Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1897-04-08

l 'OSOAN SASoI. ASu III W06 "c11 RO-
ing he nodded his head at the idle
| card table
been playing cards?"
Been trying to-" said I.
Don't want to try again, I sup
pose?"
What do you play?" The -four
man and the hat drummer jumped
from behind their papers
! "Well, seven up?" The -four man
and the hat drummer disappeared
again. "Nap, bezique. euchre, ca
slno." The flour man grunted. "Dom
Pedro. poker" The -four man laid
down his paper.
"My friend" he asked. "do you
play whist?"
"Well. yes, have played it,"
Three minutes later the cards were
dealt. The -four man and the man
from High Hat were partners. I could
see by the formers face that he didn't
expect much from his partner. But
he was agreeably disappointed. At
the end Of the third hand the newcomer
had proved himself able to give points
to any of us, and l rather pride N.Y.
self on playing fairly good game.
The porter came in to light the gas
and the game went on again. 1t was
during the second hand of the rubber
that the long whistle sounded and the
hat drummer asked what station we
were approaching.
"Colfax," answered the man from
High Hat; Eve stop for water about
i've minutes"
My partner held the winning trick,
and wheh the last card was on the
board the score stood four to four.
well, gentlemen. this decides it, "
said the man from High Hat, "and if
no one objects I'm going to open the
car door to let in little air." He
rose. stepped out, and we heard the
rear door open. When he came back
he threw away his cigar with a de-
termined air and cut for the hat drum
mer. As the cards we're dealt we felt
the train slow down to stop, and
: heard the forward door bang as the
! porter and conductor went out to the
platform.
1 was gladdened when I took up my
Aohu Wy VIC Dix Nv OA lOuI u1S II u uuPSs
It was the flour mans lead. [ arranged
my hand and glanced over at him ;
, and then l let my cards fall ON the
board. The -four man. with a set face
and twitching lips. was staring at the
man from High Hat. The drummer
was still studying his cards. turned
and followed the flour mans gaze.
What I saw seriously damaged my
composure. The man from High Hat
sat far back in his seat and held be-
3 fore MIN two determined looking re-
back Of his head, and he was differ
, ent person. indeed, from the countri.
: fed traveller who had joined Us at the
q dinner stop. l heard the drummer s
Q cards alight softly on the board and
7 knew that he, too, had at length
l grasped the situation. There followed
p, moments silence, during which only
the sound Of voices far up the plat
: form and the subdued puff puff OF
r the engine were heard. The hat drum
mer sighed nervouslv. and the man
8 from High Hat shifted q revolver IL
d his direction like q flash. That broke
: the tension.
"Gcntlemen,' he said, at length
I "this IS rather An unpleasant situation
g but much Of the unpleasantness may
! be removed by obeying my instruc
tions to the letter and with alacrity
y The gentleman on my left will empt,
IS his pockets on to the table; the mex
9 gentleman will kindly follow suit
there is no renigglng IN this game
v and the gentleman on my right viii
J, do the same. At once, please The
i last words were spoken in tone tha
Is sent our hands to our several pocket
: simultaneously. When his instruc
Is tions had been obeyed, there rested ol
Is the table three pocketbooks, hear
u of small silver, three watches, and tw'
silver match safes. Further orders le'
10 to the addition to the collection of tw
t. immense diamond studs from the flou
II mans shirt front, three rings, and
It diamond pin from my scarf.
N "Now. gentlemen, if there are an
Is tickets or papers OF only persons
'e value in those wallets which you desir
to keeps you can take them"
n II should like to keep about Eft
st Of that currency ventured the ha
" drummer with ~ tremulous laugh.
E. 81 am sorry that l can't accommo
e date you." was the unsmiling reply
'e "Now. sit perfectly still, gentlemen
s. until am through" ?"
lie He laid one pistol on his knee an
OF used his right hand TO stow our bs
longings in his coat pocket. A sudde
N recollection OF the electric call butto
by my elbow must have shown in N
eyes, for the man from High Hs
IN moved the muzzle OF revolver q hair
breadth nearer the line Of nv brea.
., and remarked;
!, 1T is quite useless; there is no on
else IN the car And now, gentlemen
II accept my apologies for wha. iaco,
Id venience I have put you TO. and n
lie thanks for your pleasant company an
ay your pleasanter gifts need hardl
ey point out 10 You that the moral to /
re derived from this evenings adventul
-, IS: Never travel without q gun! / as
DIX you to remain quiet Il moment longer.
az The sound OF the engine whist
l.. l. l..