The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1875-02-04

Jack were winners, and the formel
volunteered to treat. John began to ge
interested in the game, then excited
! then absorbed. He called for more
drinks, he borrowed more gold-dust, h,
forgot the Posy and her moonlight
ride. His brain seemed to be on fire
now he won, now he lost. His losing'
were the greater, for he must always Dor
row more dust from the "Greaser's
bag, so comfortably full. Slippery Jacl
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 haC
no luck; oughter know it,
| Meanwhile, the Posy rode home ovel
the mountain trail in the silver moon
light, i'll n 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 tc
him, too! When they passed the New
Orleans SALOON, it was brilliantly lighted
it was always brillianted lightly, ali
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 for p
asked Phoebe, accustomed to hear the
most uproarious noises i'll the saloon.
"Apodoca and John are playing" "
replied Bald Pete.
Come here ~ said the Posy, imperi-
ously. Bald Pete came, obedientlv, as
became faithful subject "What are
the stakes Johns got nothing to play
with. When did Jose get back. Who
i winning!"
Bald Pete answered all the questions,
Int 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 Bald 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.
"If You don't tell me-" said she 'T'n
go right i'll and ask en-"
Wall, " said Pete, peering up in the
darkness to get look at the Posy's
round, pretty face, "he's staked his
chances ter git You again the dust he's
borrowed of jose.
"And who's winning"
"Im bound to say as Jose's winnin' 3"
said Pete, sorrowflllly. "John never
had no luck at keards."
Phoebe whipped up Robin little, and
followed her father up to the cabin in
silence. Once inside her room, she took
from the shelf the nugget which had
been "A present from Jose, and, stepping
outside the door, she threw it with all
her strength into the thick underbrush,
whispering: "There, blood thirsty vii
lian - Then she went back, took the
rest of her nuggets-gathering up the
corners of her apron, that none might
roll out-slipped out of the door, and
ran at full speed down to the saloon,
the silver moonlight shining upon her
as she went. Bald Pete stood at the
door.
"My eye :" he cried, when he saw the
Posy.
"Are they playing YETI" she whis-
pered.
He nodded assent She took his hand
and clung to it like child, drawing him
into the room after her. Jose looked up
when she came in, and started; John
saw her, too, and let the cards drop from
his hand. "Never mind 'em, john"
she said, i'll so low voice that he hardly
heard her, "l'm going to pay Jose for
your debt" and she emptied the mug
gets upon the table, between the two
pistols which lay there, one upon each
side, ready to the hand of each player.
She put her arms around Johns arm,
clinging to it, as if she loved it, and tried
to lead him away.
Apodoca flung his cards upon the
floor, and, quick as fash, Phoebe
heard the crack of his pistol-once,
twice John fell back against the wall
with groan, the room was full of smoke
and the smell of burnt powder; then
there was heavy thud, and Apodoca
fell, between the wall and the table,
dead, without a groan or a word; the
pistol, clenched fast in his stiffened
hand, went into the grave with him.
And two days after, with all the incon-
of a woman, the Posy searched
the chaparral, far and near, to find the
nugget which she had scornfully thrown
away, and which, for all her searching,
she never found.
John was all very well-she did love
him, and would marry him, but his
wound had been nothing; Apodoca's
aim, SO fatally sure the second, had
missed the first time, and John had
escaped with mere hesh-wound. But
Jose" poor fellow :" his love cost him
his life, and even spoiled goddesses have
tnnlnr wnnn on g hnn1tS