The tribune. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1874-1876, 1875-02-17

guardians would never forgive his draw
ing knife on old Iangsdale, and he I'M
armed. man who would resent any
t thing from the Posy's father was not to
be tolerated in Sandy Gulch.
Time went by, and the goddess still
reigned without q rival in her kingdom; !;
and poor John still sued at her feet,
though getting hopeless. His univer-
sity education, his talents, his proud
family, his manly beauty, all availed him
nothing in his desire to gather to him
self the blooming Posy; and then, he
did have wretched luck. He often said,
with gloomy smile, that when his pick
went III, gold went out at the other
end.
One night, John sat in the rear room,
tipped back in his chair with his heels
Oh the window-sill. The Posy held no
reception that evening; she had started
ut daybreak, accompanied by her father,
for visit over to Van Duzens. Aside
from the unwonted absence of the Posy,
John felt melancholy; he was dead
broke, and had come to the conclusion
that his claim was not worth as much rs
his pick; and then, although old Langs-
dale had invited him TO ride over to Van
Duzen's and help escort the Posy home
that night, yet he could not but let the
remembrance of Phoebe's cool manner
rankle in his mind, more than the pros
pect of his felicity soothed it.
Bucn0s nOchCs, Senor john" said q
musical voice.
John looked up, a trifle surprised.
Hullo, Apodoca, that you2"
Apodoca responded that it was un-
doubtedly himself, and invited John to
game of cards. John looked at his
watch; in ten or fifteen minutes he must
be starting for Van Duzen's. 1t had
been the Posy's sovereign desire to leave
there about ten o'clock and come home
by moonlight; moreover, he knew that
the Mexican hated him, and that his
reputation rs an honest man had not
been improved since he left Sandy
Gulch. So John tipped back little
had promised Langsdale and the Posy to
ride home with them from Van Duzen's
that night.
Apodoca smiled serenely, and said:
"One little game; it takes but few
minutes"
"Come, John" said the Doctor, "I'm
IN IN good luck tonight; you and against
Slippery Jack and jose"
IL lend; I have plenty gold dust.
See," and Jose drew out bag, which
looked comfortably plump. He insisted
ON lending John an ounce, and the game
began. On the first deal Apodoca and
Jack were winners, and the former
volunteered to treat. John began to get
Interested in the game, then excited,
then absorbed. He called for more
drinks, he borrowed more gold-dust, he
forgot tile Posy and her moonlight
ride. His brain seemed to be on fire;
now he won, now he lost His losings
were the greater, for he must always bor-
row more dust from the "Greaser's +"
bag, 80 comfortably full. Slippery Jack
and the Doctor slipped out of the game,
somehow, and he and Apodoca played
alone. Slim Jim looked on con-
temptuously, commiseratingly. Con
founded fool !" he said to Bald Pete
Johns former partner" he never had
no luck; oughter know it"
Meanwhile, the Posy rode home over
the mountain trail, in the, silver moon
light, in very bad temper. Her father
rode before her; where was "that John"
who ought to have been only too happy
to have the honor of riding behind her
She had intended to be so pleasant to
him, too! When they passed the New
Orleans Saloon, it was brilliantly lighted;
it was always brillianted lightly, all
night,
:" Ask what time it is, papa said
Phoebe.
Langsdale asked Bald Pete, who
stood by the door. "Two O'clock" he
answered.
"What are they SO still in there for2"
asked Phoebe, accustomed to hear the
most uproarious noises in the saloon.
"Apodoca and John are playing"
replied Bald Pete.
"Come here !" said the Posy, imperi-
ously. Bald Pete came, obediently, as
became faithful subject. "What are
the stakes3 Johns got nothing to play
with. When did Jose get back9 Who
is winning2"
Bald Pete answered oil the questions,
but the one about the stakes he evaded.
But she made him tell how John had
borrowed gold dust until Jose would
lend no more that he had risked his
claim and lost; his watch, his pick, the
very clothes upon his back. "He's
clean gone crazy" said Bai<~ Pete
"clean outern his wits"
What's he playing for now?" said
the Posy.
Bald Pete hesitated, and tried again
to evade the question, in vain. :
"u you don't tell me-" said she "I'll
o,o Y.ipht in and aak 'am -