The Sunday morning news. [volume] (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1886-1891, 1890-11-02


moi conceal the fact that we are--in a
sense well, call us fortune seekers, and
we haven't yet found 1t. May be il is In
Oklahoma, and what we wish is to get
there. AT this moment" and here he
snapped thumb and finger of each
hand airily, Eve are tired, we are hum
CRY and we are penniless.
VIII Brown was not unaccustonled to
wandering adyenturers in q similar
| plight, and he would have repulsed this
man, doing it not the less decidedly be-
cause politely; but at that instant the
+ girl settled to the ground very limp and
i prone, but falling into far too graceful a
pose to make it possible that she was
careless about it. Her fatigue was pitt
fully genuine, however, and the sight Of
beauty in distress although also in rags
was an appeal which VIII made no
effort to resist.
You're welcome to dollar, he said,
holding forth a coin instinctively toward
the girl, but relinquishing it to the ready
hand of her less charming parent. IF
you'll give me your name" he added, in
sudden attempt to give to his senti-
mentality commercial turn, "I'll make
a memorandum of the loan and expect
you to pay it sooner or later.
My manner was the forcedly glib re-
Spouse; oh, yes, my name. Well, you
see we are travelling incognito. Poverty
is ever sensitive, you know-ever sensi-
tive. In the last shutting Of the cards,
somehow, we've been dealt clear out of
the game. ought to be winner, but
-heighol Well, call me by what name
you please
.'Call him Jack High came drowsily
from the bush.
''Tn call you Jack High" assented
Will Brown. making an entry in a note
book, and, Jack High, you owe me one
dollar"
Jack High twir1ed the dollar and
made it pass deity in and out between
his fingers as no man other than prac-
ticed handler of gambling chips
would be likely to. He seemed about to
toss it back to the lender, or donor, but
slipped it into vest pocket instead and
blithsomely said: MY daughter is a
genius, sir--a genius. She sings, she
dances-she will go into Oklahoma, my
young friend, like q revelation of melody
and disclosure of grace. 1t may be
that her talent must submit to offensive
environment for a while, and indeed I
may confess that our immediate expecta-
tons as to Wealth City are centered in
concert hall said to have just been
opened there; but all Oklahoma is ours,
and we shall speedily possess it. Jack
High, sir, and-and "-
ssCall her Deuce Low" was the sleepy
suggestion from Old Jugg Brown in the
bushes.
Jack High and Deuce Low" cried
the shabby adventurer, exhilarated by
the possession Of an unearned dollar,
and he was about to impulsively declare
that the card named couple would win
the game, but he checked himself and
chose other language. "They viii con-
quer prosperity in Oklahoma-wil Jack
High and Deuce Low. Oh, yes"
The appetizing fragrance of coffee
came from the open kettle ON the stove,
and the two cooks We're seen to be active
in putting the meal on the table,
s'Will they sell two suppers for dol
lar?" Deuce Low asked, raising her eyes
to Will Brown; and when he did noe
answer instantly she eagerly suggested:
well, then, say one supperand half"
She rolled partly over and rested her
chin in her palms, while her elbows set
tied into the turf nd rather get half q
supper than none.
VIII Brown felt like boyish play
fellow of this coaxing little creature, not
withstanding his twenty-five years, and
he stood with arms alimbo looking down
into her wistful face with juvenile i'm
pulse to share with her whatever he had
to eat.
81 don't think You can buy any supper
here" he said, because we don't make
a business of selling them. But wen
feed you for nothing" His glance turned
to Jack High, and he less Hospitality
added: fAnd you, too. Butin that case
what use ismy dollar to you? You might
pay it back now, you know, and get it
off your mind"
A dron leer prefaced Jack Highs re-
ply. You're right as can be. III sat
isfy the debt and give you, ikely's not,
your money over again for interest"
Deuce Low rolled over on her back
and gazed idly skyward like one for
whom the proceedings had taken an nm
interestingly usual turn.
That's generous" and Win Brown
laughed.
81 viii shift the dollar from one hand
to the other-thus, and Jack High slow
ly transferred the silver coin from palm
to palm; land you can easily follow it
with your eyes, as you see. Here it is
and there it is, here it is and there it is,
and where is it nowy' He closed both
hands and held them forward. Choose,
and if you're wrong owe You nothing;
if you're right you get g."
Zone now and the other when?"
Zone now and my word of honor, sir,
for the other
VIII Brown laughed again, and clasped
one of the fists in his own. seThe dollars
in this one, of course" he confidently
declared.
But it was not. The open hand was
empty, and from the other the dollar
slipped into the deft palmer's pocket.
Will Brown had obtained at the cost
II 4 e 4 4