The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1899-03-22
Low. THE STAKES.


They Wee "pardners," and whether
The claim MAS paying or losing it
mattered rot both We're apparently
happy ana eoutented Occasionally
Pete would start out on jag to do the
town. but Jim would scurry around
aud eventually corral his companion
before serious trouble commenced.
One night after a particularly hard
days work Jim noticed that his pard-
nei Was quietcr than usual, seemingly
lost IN study something quite unlike
his nature.
What Yer thinking about, Pete"
Fine gal nj The Big Ruby Cafe.
JUST came up on the boat this morn
inG | am dead stuck on her. Told
her my prospects but couldn't get
neat She said that l looked like Il
booZrr and wouldn't tie up TO anything
but a steady Well. / did have u
wind ON me TODAY. and the Ticker
wasn't particularly good either.
IL Was Pete's turn TO get breakfast
the next morning, but after starting
the fire and putting on the coffee pct
he excused himself on the plea of not
feeling veil and went out for a short
waik Thinking lie simply needed a
.bracer, Jim said nothing and finished
getting the meal Late In the morning
he hunted him up. slowly wandering
up and down the avenue glancing
occasionally into the saloons and dance
halls enroute aud winding mp at the
big Ruby. He found Pete, however.
where he expected talking To the new
girl No wonder Pete Was gone. "
The girl was tall and 1.-the, with Il
beautiful figure and her sunburnt
checks aud neck We're az nodded
broHAe
4 like your pafdner. Pete" she said
after Jim had gone. He seems like
u steady fellow. and they're the only
kind that's any good nowadaNs
Patty for that was the name she
gave seemed 10 take quite ii fancy 10
PETE and struNe 10 keep him straight.
bit with little success. Things went
from bad 10 worse. and finally one
uiphI after supper Pete broke out;
It's ho ase fhe gal won't have
me. and | ANT got sense enough 10
ate il Guess we'd better light out,
fled. and stake cut another claim fur
her up The ,reek
l guess kroW YOUR reason" he
continued btterh after a long pause
Yer kind q STICK on Patty, too. hul
yef dont want IL tell ne Now look
hrrr. rdtty said she'd marry me II |
loot lie pledge. aud ! know she'd have
You loo. if You'd ash her Well lust
deal a ,old hand and the Teller rs
makes the strike viii take the gal and
Iht ,luiin
Done. said jim seemingly relieved
~ The frank manner Of his pard
Patty VIA willing. aud quietly said
she ready ltkea Jim The best. but
ihal Gil 4he aGghr 20 stick 10 Pete and
keep him straight
Il didn't talle long to get up the
game They went up TO the shact,
Where the men live. aud Patty Was the
audience. TIM loser agreed to quit tie
claim aHd get cut the next morning
Pen picked mp each card neryously
IT. il MAS dealt. and either by accident
OF design dropped one which. failing
face an showed it to be the King of
Spade He gathered it up quickly
aud commented on the weather. evi-
IDENTIFY hoping TO divert his opponent
from he incident lin skinned his
ealds down carefully and fixing his
eyes steadfastly ON Pete said slowly
and almost painfully Give me five
.ards
They were dealt TO him aud he
-cymed To brighten Up bit
Only want one" said Peter rather
eheerfully, as The dead wood was put
At the bottom Of the pack
II Amt much use To keep mp the
7aspense. said Peter. after Il moments
paGse They's too much In the pot
and a bluff wont work. I'll just show
down. and II You top ne the outfit IL
yours" with this Pete skinned ont a
hand full of queens. Jim looked them
over carefully and threw down his
hand on The table face up. A pair Of
treys was The best there was In it,
"Good-bN. Pete he said hoarsely j.,
rising and extending his hand Keep
straight. old man. and love that girl
Don't forget me, will you Patty" he
,aid slowly, almost fendefly. AZ he
bade her goodby IT'S coming out all
right. Cod bless you both
lie lon the cabil quickly disappear
ing IN the brush at the edge OF the
camp
Pete and Patty sat there for an hour
neither deigning to break the silence
Afler while Patty said: Il kinder
wanted Jim to win. but It's fair and
I'm satisfied now Guess he didn't
like the looks OF the four ones he got
At first"
What's thar" cried Pete. his facs
getting whittier every minute -Four
ones? He never had four ones, or four
anything Why. he tossed the bunch
back cause they was no good and
drew five
Yes, know, said Patty, who did
not understand the game, but remem-
bered he hand. That's what he had
and his first cards are at the bottom Of
the pack now.
As she spoke She drew them forth
and handed them to Pete. There were
four aces and a king
My Cod" groaned Pete. between
his sobs. This Is too much must
hunt my pard'" and he dashed out Of
the cabin. only TO return crestfallen.
Il knowed II all along that yer want.
cd each other, too" he cried.
Never mind" said Patty. with
woman's strange philosophy. Jim sal,
that it would come out all right. am
guess it will"
And Pete? He took a new brace il
a few years cleaned up new pile ant
dug out Patty proved a true and Low
ing wife and. with more congenial sur.
roundngs life took an q brighter hue
nat nc