Evening capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1888-1893, 1893-06-14


tin discarded three; Dick Jest tuck
one. An, by gum, pardner. I'll cal
tn of leader Of Dick didn't lose.r
What did Martin bsveT'
-Four aces. Dick had dafull house,
an Martin done tn dealin."
"Of course he fixed the cards but
why did he act as IL he wanted W
draw his opponent ON when II was q
simple showdownfr
Jest fer straight out, deyiltry.
Soon as e had pore Dick fioored q
showed what q wus leadin. fer.
Plunked tn cash down on tn NOR.
gedge an offered Dick both fer hil
gal Linda. In case Brand refused q
wuz ter be sol outar house an home.
Dick wuz clean white an true ter
his gals, even Z o did play fool at
gamblin. Tole Martin ter 60 som'ers
down bout Mexico that amt tn
place Q said, but it's In th .neighbor-
hood. Shuek 'is fist in tn schemy
doctors, face an tole i'm he'd ruthsr
see Linda marry q, Hong Kong wash
conan than pair of 18th him, Martin
jest turned chalky roun tn gills an
went out 'thout sayin Of a word.
Took mitey good keer ter pocket tn
morgedge an cash, though, befo' e
went. An o didn't stop tel'e' wuz
outer tn Rockies, mother.
by gum, sir, that air feller never
showed is face In Fir Top again fen
year. Yes, 'twuxl morn year.
Brand knowed e. edcomeiback, though,
an tn pore devil tried ever'way. un-
der tn sun; ter GIT up that morgedge
money. Twan,t no use, though, and
tn mis'ry Of thinkin on it turned i'm
sick.
Jest befo'o his time run out e
called Linda an Bet ter lis bunk an
tole 'em tn, whole story bout that ar
poker game an tn morgedge. Course
they didntigipe back no lip bein as
he wuz verbouts ter. cash in is chips
It struck Linda col, though, and al
lers noticed arter that she had a
mopy kind r look.
"'Bout 13 months later on-Brand
had bin planted 10 months an wuz
mitey nigh forgot carried in tn
mailbag one day, an old man Jinlns,
tn postmaster, went ter work sortin
out tn mail. Arters while . hefted
one letter ter tn light an looked at it
kinder grim through is specs. !
wuz settin on sugar bar'l eaten
crackers an cheese, Th' ole man
spoke up an sed,
"Yere's a letter fer Dick Brand.
dino wuther or not to sen it back or
give it ter Linda In spealin r tn
gals folks allers, used Lipda's name,
cause she kinder lhslt tn lines.
"'Give it ter Linda, said 1; hit
mout be Important
"Jest then, Linda come in. She
pushed back her gingham bonnet
an said, rs thar ennything fer me.
Mister Jinksf'
"Well, Miss Linda, / Jest got a
letter yere fer yer paw, but ,bein as
he amt present ter receive it, mebbe
I'd better give it to you, seein Al
how you air his darter.'
"Yes, lemme take it, said Linda.
The ole man polked it out, an Linda
tuck it. She turned tn enyelope
over ever which way, jest as il she
could read 'thout. openin of it, like
tn trick feller in tn circus. Then
she tore 1t open an begun to read.
watched an, seed her GROWN pale an
skeered like. Then she gave a sort
of quick gasp an tore tn letter al
ter pieces. At that time I didn't
know tn ins an outs Of tn game,
but ! had q glimmerin. Linda turned
ter me an sed in sorter jerky tone
Of voice:
"'Phil, what 'ud you do If a man
wuz goin ter sell yer outer house ar
homer
"'I'd kill tn skunk, Miss Linda,
sed /, short off.
"'Well, looky yere now, Phil, put
in ole man Jinks, speakin slow an
lookin wise, don't yer think that nj,
'ud be agoin contrary ter tn sta
toots2'
"'Spec' it would, said I, ;lookin in
Lnda's purity eyes, but when tn
statoots makes q sweet little gal lool
like she wuz pluggin up the weepf
SEE consarn tn statOots.'
LINDA looked at me, ith a soft Lit
tie smile creepin outer tn mist oi
cry in her eyes, and went out.
Nov, who dye s'pose ! tuck owe,
ter Fir Top second trip arter Linds
got tn letter. Don't know, eh
Well, yer oughter. Twuz Doc Mar
tin. Yes, sir, when / pulled up long
side r tn train down thar at Sunset
tn doc come walkin out big as Ike
an got in 'thout 30 much as sayiI
howd'y. Two other fellers got in
likewise One wuz miner and
t'other some sorter science crank
minrologist, / think they called i'm.
"'Twuz tn middle Of tn month
an skacely emmy express money goir
over.
well, ter come down ter fint
v.rx+a M xuo ,,{ohad that air hand n