The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1879-07-19


year 1850.
The work Of the day was over. aud
the Miners Bower" brilliantly lighted
aud driving . thriving trade.
The Bower" as i, was Familiarity
called. was large. low building con-
s,ructed Of unpalnted pine: boards. and
com biuing in itself tie triple properties
Of gambling house. gin mill" and
hotel.
It's proprietor WAS. evidently. a man
Of vivid fancy for anything more un.
like . bower" in appearance cannot be
readily imagined.
Its interior served TO confirm this
impression. 1, was long. narrow
room. with . rude liar that occupied a
portion # one side; behind the bar,
upon the floor. sto.d various barrels
while on thu 0shelses nniied agaius, the
wall were ranged bottles. glasses. aud
the like. for the accommodation of the
thirsty patrons OF the Blower" The
remainder OF the apartment wa- furn-
ished with q nnmbsr Of smsll. round
tables, AMI heavy oak chairs
The room is filled line Of a.en
lounged against the bar, whose constant
demands for "ilnid" kept the bar tender
and his assistant busily employed /;
others. seated at the table. with their
pipes in their mouths. glasses Of "red
eye" before them, and cards in their
hands. were stalking their piles upon
the varying fortunes Of the game.
The atmosphere Of the room is heavy
with stale tobacco smoke. snd the
fumes of tie villainous compound that
is dispensed over the bar under the
name of whiskey.
At one Of the small tables above
mentioned were seated two men, the
elder . man of forty odd, tall. muscular
and bronzed by exposure TO sun and
wind bis csmpanion could not have
been more than fve>and- twenty years
Of age, not quite IS tall ss the older
man. but possessing fine figure. and
face tha. at first sight would have been
called handsome, Black hair. and care.
fully trimmed monstsche, his SKIN but
slightly tanned. aud his hands IS soft
and vel for y, those Of girl.
while upon the little fiOger Of his left
hand there CLEANED . solitaire Of re-
mAiktble lustre.
There was sou,ctblng attractive. and
yet repellunt about his whole appear.
ance something taking, and at the
same time disaGreeable in the smile taat
parted his red lips.
His appearance WAS that of mau
who might be true; who certainly could
be false.
He was new arrival st Reiley's Bar;
no one knew who or what he was, or
whence he came. and. indeed, no one
cared, 1t was not safe in those times
to inquire too closely into . mans bis
tory.
Captsin Dick. o, he was called, WAS
q jolly companion. and paid his way ;
that was sufficient.
Captain Dick and his comrade were
deeply engaged in a game OF draw y
. pie of dust lay on tho table between
them 1t grew larger ard larger ss the
game progressed.
"l'll see that. pard. and call you.
says Captain Dick.
His partner throws four kings and a
en-spot on the table.
Captain Dick shows four aces and a
jack, aud smiling, rakes the dust to-
wards him.
"Cuss the or'nery luck!' cried the
other, its no use playin against sich
. man as you. Captain Dick. believe
you d clean out Old Nick himself. You
have busted me, anyhow. My last
ounces gone into your bag"
Never mind, pard, better luck next
time. Take . drop Of craythur and
forget it it's all iu lifetime. Well.
here's looking at YOU" says Captain
Dick. and the glasses clink together
across the table.
1t was somewha singular. but next
time" seldom comes Tor those who try
their skill against Captain Dick.
Not that any one suspected him OF
playing unfairly. BY no means.
II they had they would have express
their opinion Of such conduct by boring
him with bullet from the "Lavy six
that every man carried in his belt over
his left hip. No. there wss no suspi-
cion, aud Green Mike expressed the
feelings Of the camp very we'll when
he said:
"Besorrs, the cap'n must be the d.
wills own bye. for the ould S'ntleman
takes sich sight o intherest in him. ]"
Captain Dick and his comrsde con-
tiuued to drink and talk at their table.
The room became fuller every mo.
ment, the cir denssr and thicker with
smoke.
Suddenly the door Was pulled hur.
riedly open and young man entered.
He vas. evidently, from the curious
glanees cast 1t him, Q stranger at Rel
isyS Bar.
The uew.c conner could not have been
more than eighteen or nineteen years
Of age; the down Of boyhood had
scsrcely left h,s face.
He wss tall and sinevy, however, and
his appearance denoted more strength
and sctivi,y than is usually possessed
by one OF bis years. while his bold eyes
and frm month gave promise OF An
indomitable will. He was dressed in
the ordinary miners costume. soft
SLOUGH hat. flannel shirt. high boots.
into which his pants were securely
tucked, aud . broad belt about bis waist
which supported bis bowie and revo..
yer. In his hand he carried . light
rife.
He paused as he entered, glanced
around the room. and then proceeded
TO the bar. As the stranger entered.
! Cant>in Dick arose from the table. i