The Neihart herald. [volume] (Neihart, Mont.) 1890-1901, 1897-09-25

The banker looked at the old man a
little n~ervously, as if he feared his head
was not exactly right. Then he said:
"Of course you will be anxious to see
how he thing ends. Come in with me,
but be careful the boy doesn't catch a
sight OF you. 1t might rattle him. I'll
get you a place at the back, where you
can see without being seem"
They rose, and the banker led the
way on tiptoe through between the cur
tains into a large room filled with silent
men earnestly watching a player at a
billiard table in the center of the apart
ment. Temporary seats had been built
around the walls, tier above tier, and
every place was taken. Saunders no.
ticed his son standing near the table in
his shirt sleeves, with his cue butt
downward on the ground. His face was
pale and his lips compressed as he
watched his opponents play like a man
fascinated. Evidently his back was
against the wall, and he was fighting a
hopeless fight, but was grit to the last.
Old Saunders only family understood
the situation, but his whole sympathy
went out to his boy, and he felt an in
stinctive hatred of the confident oppo-
nent who was knocking the balls about
with a reckless accuracy which was
evidently bringing dismay to the hearts
of at least half of the onlookers.
All at once there was a burst of APP
plause, and the player stood up straight
with a laugh.
"By Jovel' cried the banker. "He's
missed. Didn't put enough stick behind
it. That comes of being too blamed
sure. Shouldn't wonder but there is 60
ing to be a turn of luck. Perhaps you II
prove>a mascot, Mr.. Saunders"
He placed the old man on an elevated
seat at the back. There was a buzz of
talk as young Saunders stood there
chalking his cue, apparently loath to be-
gin.
Hammond mixed among the crowd
and spoke eagerly now to one, now to
another. Old Saunders said to the man
next him:
"What is it all about? Is this an i'm
portant match?"
Important! You bet it is. I suppose
there's more money on this game than
was ever up on a billiard match before.
Why, julie Hammond alone has $40, 900
o. Saunders"
The old man gave a quivering sigh Of
relief. He was beginning to understand.
The $40, 900, then, was not the figure
of a defalcarion.
Eyes, continued the other, ''it's the
great match for the cup. There's been a
series of games, and this is the oulrni-
mating me-. Prognor has won one and
Saunders one. Now this game settles it.
Prognor is the man of the High Fliers'
club. He's a good n Saunders won
the cup for this club last year, so they
can't kick much if they lose it now.
They've never had a man to touch Saun-
ders in this club since it began. doubt
if there's another amateur like him in
this country. He's a man to be proud
of, although he seemed to go to pieces
tonight. They'll all be down on him to-
morrow if they lose their money, al.
though he doesn't make anything one
way or another. I believe it's the high
betting that's made him so anxious and
spoiled his play"
"Hush, hush!' was whispered around
the room. Young Saunders had begun
to play. Prognor stood by with a supe-
rior smile Dill his lips. He was certain
to so out when his turn came again.
Saunders played very carefully, tax.
ing no risks, and his father watched
him with absorbed, breathless interest.
Though he knew nothing of the game,
he soon began to see how points were
made. The boy never looked up from
the green cloth and the balls. He stepped
around the table to his different posi-
tions without hurey, and yet withou
undue hardness. All eyes were fastened
on his play, and there was not q sount
in the large room but the ever recurring
click clack of the balls. The father mar
veled at the almost magical command
the player had over the ivory spheres
They came and went, rebounded ant
struck, seemingly because he wille'
this result or that. There were q dexter
ity of touch, an accurate measuremen
of force, a correct estimate of angles,
truth of the eye and a muscular contrO
that left the old man amazed that tn
combination of all these delicate nice
ties was concentrated in one person, an,
that person his own son.
At last two Of the balls lay close to
gether, and the young man, playing
very deftly, appeared to be able to kee
them in that position as if he might g
OIL scoring indefinitely. He went on il
this way for some time, when suddenl
the silence was broken by Prognor Cry
ing out:
Il don't call that billiards. It's bah
play"
Instantly there was an uproar. Saun
ders grounded his cue on the floor an
u
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