The herald., 1894-11-02

story, relinquisneu ner pap-, ro ....~----
and being less timid than her compan
ions ventured near the faro table. She
became SO deeply interested in studying
the game that her sentiment against
gambling was considerably softened by
the time that period of the play desig
mated as calling the turn" was reached.
In her enthusiasm she leaned over
one end of the layout and placed q
dollar on the king, drawing it toward
the queen. She thus indicated, as she saw
! other players do, the order in which she
was willing to wager her money-the
bottom cards in the dealbox would come
out The other ladies, being shocked by
the boldness of the novice, shrugged
their timid shoulders and hitching their
chairs nearer to the big box stove fas-
tened their eyes more intently on their
newspapers. Several of the players, who
had entertained an opposite opinion of
the position of the cards. suddenly shifted
their bets to follow the venturesome
young woman, whom they accepted as
their mascot The turn was made dur
ing an almost breathless silence The
barkeeper paused in the center Of the
room with tray full Of refreshments
The rattle of chips ceased The clock
for once seemed to hold the monopoly of
disturbance
The king-queen wont
A shout of appreciation of the girls
Judgment broke upon the stiffness of the
room, affording Mr.. Brick Genry, the
genial red haired dealer, an opportunity
to remark to the ,Lan in the lookout
chair-without being overheard by
others-that women faro players were
always ''hoodoo' to his game.
This burst of enthusiasm oD tho part
of the faro players failed to produce a
ripple of concern upon the sober counte-
nances Of the men who occupied chairs
at the short card table Their sphynx-
like attitude and strict attention to the
business in hand furnished incontrover-
tible proof of the assertion that nothing
short Of the presence of death or the ne
cessity for tho indulgence in deadly
combat could disturb frontier poker
game.
The young woman, who by her bold
play had created sensation among the
faro players and shocked her female
companions, regretted her performance,
and feeling hot flush creeping across
her temples hastily arose and moved to
the door. Through the glass of the upper
half of the door she could see the soft
snow falling gently to the earth. She
pressed her burning forehead against the
cool glass, and seeking to shut out of
hearing any further murmurs of ap-
proval from the men or chance words Of
disapproval from her friends, placed tho
palms of her hands to her ears. In do
ing this she cast shadow on the glass,
thus aiding her exterior view. The men
at the faro bank had resumed their play.
The rattle of the chips and the ticking
of the clock echoed through the room;
the barkeeper clattered about; the rou-
tine of the place was resumed.
The unhappy young woman stood like
q statue of penance, the curved lines Of
her handsome figure marked in strong,
dark outline against the door. She was
of artistic mold-tall, 1.-THE and grace
full, erect and silent-a model for a
sculptor. Instantly a score of eyes were
turned upon her as if by some common
instinct. Each person so attracted had
felt the inspiration of her presence and
discovered the artistic beauty Of her
pose.
Almost simultaneously the company
1oI 1,~,o Io1 -, 81 fr,
half of terror The woman shrank bacl,
and without turning her face from the
door or uttering another sound, pointed
with the Strengthened forefingorsof her
left hand toward the glass, while her
right hand covered her eyes, as if she
would shut out some unwelcomo sight.
She stood there speechless while the
men opened the door and lifted the half
frozen and unconscious form of GIRL
some II years of age, into the room.
The quiet barroom was instantly the
scene Of most pathetic excitement
Rough hands, guided by tender hearts,
placed tho wayfarer on an improvised
bed of coats and shawls that was ar
ranged hastily on a pool table, while the
ladies' with keen sense of the require
ments, bent their energies to restoring
the girl to consciousness and physical
comfort. They were soon rewarded by a
sensible expression Of appreciation of
their kind offices.
Interest in the stranger, who was
still too weak to account for her pres
ence there and had fallen into deep
sleep, had taken such firm hold ON the
men that tho faro bank was deserted
and the poker game was twice inter-
rupted. This interruption was due to
the apparently careless playing Of Sher-
if Smith, whose official eye had been
distracted from the game by the ap-
pearance of a peculiar pallor on tho face
of Poker Joe since the features Of tho
strange girl had been exposed to the
view of the persons present. The sheriff
was evidently permitting his mind an
indulgence in something quite foreign
to the game Of poker. The fact that
such an unnatural hue his hand was as
steady as a clock gave the sheriff still
more uneasiness. Mr.. Brick Geary, find
ing his occupation at dealing faro gone,
had turned over his deadlock, trans
ferred the bank roll to his pocket, and
after satisfying himself by scrutiny Of
the sleeping girls face that she was not
on his list of acquaintances walked over
to the poker table, and, in accordance
with the ethics of that game, asked the
privilege of "sitting in." Poker Joe,
with al, effort ot c,1rh yI11 sarcasm aS