Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1890-10-04

+
saying it, but with no idea that she had
spoken otherwise than heedlcssly; what
does he intend TO do with your
Didn't you yourself say | had face
to bewitch with?" and she held her visage
still for him TO examine ''Oh, Dad II
do very well with me in Oklahoma.
Meanwhile that reprehensible father
was seated with Aleck Wians ten rods
distant. A fat stone was between them,
and on its smooth surface were the cards
and cash of "A game of poker. The moon
made light enough for the players, and
they were engaged so earnestly that no
| other talk than the play required was
INDUCED in. When they spoke it was in
very low voices, too, and it was mani
fest that they did not care to be dis
covered. Neither man could have tod,
If he had tried to, exactly how the game
had been brought about, nor could either
have recalled anything in his own case
but eagerness for it.
Jack High had airily remarked at the
beginning, as he drew his only dollar from
vest pocket, There's plenty where that
the government mint; but Wiams did
not demand an insight of the pocket,
and so the first bluff in this game of
poker was made and won by the profess
sional gambler. Nor did he require other
capital than that single dollar. He
played to the end OF the first hand with
only the coin and pronissory words, and
81 l., -
number of bank notes provided by
Wiams' losses. Luck and skill allied
themselves on his side of the stone, and
his accumulation OF one dollar and two
dollar bills at length bulSed the pockets
that had been empty before.
''Oh, here you be, gents" and the in
truding figure of Old Jugg Brown stood
before tie players. ''Yes-here you be. J"
His inebriety had passed off, and he
was not only sober bat also pom9ous
with the Official duty O. being the night
watchman Of the camp. lie was too IN
trustworthy to be hired for regular
work, manual OF mental; yet on his
sons account, ami under the regulating
influence of that circuInspect young
man, he was employed 70 guard the port
able properly of the expedition while
the rest Of the company slept. He was
now making his first slow, saunteriag
round for the evening, and he promptly
intermitted his patrol to sit down.
''Playin' fer keeps, too" he continued,
with wistful eyes on tho several bills
that lay on the stone.
Hush said Wiazns, and Old Jugg
obeyed, for Wiams was man of impor-
lance.
"Hush!'' said Jack High. but this time
Old Jugg was about to f0ut the COM
mand, for who was this frayed vagabond
that he should presume to dictate silence?
At that instant Jack High won q stake,
and wadded the money into pocket al
ready full.
"Gr-a-cious g-u-d-ness" Old Jugg ex-
claimed, indulging his mannerism of
spelling out the first syllable with
more convincing emphasis than orthog-
raphy, yet keeping his voice down to IL
hoarse whisper; but you're a winner,
sure-sure. You didn't have dollar
when you struck the camp
pray, don't interrupt U.s." Jack High
hastily interposed.
"Oh, don't let me poster you. What
l wants to jine into jine in"
Cant be done without money!" said
Wianls'who knew that VIII Browns
discipline Of the erring father permitted
no money to him when within n DAYS
walk of a baToon; $50 you're barred
out"
Old Jugg hoaved a deep sigh and
walked away only to return five min
utes later. He squatted by the stone,
covertly disclosed Il gold watch in his
palm and said, with fabby attempt at
braggadocio, docs my watch go for ten
dollars? Say, Goes it go?'
With q quick look of inspection. but
without touching the watch, Jack High
remarked that as for him he never re-
Jected a gentleInan's collateral 1t was
Aleck Wiams who should have declined
the Offer, because he recognized the
watch at glance as belonging to Boss
Donald. and instantly reasoned that Old
Jugg, made desperate by a possible
chance to get some whisky money, trust
ing to luck to restore the timeDiece. and
induced by his ravening appetite for al
cohol to lapse in his redee,ning quality of
honesty, had sneekingly stolen it. But
Wiams assented to third hand at the
game, and the watch figured in lieu of
money in Old Jugg's bets. But not for
long. Its thief, who viewed himself as
a boomer, WGS soon an unparturbed
player, with the watch safe in his pocket
and dozen hank notes besides. Some
thing like $500 had been won from
Wiams by the two others when the loser
remarked that he had lost enough, and
the game was stopped.
I've divided al my ready money be-
tween YOU" he said, land pay day for
my gang is Gay after next"
I'D enjoy lending you something"
said Jack High.
Not a bitmore'nI would Mr.. Wia1ns,'
said Old JugS Brown.
mo, thank you was the reply.
'You haven't bankrupted me, and I'm
net whimpering. Good night to YOU"
and he strobe away to his tent.
The two winners We're very iocular
They linked arms as they strollcd along.
Then Brown thought of the watch and
got away from his companion long
enough to replace it where it belonged,
but he was back again in minute. It
was 10 o'clock and the camp was nearly
all asleep. Those who were only doing
as yet were first to hear the low, soft
commencement of a song.
That's my daughters voice." Jack
High remarked with proprietary pride.
Other listeners, and especially those