Democratic Northwest and Henry County news. [volume] (Napoleon, O. [Ohio]) 1894-1905, 1897-02-18


parently from nowhere, pair of waits
that everybody laughed at. Both were
tall and lean and slightly stopped, with
meager faces full Of deep lines. Though
Jim's hair was white as wool, the other
seemed to look ON him as mere infant,
whom he must guard and guide in all
ways. 1t was odd that the thin fringe
back of Baldy's ears should be dark and
silky as a ravens down. "You see," he
Eaid to the groups which came abodt,
drawn by the magic Of his fiddle, "Jim's
got the hair. but I've got the color nf it.
Maybe l mought once "a had some other
name, but I've been Baldy so long-ear.
ly piety, you know-that don't feel at
home when you call me nothin else" p"
The fiddle and Jim's rife made up
theu luggage. He was dead shot. AT
all else he appeared the simplest back
woodsman that ever gaped at semicivi-
Iization. The gambling held him spell
bound. lie stood for hours beside the
players, who won and lost hands, mon
ey, crops and slaves, his eyes shining,
his lean face twitohing with eager in
terest. His father had usually to drag
him away and once cuffed him roundly
"for bein such a fool as to keer fer
them spotted papers.
The players were nearly as much in
terested in the odd pair. When the two
appeared in the saloon on the river
bank, there was chorus of welcome
It was by far the most gorgeous one in
the plaCe-full Of mirrors and gliding,
with a thick, soft carpet, wheezy piano
and several pictures of large and liberal,
lovely ladies. The steamer landing was
Just beside it. Indeed whoever came off
the boat had to pass it's open door.
When, an hour later, Colonel Allen
Clay came through it, he found Jim
seated at the main table, the picture Of
radiant verdancy. He had been invited
to take hand with the crack players
the nervy set, as skillful as they were
bold. Much to their astonishment, he
had pulled out moleskin, crammed
with coin, and risked it as freely as the
best of them. Stranger still, he won
won steadily, his father meantime walk
ing round and round, with the fiddle
tucked under his chin, too restless evil
IDENTIFY for continuous playing, but
striking now and then few bars from
some old familiar breakdown or reel.
Invariably Jim begged him to "stop
that squeakin." As invariably Baldy
said: "Oh, come away, Jim. That amt
no place fer you. You'll get to losin
directly, an then whar'll all our little
cotton crop be?'
At first the rest laughed over it and
said aside one to another that who
ever won the poor greonhorn's money
would, Of course, give it back to him,
after he had been taught the folly OF
gambling. By the time Colonel Clay
came on the scene this benevolent inten-
tion had vanished in thin air. FOOLS
luck did not begin to express fortunes
favors to the greenhorn. Yet it was luck
pure and simple. There was no sleight
or palming in those awkward, trem-
bling hands. Two or three times the
limit had been raised on purpose to
scare him away. AS the colonel came i'll
the table was fairly heaped with gold
and notes.
"What's in the pot?' he asked care
lessly.
"a thousand in cash, two niggers and
wagon and mules" said a player
who had not "come in" the game.
Outside, through the warm fog, a
steamboat came down stream, putting
and ohurning in to the landing. Nobody
needed it. All eyes were riveted on the
play-the players.
As Colonel Clay looked, slow dawn
of recognition came into his eyes. He
glanced back from Jim to Baldy.
Rock of Ages, cleft for me.
Let me hide myself in thee!
The fiddle seemed to say it palmer
than human speech. Jim half started
from his seat, then dropped back, say
ing, 81 call you"
"Better stop your game, gentlemen.
There is cheating at the board" Colo
mel Clay said, folding his arms and
looking down from his feet 2.
Jim faced him, white with rage.
"Who says SOP"
81 do"
"Why?"
"Because there must be when the
son of q horse thief is found playing
with gentlemenw
There was the leap of panther, a
choking gurgle of breath, a wild cry
"Jim, Jiml Don't touch him for youi
life!" then a swift, deadly gleam OF