The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1892-06-04

pack OF cards, and the gamblers lace
showed his annoyance each time. The
luck was against him, but that of itself
was not enough to make him nervous.
More than one man In the room had seen
him play heavier game than this with
worse luck and show no sign o. emotion.
'sSuddenly the climax came. With a
motion SO quick that my eyes, at least.
could not follow it, the elder man drew a
pistol and had it pointed at the others
face.
"'Don't move hair or I will blow your
brains out Jim Baisley,' he said, as coolly
as he had asked for cards moment be-
fore.
"sI'm not moving said the gambler
sullenly. You've got the drop on me-
"'Yes, and I've caught you, said the
other. i told you twenty years ago I'd
kill you if ever caught you cheating
"Its lie said the gambler angrily,
but he did not move, the pistol was at his
face.
ga lie, is it2' said the other coolly as
before. In those days to give man the lie
was to provoke shot, and we expected to
hear the report, but none came. Instead
the elder man reached over with his left
hand and suddenly snatched the five cards
the gambler dealt to himself and which
he held in his hand. He threw them
face up on the table. There were three
aces among them. Then, with another
quick motion, he spread the pack out, and
three more aces were shown.
"You see, gentlemen he said to the
bystanders without moving his eyes from
those opposite him. A chorus of curses
answered him, but nobody lifted hand.
We all felt that justice was about to be
done and capable man had the matter in
charge.
"'Harry,' said the father to his son,
how m UGH did you lose2'
"'About $4,000 said the son.
"'How much is there on the table?
Will some gentleman please count it2'
81 WILL" said the captain of the boat,
who had been looking on for twenty min
utes. He did SO, and said, There's So, 800
here
'''A thousand of it is nine, that l be-
gan WITH said the elderly man. Harry,
take it ALL
''The son did so, and we all waited
breathlessly. At length the elder man
spoke again: 4 swore I'd kill you, Bats
ley; but don't believe l can. You can
go; but don't evertry to play cards on
the river again.
1.-THE gambler sat like statue. sup
pose l can take my satchel,' he said, or
are you going to rob me of that, too2' 1t
seemed as if he was trying to provoke
shot. He certainly showed grit.
"'Rob you? No., said the other, con-
temptuously. 60, and be sure you leave
the boat at the next landing
The other stopped as if to pick up the
little satchel of money that stood beside
his chair, but with motion as quick
as the older mans had been he drew
bowie knife and sprang to one side.
"The pistol spoke, but the ball went
astray, and the gambler sprang forward
like cat, stabbiDg at the others heart.
"The blow, however, did not fall. The
planter caught his right hand with his
own left and seized him by the throa.
with his right hand. There was short
struggle, but the planter, without shifting
his hold, lifted the gambler as if he were
child and carried him boldly out Of the
saloon. We all followed, of course, ex-
pecting to see what actually did follow.
The miserable wretch, half strangled BY
the others viselike grip, was thrown
fairly over the low guard rail and fell
with splash into the river.
Anything done to the planter Oh,
no! 1t was fair fight, and they didn't
bother gentleman for anything like that
in those days. BY the way, could you
cash small check2 No2 Very remiss of
ME not to have got it before bank closed.
Good evening" AS his retreating form
passed through the swinging door out
upon he calcimined brightness of the
Bowery, the barkeeper leaned over and re-
marked: "That's old Bill Fogerty of the
Eighth Ward. He used to keep a news
stand. Was he tellin' yer about Injuns
on the plains3 He knows all about it,
but he's never been further west than
Guttenburg, except once when he went
to the Centennial N. Y. Advertiser.