At the other end of the table was a deep earthen vessel, and around it were grouped the major part of the men in the room. One man was tying up small bundles containing sums of money from one cent up to twenty-five dollars. Each package was marked with a sign word. When his task was completed, the man cast all the bundles into the vessel, and in a loud voice announced that all who wished could cast lots and for twenty-five cents have the chance of making twenty-five dollars.
A number, including Ah Lin, paid twenty-five cents and marked their names on a list of signs. Then the vessel and its contents were shaken up. All in turn were then invited to take at hazard from its portentous belly, the parcel for which they had staked. As he opened his, Ah Lin’s face turned grey; it contained but one cent.
“What have you got?” asked Hom Lock, in an excited whisper, leaning over Ah Lin’s shoulder. “Just one cent, eh? Well, I have the twenty-five dollars—the Tiger favors me—he’s a great God.”
There was a crash; the lamps were knocked down and extinguished. Ah Lin had leapt across the table and was dragging the Gambling God around the room, striking it repeatedly with a stick.
“It’s a great God, isn’t it,” he yelled. “See how it likes to be insulted. Oh, it’s a big God.”
“It’s a great God,” shouted Hom Lock; there was a knife in his hand; he pressed close to Ah Lin.
Ah Lin saw the knife, and something slipped from his sleeve and two knives gleamed—then disappeared.
Some one struck a light. The owner of the place picked up the fallen God and placed it on the table. It calmly looked down upon two dead men.
Sui Seen Far.