The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1876-02-01
THE STRANGE MEEruNc.
By PAUL PLUME.

/ times were seen IN tue ptu@U VI IHO oAVi 2
said town. Jose was there with his
shirt-sleeves rolled up, and perpetual
smile upon his countenance, while ne
shufled the cards as he dealt monte.
Merritt, the jolly, good-natured sheriff,
was drinking straight whiskies at FAR
sons, and treating half-dozen trappers
who had come in from the Cinnamon,
while the Third Infantry Band was dis.
coursing fine music under the flag that
stood directly in the center OF the
| square.
All about the plaza strolled long-haired,
Iheayily-bearded Western men, who had
come out with the aforesaid party, and
who were impatient to be of for the land
of gold. blacksmith forges worked
briskly, and the government wheel
wrights had no idle time OF 1t, for Coliyer
had carte blanche on the quartermasters
department. for whatever he required In
the way of supplies and repair TOT MS
train. Jose drove a good business, Tor
those long-hairy fellows were keen at
bet, and had money in their belts.
While Merritt and HE companions
were enjoying themselves in rational
way at Parsons, Old Abe Lane, clad in
his buckskins, entered the saloon, and
seated himself upon an empty packing
box.
"Take a drink, Abe?" inquired Mer-
ritt.
uThank'ee, l don't care" replied the
old man, "Taint often feller has the
| chance OF gettin' up here, and suppose
it's allowable to make the most OIL the
occasion."
"Good many folks in town, Abew said
| Merritt.
"Toierable lot" replied the old fellow,
looking out on the plaza, where twenty
men were gathered around party OF
Mexican girls, and were endeavoring 70
speak few words of Spanish. "Toler-
Il able lot, say" continued Lane; "'taint
| often you have such busy times here,
sheriff, reckon"
"No,n answered Merritt, "things are
i generally dull, except when we have
some such q party as COllyer's come Ill
on u.s."
"Wen, 1t makes me feel kinder good to
; look at them fellers," continued ABE;
lit takes me back again to the old days
when lived in Liberty, and used to see
the rough fellers on the fiatb6ats tie up
at our place tor night, and have gay
: Lime with fiddle and dance. Twas boy
, then. sheriff; that was many day aiore
YOU was born. Ahl me-" and the old
man sighed.
1HaiIo! WHAT'S tha,?' cried the
: sheriff. "Was that a sigh heard 7"
and Merritt laughed.
"Yes, suppose it was, sheriff." re-
piled Abe; "a man can not allus be on
his guard-a thought OF old times will
seal over his heart, and then the first
thing he knows the heart will be send
| ling out moan for the days he never can
, see again, aud, perhaps, shouldn't re-
member ii he'd be happy"
3 The Sheriff was kind-hearted man,
Q Notwithstanding his rough exterior, and
q moreover, he had a toucn oil sentlmen-
:, tally in his nature.
] "Thars all right, old man." he re.
l Joined, Shaping Lane on the shoulder
f l!W hen those tender days are rubbed Out
of your recollection, and you can hear
i. sounds and see signts that remind you
OF home, and never feel your heart throt
a little quicker, Tvs sign there's Link
: IN your chain OF life missing, and you've
lived TOO long. YOU'RE toe old now u
4 take u wife, but If you'd ever been 1
l. married man ana raised brood o
Il Youngsters, you'd understand that nt
one can live wholly tor himself"
,. The old man moved uneasily in nj
: seat as the sheriff spoke. and only tn,
@ ghost OF u smile,came to his lips
"P'raps SO, p'raps So" he muttered
:, nTwenty-six years of mountain life ain
y ant to make a man as tenuer-minded III
q school girl. But let's go into Jose's
!. I've got a couple of ounces, and wan
:, to try my luck
At Aue's suggestion the Sheriff an
e party followed Lhe old man into til
}. gaoate room. Seated at plain table wa
Lhs 0ealer, with number OF stacks 9
gold and silver coin directly before him
Beside them lay several packs OF Span
= ish cards, with which he from Time /
e time alternated as he dealt.
n The four cards were just laid out a
Abe and his friends entered the room.
y "Play, senors," said The dealer; "mak
% your BETS"
a "Here goes on the eavallo" cried Abe
n striding 10 the table and pacing an 0a,z
. beside The horse.
70 "Tll try the Sot0," said the Sheriff
r. placing a dollar Oh the jack. "Iou see
. only bet Ter the fun vi it, therefore
, never 20 it heavy"
. "Make your beLs, senors," again Gale
e out tine. dealer; "make your bets"
Il The bystanders placed their money o
,fl the cards which suited their respecLiy
- faneies, and when Joe was satlstie
J. that no more bets were to be had o
er that deal, he began to draw of the card
IN his slow and cautious way. The sixt
:, card was the soto.
y "Soto" crled dozen voices; "goo
Oh for the SOTO"
In "Hoid on,n cried Abe, as Jose wa
10 about 10 draw tue caJus again, 'Iu
- another ounce on the rev."
The old trapper mad made good be-
the king won.
h II knowed the luck would turn, fol
you see, i bet upon the winnin' corner.
For the next half hour Abe Lane wo
- and lost alternately, so that at the el
- piration OF that time he was loser oi onl
:. a couple Of onzas. Either WEAKNESS
~ disinclination TO play further, cause
= him to step little backward and watc
y party OF Missourians belonging to Col
~ yer's train, who had come into the roo
y flushed with dguGdieRte, and were crow
p Iing about the table aud making the
,s bets in a noisy style.
a One Of them, a tall, broad-shouldere
'U and splendidiy-p -proportloned man, toe
out OF mis- belt handful Of Mexican do
:" liars, and, placing them on the ace, VIC
he directly.
r. sBravo, Jim, Bravo" shouted his con
I, panions.'
I'd "Make your bets, senors," repeated th
of dealer, wnea he had paid ON the winnin
card and showed it aside. "Make 20,
BETS"
r.. Gathering up his money, Jim stake
:. his entire pile upon the soto, which wa
e- again out. As at first, be won, and b