The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-07-08

my uTpris all the players came IN.
1t was a jack for five chips in the first
place, and had been sweetened once, so
there was $500 in the center before the
draw. The secon surprise came when
each man drew two cards. excepting
Atwood. who stood pat. They were
holding their cards close. so none of US
around the party knew what any player
held, but it appeared later that Atwood
had four jacks. They weren't play
ing straight fiushes, so his hand was
almost a sure n
"The opener put up another hundred
on the strength Of his three of a kind.
The next one raised IL a hundred. The
third did the same thing and so did
the fourth. He was the st. Paul man,
and he had caught a fourth seven spot
while the others had not bettered. At
wood made IL a thousand to play. one,
two and three dropped out. Three of a
kind was no kind of a hand for that
struggle. and that is What each of them
had The St. Paul man was delighted,
though he tried hard to conceal ii, and
he came back at Atwood with another
thousand. He was ahead of the game,
having about $4,000 i'm front of him at
the beginning of the deal, while Atwood
had only about half that. That left him
enough to raise St. Paul nee more, and
he did IT promptly.
81 ppos I'll have to call YOU said
the latter, seeing it's table stakes, but
I'm sorry you haven more money with
you
"I have three thousand in the bank
said Atwood. If you care to take my
check I'll stand another raise
Checks were not in great favor at
Galloway's, and the St. Paul man hest
tated naturally enough, but one of At
woods clients spoke up. III cash your
check for you, Jack he said, and just
then the shot came.
THE entrance to the room was mid
way between the faro and the poker
tables, and Atwood sat with his back
toward it. Davis had entered the room
noiselessly and "A fired as soon as he
saw Atwood. Shooting from behind will
ruin a man in any community, and L
don't uppose avis would have done
IL If he hadn't been half drunk and half
mad with rage as well. He probably
wouldn't have missed his shot, though,
If he hadn't been drinking. / was
watching Atwood closely and hadn't
seen Davis enter. AS it was ! saw the
left end of Atwood's mustache disap-
pear at the instant the shot rang out,
and a red streak show on his cheek, but
he didn't turn his head. He reached
down as quick as a ferret and drew a
knife from somewhere below the line
of the table top. laying his cards face
down on the table with his left hand at
the same instant.
THE game stands as ii is he said,
without a quaver i'm his voice as he
drove the knife through the cards and
the baize cover, deep into the wood. with
a vicious stab. Then, just as quickly.
he reached for his hip pocket and stood
facing around with a revolver in his
hand leveled at Davis.
Two other shots rang out as he rose.
They were fired by Atwood's friends,
but fortunately they hit nobody. An
other man had seized Davis gun as he
was trying to shoot again, and there
was "A scuffle going on in a moment.
with three or four men on a side, all of
whom. however, We're trying to force
Davis out of the room. Atwood held his
fire. seeing that there was a group of
men in front of him, and stood still as
he saw the struggle going on. When lie
saw that Davis was being pushed out
at the door he smiled, but didn't say a
word. Perhaps / ought to say he
grinned. Smile is too pretty a word for
his face.
when his enemy was outside and
the door was closed. he put his pistol
back i'm his pocket and felt of his cheek
carefully. 1t was bleeding very slightly,
but he wiped it off with his handker-
chief. and turning back to the table said
as coolly as ever. All right, Jim. Give
me the money and I'll write you the
check i'm a moment
He was the least excited man in the
room. The st. Paul player looked at
him steadily as Atwood's friend was
counting out the bills. and then ex-
claimed with an oath, L ont believe I
care about raising you again. It's a
call
THE hands We're shown, and, of
course, Atwoo took the pot"