The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1894-05-23

other. AS is usual, two shifts OF dealers
and lookouts We're employed to run the
faro game, each shift lasting six hours.
and the game never closing Ross and
Edgar owned the bank and worked to-
gether. Manuel and Rogers. or Aces
Up were hired 10 deal and watch.
Every other week they had what is
known as the dog watch. lasting from
a. m. until TO-
Now. faro bankers find no difficulty in
getting expert dealers but it is not so
easy to get honest dealers. Ross and Ed
gar had experienced this difficulty. After
frequent consultations, they decided That
Manuel and Aces Up" were pinching out
money. When he finished his watch one
morning the Mexican was told that his
services would no longer be required.
When he asked the reason in a jargon OF
broken Spanish and English, he was told
very plainly that he had been stealing.
Manuers shifty black eyes danced with
anger and he muttered a few oaths. He
was too smart 10 start a fight with the
proprietOrs, but when told that a watch
had been set on him he sent a vicious
glance toward Rogers, who was as yet
Ignorant Of his discharge. A new dealer
and lookout dropped into the seats and
the game went on with a passing remark
from Ross 10 Edgar that the Mexican
might be looking for Rogers before the
day was over.
They did not have long to wait. The
Mexican's anger was made fiercer and
more cunning by few drinks of bad
whisky. Rogers, too, was drinking and,
as usual. Dragging about his fighting
ability. Finally the two men turned up
side by side against the bar. Rogers was
at the climax of a tale of gore when the
Mexican, with a sneer, remarked:
"Umph. You tinka you fight?''
Fight? Why, you half-breed greaser.
can eat you up blood raw said Rogers,
with vicious grin. You wouldn't make
a"
You fight? Fight nowr' yelled the
Mexican, with a yell of hatred.
With that he snatched a heavy Next
can army revolver from his belt. Rogers
jumped forward and knocked the weapon
from the MeXicanS hand, but before he
could pull his own gun the Mexican had
ripped him. and both rolled on the floor
under a billiard table. There they chewed
ears and tore about each una bic to
draw his weapon. The faro game in the
meantime had stopped, and the specta-
tors were scattered about waiting for
the men to get on their feet and begin
shooting. The shooting did not come,
and ii is probable that no other combat
in the West ever ended like this. The
Mexican, as 1.-THE and quick as a panther
and quite as treacherOus and blood
thirsty. knew that the fight must end
quick If he was 10 win, for Rogers was
much the heavier and stronger. The
guns being out of reach he employed his
animal instinct. With a quick move he
threw both hands on Rogers's arms,
dsrted for the mans throat. and fastened
his glistening teeth in the flesh. A yell
of horror came from the lookers-on,
hard men as they were. They jumped
for the Mexican, but were too late.
When a blow the head with gun
had knocked him from his victim,
squirt of blood shot from ROgers's throat.
Rogers never moved. His jugular had
n Will n cra
he died.
The crowd soon recovered from the
scene. the bar was lined up. and the
checks at the game were rafting away
as merrily as usual The Mexican was
hustled away by the city marshal
Later he was released, and got the Gus
tomary twenty-four hours TO get out of
the country. He took the hint, but got
no farther than Helena. where he was
killed
This was excitement enough for one
day. even i'm FIT. Benton, but there was
more in store. After the general verdict
that perhaps the authorities were neg
lecting business, and that man-eating
should be confined to cannibals, the
crowd scattered to the river The first
boat of the season had churned its way
around the curve of cottonwood trees
and was drawing up to the levee. When
the gangplank dropepd over the muddy
waters there was a loud hurrah from
groups of dust-coVered freighters. mer-
chants, whose prosperity warranted the
bringing out Of their families, and ten
derfeet who had reached the land of
their golden dreams. Nobody noticed
fine-looking old man wearing a long
linen buster and a wide-brimmed white
felt hat such as you see on the proud
" poised heads of Kentucky gentlemen.
With the crowd of passengers he worked
his way through the sands of Front-st.
may have made a few passing inquiries
at the hotel desk to old Uncle Pete
Nolan. the landlord Information on
that point is lacking. But there are a
half dozen old-timers left in FIT. Benton
who will tell you what happened at the
other end of the room when the old gen
tleman stopped short in front of the
game and sent a curious glance toward
the lookout's seat, where Ross was sit
ting
He shaded his hat to be sure that he
saw right. mis- eyes shone, and in a
quick, deep voice, he said
john John. is that your"
Ross jumped from the lookout's chair
to the old man, and the crowd around
Little" Edgar, the dealer wheeled back.
And, my God. John. is that him,
Henry Ashely?" exclaimed the old man,
pointing to Little" Edgar.
Edgar's face had turned to the yellow
ish white color Of the dust in the road.
His hands dropped from the check rack
and the card box. and the crowd. as if
divining that something was to happen,
kept silent.
voice and with face as white as Edgar's.
you don't mean the man that took our
Esther"
YES, yesi there he isl Let me at
him. said the old man, struggling to
the table.
Are you the man?" asked Ross, turn
ing to Edgar.
yes" was the reply in a cool. firm
voice.
Ross walked to the bar and returned
with a gun in each hand. Edgar had
risen from the table and was facing the
old man, who was held back by the
crowd. Neither of the men raised a
weapon. Ross stopped his father and,
turning to Edgar. said:
You saved my life once. and I'll give
you an even show. Come outside"
The other man made no reply but
reached under the table and from a
drawer took out two heavily-mounted re-
volvers. The crowd, not knowing what
il was all about, drew back, and the men
passed between and out into the street
On the other side. along the raised levee,
were two cottonwood trees fifteen feet
apart, and here the men took their
places. Not a word was exchanged. The
crowd. silent in anticipation of a fight
where death must be the issue, gathered
in a semicircle. The old man was in the
center. calm and immovable as a statue.
In an instant two guns were raised, two
puffs of smoke met in the air in a rat
Ting fusillade of shots. and when they