Argosy All-Story Weekly, February 23, 1924 — page 115: what you’re looking at

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

Be Se ne Se, ee eae NOT SUFFICIENT FUNDS. “ Percentage too large to quit now,” re- marked the cattleman. He covered the sev- eral raises by putting in the necessary forty dollars. Then the slaughter continued. Rittick silently raised it another ten. “ Whew!” whistled Frank. ‘ You fel- lows must be awful confident! So it’s go- ing to cost me thirty more just to draw cards! Well, here goes.” But Covert was still not satisfied, “ Let’s make this last pot worth while,” said he. making yet another raise. “ Now, that’s what I call true charity,” bantered the dealer. He followed Covert’s example. He also took another swig from his high ball glass. “Too expensive for me, boys,” said Mur- free. ‘“‘I’m going to say good-by to my option on this pot.” He passed his hand, face downward, to Carterfield, who inspect- ed the cards gravely, refreshing himself mildly from his glass. Frank suddenly felt a distinct pressure on his toe. He saw Murfree looking him steadily in the face. Was it a warning? Well, his hand was too good to throw down before the draw. He covered the previ- ous bets. The pressure was suddenly re- leased. Murfree raised his eyebrows and puckered his lips into a silent whistle. Then he lighted a large cigar and assumed an expression of complete indifference. ‘Cards, gentlemen?” inquired Baker. ‘“T’ll play these,” said Rittick dryly. “One,” said Frank, throwing the three of clubs into the discard. Baker, who had been fingering the top card only, shot it quickly across the table. Frank put his thumb on it and watched while the others drew. Covert took the next card, which Baker was holding ex- pectantly poised between his slim fingers. ‘““ And two to the dealer,” announced that gentleman. ‘‘ Now, if we all catch, we'll make Rittick’s pat hand look sick.” Frank cautiously but casually picked up his drawn card. It was the ace of spades! He tried to control the shiver that ran down his spine, as he started the betting with a blue chip. The others, each in turn, raised it one more blue. “ Say, boys,”’ suggested Covert, “ this is the last pot, and there’s close to four hun- 8A 273 dred in it now. No use piking along with ten-dollar raises. What do you say to making it a hundred dollar limit till the end?”’ : All agreed, but Frank saw Murfree, over the edge of his high ball glass, looking at him with an expression of what appeared to be rather scornful commiseration. Frank’s previously won chips traveled, by stacks of blues, to the center of the table. His thousand started to follow, a hundred at a time. At six hundred Rittick dropped out. At eight hundred Baker quit, refusing to call Covert’s last hundred dollar raise. A sudden spasm of disgust swept Frank’s spirit. He was bound to win, but what was it worth, after his broken promise to Flor- ence? And so, from sheer nausea, he did something which he never before would have thought of doing with a hand like that. ‘Call you, Covert,” he said, abandoning his former jocularity. “Straight flush,” announced the other, throwing them face up on the table and reaching for the chips. “Same here,” responded Frank, controll- ing his voice with an effort. ‘“ Only mine’s ace high—a nice little royal.” Covert’s face positively turned green. He looked suddenly at Baker. Baker ap- peared puzzled. He looked at Rittick, and Rittick returned him a stony stare. Bak- er’s puzzled expression turned to one of helplessness. Murfree was smiling oddly. | Carterfield audibly chuckled from the depths of the Morris chair, aaa Krank started to stack his chips. They seemed to burn his fingers. But he had won twenty-seven hundred and fifty dol- lars. “Haven't got quite that amount with me in currency,” said Covert, the banker, his face twitching; “ but I'll write you out a check.” He did not offer them the usual parting drink. Murfree and Carterfield, however, helped themselves to a quick one and then followed Frank to the elevator. Rittick and Baker lingered a moment. Some one closed the door of 618. | EOPMICLOO gf a! é Ve , atest” ; 1) digit } ny AY, 4 vi i b f oi a : ' ihe i - ‘ i a : . yh ida i rs yy ee a, hs ay ii> Me : > ayy! : \! } inal TERE ALS TS POUR RTT Shae gk Ly Logs MF Oe PU SR Pe LINENS A SARS UR ENOL Adee LaE jy a af f { 4) ‘ > 4 ‘ eB may iy tts Ch yp caleie hele, Ab lilo Whe 8 ae cd yt let . : f ‘ ole . - of ies r e tegen A eh pe ?