The Bryan daily eagle. (Bryan, Tex.) 1895-1898, 1896-01-29

the windows Of the scattered stores.
After on elaborate supper at tao
Transcontlnental. served by retired
cowboys from Arizona. we sailed forth
TO Visit the saloons and gambling places
IN search OF our robber. We made
three or four circuits OF the town With
out success, and finally found ourselves
IN the Magnolia Club rooms
! was enjoying the character OF
amateur detective hugely. so far there
was a pleasant tinge OF excltement-or.
rather an expectation OF excitement
aud very little danger. But as we
scanned the faces Of the company with
out seeing our man. the deacon's brow
grew black with disappointment
Il was now after midnight. The
cigar store was closed. but the bar was
kept open all night. Disappointed In
our search. We became absorbed In
watching the game.
There IL something OF the gambler In
every man, and. as looked upon the
tense. excited faces OF the players the
contaglon O; their example seized me,
and felt IN my pocket for n coin.
Finding nothing but silver. which | did
not like 10 stake as there was none on
the table. ! was on the point OF Dor
rowing a double eagle from the deacon
when heard a quiet but distinct voice
al the end OF the room say:
Hands up, gentlemen, n you please"
Glancing around saw a man stand
Ing NJ the door leading 10 the bar.
revolver In each hand pointed az us.l
lie was short. slight man. with dark
hair and flaming scar across his face.
There was no confusion. one Of the
loungers quietly placed his back against
The door leading 10 the cigar store and
drew two reyolyers. which he pointed
along The table. Two others. evidently
confoderaies also. stood az ease await
INK the next order The rest OF Us
lifted our hands simultaneously
The gents that-are seated win kind
/ ly rise" said the voice near the door
The gamblers rose as one man.
"Now. thea Every body right about
and face The wal" Was the next COM
mand.
We advanced On two rows 20 The OPP
I po1iie sides Of the room and stood. as
directed. ranged against the walls
/ Then the two confedoratcs stopped
ieisuroiy TO The table. and acooped the
/ gold into a couple OF little sacks which
they produced from their pockets.
Having secured the money on the
table. the brIgands proceeded TO rob our
persons. with a great show Of polite
ness they requested los 20 give mp our
watches. money and weapons. The fell
low tossed my revolver and my few sill
Yer dollars into his sack and grabbed at
my watch.
Just then there was a crashing. ex-
plo5Iye sound. deafeninE In the narrow
7 confines OF the room-thon another b.
aaothcr-and another. Then came dark
ness, a quick rush Of feet. a tumult Of
shouts and groans.
II was the deacon. OF course. knew
II before the welcomed hurried arrival
Of men from outside, with lanterns lie
had turned loose az the leader They
had exchanged three or four shots be-
fore the Light went out. quickly and
mystorlously.
The men with the sacks and the
money we're gone. but the deacon was
bending over form that was stretched
upon the iio0r
The fellow tried TO lltt himself upon
his elbow.
u know you. pard." he said. You're
the man I stood up this afternoon
You've held over me this time. I'm
gone"
The dcacon's eyes softened. II,
dropped bis revolver put his long arm
under the others head and tried u
turn him into a more comfortable posi-
tion.
a am sorry for you" he said. slow
/ iy and simply.
"Oh it's- alright" easped N,
wounded man. evidently speaking viii
great didculty. II -into-the-
game coma blun. but you've calle,
-mc-sure~
lie there anything that / can DO fo
you2" asked the deacon.
Bend down here. said the man.
The deacon lowered his head. an,
The other whispered something to him
I'm do it, said the deacon.
The next day ~ the afternoon IN
deacon and sat on the veranda Of N,
hotel at Hot Springs enjoying a SUI
bath and admlring the diversified land
scape before us
Now. there was that young fellow
yesterday" said he Had he told nj
who he was l would have lent hin
800 TO 70 East. and there he nigh
have amounted TO something. lie sim
ply threw his life away"
what ala tina, young fellow say Il
you2" asked
TOLD me his name. You woult
know the family u should mention II
Wanted me 10 see that he was decentl
buried, and TO write to his father an
MOTHER San Francisco Argonaut
Amlcably settled.