Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1894-04-01

and with Rates help we got him down
to a little game OF freeze out, but he
wasn't so moist but that he knew how
to put up a pretty middlng stiff saw
back We fed him for while and
gave him all the best OF 1t as long as the
bets were small, but as the bets In
creased be began to squeeze the pack
and cling to all the heavy ones our
selves. Still, he played on cautiously,
but refused to take aboard any more
whisky, and was already beginning to
sober up. This would never do, and we
began to try to lead him up TO heavy
stakes; but no use-he wouldn't lead for
cent. In our excitement we bad for
gotten about Kate, who was sitting
quietly behind him.
"We nearly ruptured all our blood
vessels trying to warm up the game,
but he sat there as cold as q Canadian
graveyard, and wouldn't raise penny
unless he had fist full.
'Suddenly be jumped to his feet and
threw the cards into the centre OF the
table. Pm done, he said.
What's the matter?" said we, start
ing up.
II don't reckon I'm playing with
five aces in the pack. You are gang
OF d. skin"
"'You ie, said I, drawing him across
the head with loaded stick"
"He fell to the floor and we pounced
upon him like a pack Of hungry wolves.
Il had just taken a big roll from his
pocket when voice rang out sharply:
"Stop! Put that back!
II looked up and there stood Kate
with big revolver covering me. This
business stops right here; I've had
enough; put it back said she, and as l
made movement toward her, saw q
look come into her eyes that had seen
once before when she drew bead on
O man who attempted to raise a row In
a poker room she was running.
I'm d II / do' said /. The
chance was TOO good to throw over
lightly, but changed my mind when a
bullet went crashing into my arm.
Put it back, she repeated, calmly,
and l did.
Nov, turn your backs; pick up the
man and carry him down to the boat.
The first one that attempts TO cut up
any shines will get red1ot 'sinker'
into his system
1--WE handed him over to the mate,
who happened to be at the landing,
| while Kate stood calmly by with her
gun under her cape.
THE next morning the Dexter went
up the river all serene, but we stopped
over at Natbhez.
when 1 got well I quit the river,
went East and after awhile drifted Into
q respectable business. Kate wanted to
go with me, but thought she'd better
stay here with her friends till | could
make start and support her like lady
she was meant TO be. / was just on the
point of sending for her when 1 got a
letter saying she was in a bad way and
not expected to live and wanted TO see
me before she died, but l recokn she
can't do it IL you don't make the cross
ing tonight, Bob"
"Well, stranger, your story has been
mighty interesting, cause 1t kinder NIL
ed in the blank place In my memory
from the time you gave me that welt
over the head till woke W aboard the
boat some time after. II I'd been robbed
I'd have known what was the matter,
but l wasn't, and l never could make 1t
out"
"WelI, Bob, didn't 60 TO hurt you,
but"
That's all right, stranger; / reckon
your wife dealt me trump card that
time, aud l amt going 10 forget 1t.
It's my turn now, and IL she wants TO
see you, dang me I'll do the best I can
for her. It's going TO be darker than a
black cats picnic, but I'll make the
crossing or I'll feed the remains OF this
tub TO the Devils Snag' that's laying
hungry on the lower bar"
So saving he turned the wheel and In
perfect silence began TO peer into the
thickening gloom.
Darker and darker It grew until TO
unaccustomed eyes both shore and riv-
er were merged into pail OF undehna-
Bile blackness. The air became filled
with drifting mist that presently
changed to rain and beat into the pi-
lots face, but did not divert the pierre
ing gaze that he riveted into the opaque
waste beyond.
Then the steady wheeElng OF the pow
erful aengine ceased in obedience TO
the tingIe Of bell in the engine room
and the weird cries OF the leadsmen
came up shrilIy from the darkness be-
low. The immense mass Of the boat
seemed to have taken wings, so silently
1t rode upon the inky water.
Suddenly there was change. From
lifelesS, inert mass the whole i'm
mense fabric seemed to become thrilled
with mighty energy. 1t quiyered aud
shook and belched steam and smoke,
darting from side to side, as II avoiding
unseen objects of peril, and still the
eyes Of the pilot were bent into the IN
| fathomable night, not even wavering
wheu the decks were swept by the over
han Eing branches Of trees from the
shore, or when the passengers stampeded
below with shrieks OF terror; neither
did be finch when he touched ground
in midchannel, showing that bis bear
ings were slightly incorrect, and was
thus enabled to avoid fatal error.
Even when she was grinding and tear
ing her way over the lower bar. and the
captain and officers. with ashen faces,
were ciinRing together upon the hurri-
cane deck, or when the larooard wheel
snatched a projecting limb from the
Devils Snag" and ripped itself to