Argosy, Vol. 123, No. 2 — page 110: what you’re looking at

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

242 for the interruption of the duel of glances between him and Kennedy. He considered the little man more in detail as the latter scooped up his gold and then extended the larger half toward his benefactor. ‘“‘ No, no!” smiled Tyson. “‘ Ah, senor!’ pleaded the peon; “ only a single coin—for a souvenir of one who shall pray for you daily—and his children» shall pray for you!” “Not a single cent,” replied Tyson. “As for you’”—and here he frowned— “you have now enough money to redeem the jewels of your wife which you pawned.”’ The peon was agape; he clutched his breast with both agonized hands. “Our Lady of Guadalupe has told you all!” he gasped. . “Ah, sefor! Ah, Sefior El Oro!” “Not a soul shall know of it,” said Tyson, keeping back his smile, “if you go instantly to the pawn-shop and redeem the jewelry—and take your wife home some— er—what do you call them—reboso? Good! Off with you!” “T travel on wings!” panted the little peon, and Tyson turned again to the rou- lette-wheel. As he did so, something tugged lightly at the bottom of his coat. He glanced down; then he slipped his hand into the pocket and brought out a five- dollar gold-piece; the peon had left his souvenir. Tyson turned; the little man was no- where in sight. Then he moved to restore the gold to the roulette-wheel that had originally lost it; for by the terms of his contract he must not accept either the win- nings of chance or charity. Yet he paused with the gold-piece gripped hard into the palm of his hand. ‘Five dollars would do a number of things. One might buy fifty loaves of bread; or great steaks, seared above and below to retain the rich juices; or—he stopped in his count of possibilities. A. given word is a little thing, but now his promise encompassed Tyson like the sur- rounding barrels of cannon. Let chance, which had given him the money, receive it again. He stepped forward to lay his coin, and he placed it where he was sure to lose—on THE ARGOSY. a single number. As he stepped back again he was aware of a sudden focusing of eyes upon him, and a murmur about him; first he saw that his wager was the only one that was laid. Then he perceived: that the gamesters before the roulette-wheel had ceased all operations to watch him; he met a circle of curious, half-jealous, half-rever- ent glances, and he heard the strange nick- name again: “‘ El Oro!” The wheel hummed to a pause; he heard the voice of Kennedy, sharpened now by the first touch of emotion, calling his — number. Then he saw the proprietor wait- ing for him to collect his winnings. His hands itched after that gold. He forgot the food and his own burning hun- ger, but the passion of the gambler caught him up; he had to fight it down. His given word tied his hands behind him. So he said, smiling oddly up. to the face of tall Kennedy: “ Stake it all on the same number—against the necktie you’re wear- ing, sir!” It was rare to see Kennedy shaken, but now he first flushed and then frowned, and was Shaking his head when he caught the murmur of the peons: ‘ He will not dare; he will not risk even his necktie; it is El Oro he plays against!” The wisest man in the world may be tempted by the idle taunt of a child. ‘““T take you,” said Kennedy, and spun the wheel. For there was only one chance in seventy-two, after all, that El Oro could win. And the wheel hummed, and the spokes whirled into one unbroken flash, which in turn grew dim and dimmer, and then broke into sections, and finally was turning slowly, slowly, until it entered on what was plainly the last circle it could make. -Arfd at a-snail’s pace the pointer crept on—and on—Tyson heard some one pray- ing in swift Spanish, and he heard another voice beside him cursing in the same soft speech; and he was suddenly aware how fiercely he desired to win—that necktie. When the eyes of Rona fell upon the yellow and black pattern what would she say? He had won. A blur across his own vision did not enable him to make sure with his own eyes, but first he heard a harsh COMnICLO© S C@