The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1875-09-18

| to Bill" aside | reckon you have heard OF
Monte Bill the best brace dealer and short
card PLAYER west of The Mississippi, and
some secret understanding passed between
them.
lii the mids, of game, Lumley's Partner
left his post, which was something unusual,
passing Monte Bill on his way to the door
1t was not generally noticed, but as he pass
cd he dropt Il small, compact package into
the gamblers hand; then, slouchlng his SOM
brero over his eyes, he leit the hall.
Pausing in the street, Lumley's Pardncr
looked anxiously down, 1t would have been
dark but for the street lamps, for it was full
two hours to moonrise; but down by the
wharf shone out the CLEAN OF new signal
light, which, poised at masthead, glowed
through the dark like the fiery eye OF gigan-
tic Cyclops the Ocean Belle was In. Ten
minutes later, pushing his way through the
busting crowd that lhronged the deck, he
hurried across the plank and made his way
to the cabin.
The past seemed all adream, as he stood
again with wildly beating heart before u
one familiar form--famillar s'ill, though
bearing the maturer crown OF lholnerhoou
Her face was even fairer than OF old, blush
ing with its own wild rose tints OF loneliness,
her soft eyes shining in glad expectation.
uC UTOau SOM SlOuihtu viva tAAS AS'
head, shaded his features. She saw only
bronzed cheeks and strong, brown beard
The tremor in his voice might have meant
dlffidence.
pardon me, madame, you are DelleVe
that is to say--I am Lumley's Pardner."
And she held ont white hand cordiai
ly.
"And my husbandg'
as we'll | am to take you to him.
lie took timidly the hand she extended,
awkwardly the little woman thosght, and
then let it go.
Give me the child
lie took the sleeping boy in his arms, and
so burdened piloted the way to carriage
close beside the wharf. Putting her inside,
he laid the child gently, almost leverently,
upon her lap.
Were to drive around and take up Lum-
lev. It's only few minutes ride
One last searching glance from under the
protecting sombrero, and he closed the car
rage door, mounting to his place beside the
driver.
Oddly enough, Lumley had just finished a
winning game with Monte Bill when Lum-
ley's Pardner came hurrledly in. AS he slip
ped quietly back to his post, Lumley sat eye.
ing the pie-S2, 500. lie put out his hand
to rake il up, paused, drew it back, picked
up the cards, and began 10 shuttle tor aGoth-
er stake; not that he had forgotten his oath,
or the woman or child he loved, but long
way ahead of anything else was the thought
that luck had turned-that he had only TO
follow il up and win back all the past. Lum-
leys Pardner stopped to his ear.
"You had better throw up the game, the
little mother and your boy are waiting here
outside"
Lumley started-half rose to his feet, look.
ed up into his partners face, then at the cards,
then at the door, then wstfully back upon the
cards and the gold. As with heavy sigh he
sunk into his seat again, Lumley's Pardner,
dashlng the cards from his hand, rakcd up
the stakes and forced tbs money into Lum.
ley's pocket.
"How long will you keep your wife and
child waiting alone, at night, in strange
city before the door of gambling house,"
The thrust struck home. Like man
awakening from dream Lumley sprung up,
crushed on his hat, and Sew to the door.
Once in the little woman's arms, he was
safe. Lumey's Pardner knew him well
enough TO be sure of that lie never foowl-
ed him. but slipped out of the side door, and
the next day saw him back in camp, II trifle
paler and sterner than was wont, but the
clear gray eyes dauniless and brave.
And | reckon, TO this day, Lumley never
knows how much he owes his old mate, or
that his I.ulie had one true lover, whom he
once knew and appropriated to himself in
the person of Lumley's Pardner-Orer1dHd
UOAfLig