The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1898-06-30
CHAPTER XVI.


CHAPTER XVI.
RELUCTANCE OF PEoRY AND HIS CROWD
TO BATTLE THEIR HANDS IN THE GORE
OF THEIR COUNTRYMEN - CHUCK-A-
LUCK AND IT'S PARLIAMENTARY
EXCITING GAME AND IT'S ENDING.
.'Peory'' and his five companions We're
again in some inscrutabIe manner left on the
Illinois side Of The river when the company
started on its expedition into Missouri
Others beside the File began 10 notice that
the heroS OF tie Clark Street dives. from
whom such fea,s tf arms were expected, |
were very remiss in seeking occas orS to
wade in slaughter, hut the glamor OF unusual
courage still hung over the gang and the
company was willing TO believe that only
succession of untoward accidents had pc
vented them from writing their names in
blood
If there were any who disbel:eved this
they held their peace. Tor the gang had lost
none OF their old readiness with their fists,
and very few days were suffered to clapse
without some luckless newcomer receiving a
severe beating al the hands of one OF the
crowd.
"Have you yet discovered how mu,h
slight or kGack there is about these isticufls?"
watched Curly polish Off TO use his own
phraseology, an awkward farm youth.
- suppose there's big advantage for the
fellow who has Lad lessons in lCxing, and
that when everything else's nearly equal,
he'll whip the other fellow" responded
Waller.
There's coed deal in that, of course"
responded Br, nson; but that Eph Black
there-see, see. Curly has just>struck him
with that piece of beard, cut his scalp open
10 the seull and stretched him senseless to
the ground. By the Lord Harry that's too
bad the Sergeant of the Guard ought to put
that rascal in the guard house. / started to
say that Black is superior to Curly in
every way-in courage, in strength, in use OF
his fists, rs well rs in general character"
We'll, then, / don't see why he allows
Curly to whip him." responded Walter,
hcIedulously.
.'lf You'll watch the tactics of these
fellows carefully a little while, you can't
help understanding it," returned Bronson.
" Now, for instance, there Is Eph-good-
natured, easy. peace-loying and rather
diffident These qualities are so plainly
written in his face that Curly recognized
them instantly, and selected him for a
victim on whcm 10 make an impressive dis
play OF his talents as fighter. Had he been
a smaller, weaker man, OF less real courage
but more ready a@gressiyeless, Curly ,
would have never dared modest him.
"1at IS. il he'd shown a willingness to
meet Curly halfway in the quarrel, - said
Walter.
" Precisely. But when Carly, hunting
chance 10 pick 4 quarrel, began TO abuse
him, Eph, thinking that perhaps he had done
something wrong, began to explain and apollo
gize, and the more he explained the madden
Curly pretended to be, and, watching his
opportunity when Eph had turned his head
TO cali someone 10 bear witness 10 the truth
Of his assertions. he struck him blow that
still further confused him and gave Curly ;
al &c, aDtage that the other fellow could not
overcome. Besides Mississippi stood close
at hand all the time, ready to give instant
help ii Eph showed any signs of being too
much for Curly TO handle easily"
- It's disgustingly cowardly,' said Walter
20, yes" replied Bronson. ''Ali that
tends TO reconcile me to it is that it will teach
Black useful lesson. He'll be cowed awhile
by his thi;ishiDg, and then he'll study it all
over, and perhaps understand how he came TO
he whipped, and make it exceedingly rough
fOr tie next fellow who tries the same game
upon HIM"
lnvaIiable success did not attend all the
gangs encounters with the "Greeniesn as
tutS bSilHcu tBSIr NlctlT0S.
The more engTOssing matter spoken of in a
Former chapter as occupying the entire atten-
tI0n Of the Gang WAS a chuek-a-lucl bank
which =" Peory" had opened, and the rest as
sisted to run-to their own pecuniary profit,
but decidedly averse 10 that OF the newly.
enlisted boys who were crowd:ig into Cairo
DO speak OF unknown mysteries when
allude 10 chuck-aluck? Not, / am sure. to
the man who has had an experience in the
white-tented camp; for, brief as that may have
been, II was pretty certain 20 have been long
enough TO have allowed him an opportunity
to waste a little cash III tender dalliance with
the seductive but uncertain game. But the
general reader, The Nirtuous. unsoGsticotcj
reader, to whom gambling in any form save
church lotteries Is aS unknown as Coptic. viii
require description. and to him give it:
The Layout for chuck -a-lucll consists o.
board, either supported like table or held
upon the bankers knees On this hoard SLY
cards, from the ace 10 the six-spot inclusive
are fastened, OF an imitation of them j.
painted. The banker has a dice-box will
three dice, which he rattles and casts b,
turning The box upside down, so that no on,
can see what numbers have come up. II,
then calls ont:
Make your bets, gents"
If anybody inclines TO the belief that TN
fye-spot is one of the numbers that hay,
come up On the dice, lie expresses it by Law
ing an amount OF money proportionate TO hi
pile and the strength of his convictions upol
The hre-spot OF the cards When all standin.
around have done this the banker saws:
All down, gents? Well, here goes, (" AM
hits the box, revealing the numbers which
are up He rakes Off tie amount depositee
upon the losing cards and pays the winnin,
bets 1t Is very pleasant, very simple, AM
yet very expensive
One of the problems of the late war which
ths cessation of hostilities left unsolyed was