- rea 4 ‘~ ane 2h 7 4 “ ‘ —, * > s . ¥ *- ry x P = — | 4s = N. ‘ -7 < , . a ‘ ’ ve 4 f * - + card, Curly Kaine raked down his lege being one of the greatest percentages of the ¢.* * game of faro. Pennington frowned, but replaced the amount subtracted by the dealer. Monte Jim picked up his chips and held them in hand, his face as im- mobile as though he wore a waxen mask, The second turn foliowing, Pennington won on the ace, and as Monte Jim had coppered the } et to pay that of the other player. Once more Pennington let his wager stand, only adding the sum of his winnings, evidently resolved to break or make. On the contrary, Monte Jim contented him- ) 4 self with watching the game, though the dealer * ae ed . oy ‘ YS an Ba.‘ ye - 4 * ” “ae a, rh bee 7 ry m\, : ‘ cute a * 1? } . y a.) ~ 4 « ‘ _— * s. ‘y ° aa 5? . ° é Js te » ‘ used fora few moments, as though to give bim an opportunity to place his bets, A little buzz ran through the ranks of the ctators a few moments later, as still another split,” came out, this time on aces, by which means Pennington lost all that he had so recently won on the same card, Curly Kaine cast a covert glance upward at his rival, and caught the faintest suspicion of «a smile for his pains, His dark face flushed,,then turned pale as death, and his fingers perceptibly _ trembled as he drew tbe next turn, _— One by one the cards were drawn and placed upon their respective piles. Now Pennington won, then he lost, and as the deal came near an- end, a third split came out of the cards which the young gambler had made his favorites, This was something unusual in a single deal, and Pennington muttered imprecations beneath his breath, but they were directed against the ill-lueck which haunted him, and contained not the slightest suspicion that any save perfectly fair dealing was taking place. After the fate of his bets, as placed before the deal began, was decided, Monte Jim did not ae another until Curly Kaine paused for the turn. Even then he held is hand until ps shy Pennington placed his entire stakes on the queen Ti written rule I mentioned, is rightfully your own? | | m, t es —e ee — ——— + —_ Pee - CEPT, =", pee ee Bp ees ro Ee omar es - "or OF aes 8 a Zi < > 4 - ’ i. . ws © ee 7 fv ‘ * a ae ide d . Gur. to. 1e Black Sheep of Bismarck. ee eee —_— + « \e * “4 r ty ee ee € — . — just as he had done in the preceding eal. ** Wait a bit, your majesty,” called out Monte Jim, as the dealer was about to take out the card which concealed the final turn. ‘‘ Now that all splits are out, I reckon I'll give youa lit- tle benefit. What is your limit this evening? I don’t want to make you lose your nerve by over- betting.” Curly Kaine looked up, his black eyes snap- ping, with the anger he had so long held in CHuecK, ** You know therulesof the game well enough. If you bet notes, the limit is one thousand for each bet. If you play chips, the bank is bound to meet whatever you bet.” ** All right, old fellow; no harm in asking for information, Oblige me by giving me checks for that note,” and he tossed a bank-bill across the table, a little murmur of excitement arising among thespectators as they caught sight of the figures which marked the corner. squander, give your jaw a rest, and let the money talk for you.” . ‘** Dip lightly, Curly! I’m little old business this evening, end whatever I say I’m bound to back up, if it takes a leg. Be sure you only draw cne card at a time, for if you try any of your double-edged tricks, you'll hear something drop, sure!” Turning ghastly white, the dealer paused with bis fingers cn the top card, bis eyes glitter- ing like living coals as he glared defiance into the face of his audacious rival, ‘*Do you dare hint that I am dealing foul?” he demanded, his voice sounding haish and streined. ‘“T never hint, Curly. All [m asking for is fair play, of which these gentlemen,” with a graceful wave of Lis gloved hand toward the close-crowded ranks of eager spectators, **-will be the judges. Many aman who cnce stood to the full as high in pepular estimation ss you do this night, has fallen from grace for the sake of winning or not losing a less sum than depends on this turn, I don’t say that you have any in- tention of cheating; I only say that should you make the attempt, Pll kill ycu, sure as you are Tue faro-dealer picked up the bill, scrutinizing | now warming that chair!” it with ostentatious care, holding it up to the| ‘‘ Your words are an insult, Monte Jim!” light and viewing it from different angles, | grated the dealer. as though strongly suspecting it to be counter- ‘* Insult goes, then!” was the blunt retort. feit, and all this so pointedly that not one pres- | ‘* Put itin your pocket and keep it warm until ent could doubt his meaning. But Monte Jim | after the fate of our loose change is decided.” only smiled at the intended insult, as he ‘* You shall answer for all this—” drawled: ‘*Good enough!” and for the first time Monte ‘‘A curiosity in your eyes, no doubt, King | Jim allowed bis mask to slip sufficiently to dis- Curly. If it wasn’t against my principles to | cover his real earnestness, the actual intensity give away trifles, ’'d beg you to accept a half- | of his hatred for the man who sat opposite Lim, dozen to hang up in your room to look at and | fairly quivering with the rage and apes for familiarize yourself witb, so that you wouldn’t | revenge which he struggled so bard to hold in be knocked out of time when you chance to | check for the time being. ‘ That’s the kind of meet one in company.” | talk I lixe to hear; it hits me right where I live! An audible smile ran around the room, but | You’re a burning disgrace to the town, Curly Curly Kaine glanced up with an air of mock in- | Kaine, and I have taken a solemn oath to run nocence as he replied: you out of it, or ~ boosted for good and all ‘** Excuse me: I fancied I detected blood spots | myself! I came here this evening, not only to on the note, and I wished to see whether it came break your bank, but to expose you asa dirty from the veins of aman ora woman, Perhaps | trickster— No you don’t, Curly!’ you are able to give the information?” | As though by magic, a short, stubby-locking The shot was so sudden and unexpected that | derringer appeared in each hand of the plain- it struck home, with a certain'y that Monte | talking sport, the wide muzzles barely extend- Jim, admira’ le actor though he was, and with | ing we his fingers as his gloved hands reach- almost perfect command over the muscles of his | ed half-way across the table, in answer to a face, could not entirely disguise. His face | quick movement of Curly Kaine, whose revolver turned white as that of a corpse, his eyes filled | was now barely visible above the edge of the with a reddish glow, his teeth came together with | table. a savage click, and fora brief space itseemed | Only the lightning activity of the monte- as though he meant to cross the barrier at a | player saved his life, for there was death in the bound and bury his twitching fingers in the | red glowing eyes of the faro dealer. But, once throat of the gambler who had dealt him such a | more Monte Jim had the drop, and held the life CHAPTER X, A DISCROWNED KING. ——-- — bitter blow from ambush, of his rival wholly at his mercy, did he feel in- Curly Kaine himself anticipated some such | clined to make the most of his advantage. A | slight pressure of his fingers would send a brace | of ounce-balls crashing through the brain of Curly Kaine, before that worthy could possibly bring his revolver into play. Again the spectators burriedly scattered, some dropping to the floor in their haste to find safety from the lead that one and all felt positive would be set in motion as quickly as human fingers could contract. But once more they ‘Tf you are — seeking information, in- | were in error, for Monte Jim spoke, ins'ead of stead of trying to dodge a bet beyond your | shooting: nerve to cover, Curly, Pll be happy to en-. ‘ You’re my meat, Curly, if you don't drop lighten you—when you make me that business that tool in a precious hurry. lt won’t save call, Will you oblige me by tumbling out those . you—nor can your heelers get in a shot from chips?” behind quick enough. I came here armed at all ‘“[f you prefer them, of course,” was the points, and if a free fight is on the programme, cool response. ‘Ordinary rules don’t apply be- | you can just bet your sweet life that your gang tween two of the profession, however, and I'll | won’t have all the fun on their side, Drop that be only too happy to cover your money to any og dpe !—hands above-board !” amount, whether in chips or bank notes.” ullenly the faro-dealer obeyed. He saw ‘*Good enough! [ll take you at your word. | that Monte Jim spoke within bounds; that cer- 1 am sorry I didn’t come better prepared to | tain death must be the penalty of either delay buck against your royal highness, but maybe | or refusal, without giving bim the slightest this will do for a starter.” chance to carry his rival down in death with As he spoke Monte Jim took back the bill, | him; and, dropping his revolver, he brought his and joining it with another of the same denom- ; hands empty above the board. ination, placed them on the gaudily-painted ‘*T appeal to you, gentlemen,” he said, his lay-out, voice husky and unnatural. ‘Is it the clean _ According to the cue-cards kept by the play- | white thing to crowd a man so?” ers, the box now contained, besides the nine-| ‘‘If you are playing white, what I say will spot of hearts, which, as the last winning card, | hurt me far more than it will you,” was the was now fully exposed to view, the queen of blunt reply of Monte Jim, in whose hands still clubs, the six of the same suit, and the ten of | showed the weapons. ‘On the contrary, if, as diamonds, | I firmly believe, ps are using foul means to By the manner in which he had strung his | win the money of your patrons, you deserve a chips, Alva Pennington showed that his call | thousand times worse treatment. consisted of ten-queen-six; or, staking his| ‘‘ But this is enough chin-music for once, Our money, that his favorite card, the queen, would | money waits on the cards, Deal, and only one prove the winning one in the final turn. card ata time, or over goes your meat-house, Apparently in accordance with the plan he | for good and all! J say it—Monte Jim!” had adopted on first coming into the game,| A sickly’ smile distorted the ghastly-white Monte Jim went in direct opposition to the | countenance of the dealer, but he dared no judgment of his fellow-gambler. As he could | longer refuse to deal, not readily ‘‘ string” his notes to express his ‘**No man ever yet caught me putting upa call, the dashing sport carelessly dropped his | brace, nor will you be the first, Monte Jim,” he money on the six-spot. said, slowly slipping aside the nine-spot of ‘*There’s ten thousand dollars that I catch | hearts. the turn. My money says it is queen-six-ten, A low, grating curse hissed through the tight- And now, Curly Kaine, King of Bismarck: just | ly-clinched teeth of Alva Pennington, as he action, and his right hand dropped swiftly be- neath the edge of the table, his fingers closing on the butt of a double-action revolver resting on a little shelf directly before him, ready to pull and fire at an instant’s notice. But once more the threatened collision was averted. Tho King of the Monte Men regained | the self-control momentarily lost, and with a | careless smile, retorted: ~ let me say one more word before you touch | caught his first glimpse of the card on which he — those papers, and I’m going to give it to you | had staked his all; for it lay immediately be- straight as a string, too!” | neath the nine-spot, making it the banker’s ** Wind won’t buy whisky nor pay for kero- | card! “Tf! ‘ Burst!” he gratingly exclaimed, striking the is fists that the dents of sene,”. sharply interposed the dealer. yon’ve got any more of those little pictures to table so fiercely with Ete eee ACO JOO Im (E ely” Tie ee : <4 ct a 5 ~—y¥ a