The morning call., 1893-01-26


some in his palm and drank.
at seems to be good, he remarked.
It was delicious; icy cold and pure AS
CRYSTAL Ny establishment was uubouH ded
that | had overlooked this treasure at my
very door, which n stranger had seen al first
glance Nv visitor by thus enlightening
my ignorance bad repaid my hospitality
th0uSandf0ld, aId as we returned TO the hut
/ thanked him warmly.
at is nothing" be said, dismissing the
subject with a wave Of his hand. Let us
sneak no more Of it," So the topic was
perforce dropDed. and we resumed our
places before the fire and think we talked
again.
l say think we talked. ! am not sure,
because must have fallen asleep in r sin
gularly sudden and unexpected manner. l
distinctly remember seeing my guests face
turned toward me, yelled in the phantom
aT8besQues OF his cigarettes smoke. The
next moment, as 1t seemed, II was broad
daylight and l was sitting before the ashes
sniyering in the keen morning breath Of
the mountains that blew down into my hut.
My companion was gone. but when he went
l can only conjecture; probably when the
first light of dawn made the way visible.
Al first waking ! thought his visit must
have been q dream, but the cigarette ends
! showed me that Ii was fact, and, more
over, when l went out Of doors the new
spring was running merrly, and Il runs, So
far as / know. to this day.
The next time 1 saw this remarkable man
l was In a small mining town several hun
dTed miles from the scene Of our first meet
ing. where | was detained by engineering
I business. The only Motel" In the place
was also the principal grogshop and gam
bling establishment, and rows were Of fire.
quent occurrence. | was sitting 10 the bar
room one Sunday evening irving to read
stale newspaper by the light Of the i'll
smelling lamp, when l heard above the
/ hubbUb Of the gambling, swearing and
drinking a soft well-bTed voice that | in
stantly recognized, although | had not
heard it for TWO years. He was inQuirlng
of the man behind the bar if he could OBJ
tain accommodation for the night.
He stood there looking identicaily as
when | had last seen him in the wild foot
hills, his brOsdcloth as black as black, his
linen as white, himself as imperiurbable
aud Mephistophelian as ever, while the
landlord said that the house was full.
The stranger, with courteous goodnight,
turned to leave the room. when he was ac-
c0sted by a man who started Up before the
door. This fellow, who was called Sludge.
was recognized as deSperaie character
even there, where the moral sense was
nearly stone blind. He had been gambling
with his companions and had had bad luck,
which had put him IN an ugly temper.
What's your name, tenderfoOt?" he
gr0wled
MY name" replied the stranger, pausinE
as Stregone"
well, Mr. Stregone." said Sludge, you
amt gong quite yet. You're a-g0n' 10
set down AMI have little game o cards
first"
= do not care about playing, 1 thank
you" responded StregOne, leaning easily
against the bar a1d waiting for Sludge to
get out Of the door. His left elbow res ted
on the counter and his left hand carelessly
held his glossy hat by the brim. l saw the
name of welLknOwn London maker il the
crown, l was so near him.
But / care, - you, and so you're bound
TO care, you see, announced Sudge. Dye
see this?" And he eXhi bited a clumsy six
shooter. Il make porous plasters out of
felers that don't care"
Stregone looked at him pleasantly and
did not stir. Where are the cards?" he
asked
Sudge pointed to a greasy pile on the
table. Something in the strangers self
possessed manner cOwed him a little.
''Ah. yes. May / trouble you for a few
moments?" looking at NE for the first time,
with a bow OF recognition.
took up the cards mechanically, while
the roOmful of loafers who had suspended
private business, looked on.
Before play cards with this gentle
man." turning toward Slndge, perhaps he
would ike to have little shooting" ex-
planned StregOne blandly II not ce that
no one is sitting behind the gentleman who
holds the cards. If he will pull out card
and toss 1t edgew Sc in the air 1t can be
used as a target without endangering hui
man life. The back of the card toward the
company, if you please" he added to me-
l spun card in the air as he directed.
AS it left my hand, win you shoot irst?"
be asked Siudge politely.
Il don't want TO Shoot" Sludge grumbled
uneasly.
Pardon me. was under the impression
that you suggested il. Now, if the gentle
man will kindly toss up another card"
He stood, as he had from the first. with
his hat still dangling from his left hand
A tossed the card lie caTeessly reached
into the crown of his hat with his right
hand and drew out q six-shooter like
Sludge's. a shot rang through the close
room, and the card fell on its face on the
floor. pierced through the center.
THE nine of hearts," said he
one OF the gaping crowd slowly picked
up the card and turned the face toward the
company. 1t was the nine Of hearts. The
marksman nodded, and | sent another spin
ming vertically no. he shot again.
1.-THE knave Of clubs" he said.
1t fell back upward and shot through the
middle as before, and was again found to
be the card he announced. After this had
occurred half dozen times he said
That will do. Now, since the gentle
man is so urgent, will play a game with
him."
He put the sx-shooter back in his hat as
be spoke. When he passed me a moment
later his hat was still dangling from his left
hand, empty.
1t soon became evident that Sludge was
booked TO lose that night. while the stranger
had phenomenal luck. 1t is due to him tn
say that Re won fairly and by no mysterious
means. They gambled with gold pieces
and Sludge cursed yOluminously every time
he lost and his opponent raked in the pot.
Suddenly he dashed down his cards with a
string If oaths.
Blast you" he reared "Get out o. this
before blow you into cats meatl You're a
swindleri You're card-cheating DEVIL
Get out. say. or"
"Gentlyp admonished the unruffled Sire
gone. These good friends Of yours will
bear witness that my play was fair and the
game not OF my own seeking. / have been
fortunate enough to win, but as it would
probably annoy you to see me pocket my
gains VIII spare you the unpleasant
sight"
lie was standing close 10 the outer door,
but back 10 II. As he spoke he took up one
OF the gold coins living on the table before
him and lightly tossed it against the solid
wall opposite him. 1t gli;tered in the lamp
ilght and rang as 1t struck the rough board
Ing, but 1t did not fall or rebound. 1t ap-
peared TO slnk into the wall and leave no
scar behind. One at time he flung each
piece Of money until they had all disap-
peared. Then he stepped to the door and
smiled back agreeably at the spellbound
gang around the table.
Goodnight, gentlemen" he said. and
vanished into the darkness.-Barton Alien
in Romance.
Set a Good Example.
Granger-You're one OF the fellows that's