The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-07-01

been % oflciousay anxious TO hang ne q
once, aroee, and after expectorating, ~
marked with : harsh laugh: "Young
| teller, you can't come IL over us that-a-
way. Come on, boys. Let's string him
up"
several rose and with oaths loud and
deep seconded The motion. My blood ran
cold - I realized my imminent peril.
| These rough miners, who certainly had
strong circumstantiAl evidence against
me, felt perfectly justified in hanging me
| to the nearest tree. What could / dof
| gazcd from one to the other like . hunted
| animal.
"surely you would not hang man on
such evidence as this" cried. at you
will unite me can show you letters that
will prove who am"
The tall man, whom they called Joe,
stepped up and united me. I drew out
letter from my mother which had re-
ceivcd while in San Francisco. 1t con-
tanned Q card photograph of my pretty
sister Alice, which fell to the floor as /
drew out the letter. Joe picked It up.
ats my sisters picture" / cried.
Here; read the letter, any of you. 1t
| will prove that am an honest man."
Joe was gazing earnestly at the picture.
beauty" In my heart blessed her pretty
face and only wished her there to plead
| for me In person.
| The picture was passed around, and
| hope sprang up in my heart, when the old
Nissourian, who seemed thirsting for my
| gore, dashed 1t down again by exclaim-
ir.g: "How do ye know but what he stole
that letter and picter from some one on
| the stage, or out Of the mail bagf It's all
boshi Let's hang him and done with it'll"
Joe took the photo again and glanced
| from il to me. "Now, look'ee here, Mizzo,
seems to me yer gittin' cold-blooded in
yer old age. Anybody with half an eye
can see that this gal looks like him."
thanked God for the resemblance,
which was slight, and began to hope
| again. The girl Jess crowded in among
the men and asked to see the picture. Joe
handed IL to her, jocosely remarking that
he'd marry her when she got to be as
handsome as that.
She quietly replied: "Shut your mouth, !"
and gazed intently on the picture. "I'n
bet that's his sister," she said presently.
"Pm inclined to think 80 myself" said
Joe. "I think we'd better wait, boys, and
take him down to the bar"
| At this there was dissenting murmur,
which grew 30 strong that my courage
failed again. Suddenly Joe turned to the
! crowd and cried:
"Tell We what, boys, let's lay IL on to
luck. I'll play him q straight game of
freeze-out. II he loses he's our meat.
What do ye sayf"
The idea seemed to tickle the fancy of
the crowd. They evidently had confidence
in Joe's ability to play poker. Unfor-
tunately for me, it was game OF which
knew nothing and told them so.
The girl jess was still standing beside
Joe. "Let me play for him." she said
eagerly. "Luck's always with me-"
Yes, let her play" cried the men,
| evidently amused at the novelty of the
thing, and also sure that Joe's superior
skill would win. "Let Jess play for him.
Can you stake her, young fellow7"
looked at the girl curiously. Her big
dark eyes were glittering with excite
ment, but she was cool and self possessed.
| Taking out my purse, which contained
my wealth, about 500, I handed it to her.
The cards were produced, and In q few
| moments she and Joe were seated opposite
| each other, and the game began.
| It was a weird scene, and I had the odd
feeling that was simply q spectator, and
| in no way concerned. remember wish
ing for sketching materials that I might
| transfer It to canvass. What q picture 1t
would make. The low-ceiled, uninviting
room; the smoky lamps shedding flick
| ering light upon the eager group round
| the table. could zee the face OF the
young girl, and knew that In all probable
ity my life hung upon her "luck."
| She played in silence, except to indicate
how many cards she wanted at the draw.
| 1t was an even game for while, then Joe
began to win, and her pile of coin gradu-
ally diminished. She played coolly on,
despite the comments of the crowd. She
was down to her last dollar when the tide
turned in her favor. She won steadily,
raking in the coin each time, till Joe
was nearly broke. He began to bet eau
tiously, having evidently no desir to be
beaten by girl.
of excitement, but none was visible. She
was thoroughly self-possessed, and the
fact that she held my life In her hands
had no outward effect upon her. Luck
turned in Joe's favor again and they were
soon about even. The crowd grew i'm
patient. "What We afraid of Joef Where's
yer nervef Why don't yer betf" and like
expressions were heard, while others en-
couraged the girl. "Old man Brown"
came around and patted her on the
shoulder, remarking that "Jess always
did have the dog-on-dest luck"
They made it jack pot, and it was
Joe's deal. Jess opened 1t for ten dollars
and discarded two. Joe also discarded
two, and after a draw gave short laugh
and raised her ten. She glanced at her
coin in an uncertain way, then at her
hand. She had three dollars less than he.
The excitement was intense. For mo-
ment, only the heavy breathing could be
heard. Then Jess laughed little and
pushed her last dollar into the pot.
Old "Mizzo" broke into discordant
laugh. "Jess don't bluff worth d."
he cried.
Joe calmly pushed in the rest of his
money.
It1l be make or break this time," he
said, glancing over at me. "Sorry fer We,
young feller. Boys, get yer rope. What
ye got, Jess?"
She quietly laid down four mines and