Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1899-04-28
RED M'LANE.

ter with YOU? HCu amt got my s@nu-
that's what. Yoa'ye got plsuty of staff
in the bar: at Pueblo, end you know
your ohecks'll 20 with Johnston here.
You're afraid, that's all, jim Melville"
Red" MoIiane cut a huge slice from q
plug Of tobacco, taking his Fourth Ct
July breakfast in one monthful, and
with the scorn of q superior parsonage
turned away from tho young man whom
he bad addressed.
The posoT game st the Head Gate
had been a warm one, and McLoue had
won O. everything in sight. Sprague, the.
town site boomer old Judge Stillwoll,
G~riswold, the "oantaloupe king. and
DR.. Kinney, the canal con pspy's sur
goon, with MoLane and young Melville,
the superintendent and engineer Of the
construction company, comprised the
players after midnight. Early IN tho
evening q Denver drummer AID q ranch
man from mp the river bad contributed
to the stakes on the table and retired
BY sunrise tho other players had 6sop-
red out, leaving McLsre and Melville,
alone in the game.
There was an cid feud between Mel
Vile and McLane. Thoy had grown up
together baol; in New York state, where
they both fell in love with the same
girl. While the younger man was away
from home at college McLane betrayed
the girl, who killed herself from re.
morse, and be disappeared. No one in
the Colorado town, where the two IDcn
happened to meet each other several
years later, understood the cause Of the
enmity, hut it was generally known
that the young superintendent cherish.
ed an intense hatred for McLane, the
gambler.
Had some oue else won the money
that lie had Lost that Eight nolyille
would have quit with tho others, but it
was calling TO bo defeated By Red Nc
Lean, SO be continued playing, with
the doggcd determination to vnuquish
his enemy. But "Eed" won steadily as
before. when MelYille's last chip was
swept away, be pushed his chair back
from the table and announced that he
was through-and broke"
The headgate never closed down. Day
and night, winter aud summer, dry sea
sons and wet, irrigation went on. There
was always n supply for those who had
the price. The bitches of its patrons
were continually full. On this Fourth
Of July morning when Johnston, the
proprietor, went on duty at Z { O'Clock ho
found an unusually large crowd in his
place. One man was still slumbering
comfortably on a billiard table, several
were asleep in chairs, hut there was a
as- q -.sI.,.,I-a -os1raa1 ,,en
and %ditchhands, with q few herders
and punchors who had ridden to town
carly for the celebration. They had not
~iourneyed far and hard to hear the ora
ton of Judge Stillwell or the Doclara-
ton Of Independence read by the eloou-
tionary daughter Of Murphy, the section
boss 1t was not that their soula were
aead to their native land, but they
could dwell on patriotic thoughts on
on the range when there was no holl
day and where there was no drink buI
water.
The crowd had become interested il
the little play being enacted at the IA
BILE and momentarily forgot its thirst
Melville offered no reply to Reds
taunts. His face vas gray. He gazo'
absorbedly at something far away; h
seemed to SEQ or bear nothing arouni
him. He was thinking that he had beef
a fool-should he stop where he was o
take one more chance to redeem his for
tunes aud then redeem himself after
ward?
MoLano arose. Picking up tho pao'
of cards, no slammed it upon the table
The action recalled Melville from hi
revery, and he looked mp at MoLane
who was saying:
'I'll tell you what I'll do. I've go
about 5000 Of yonr mon here. I'll pu
another $500 with 1t and play you
game of freeze out for 81, 600. There
a chance to get your money back an
$500 Of mine on top Of it. You needn'
put mp any talk about not having th
dough Tom Johnetonll cash you
check"
Some n back in the crowd whisper
ed audibly;
1.-THE tenderfoot amt got no nerve
I'll bet he don't call Red.
Melville still remained silent. II
took from his pocket a bunch Of yello'
papers, poured some tobacco into n
AuCAn unA ABAACA - NAHNAONA1 6ANN%
couple of deep inhalatlons of the smoh
he arose from his seat and went benin
the bar and forward to the proprietor
desk. He wrote out two checks for SOC
each and handed them to Johnston. I'll
proprietor unlocked his safe and coun
Ing out the money gave the bunch
bills to Melville. The curious crow
had faced around TO watch Melvill,
and as lie returned to the center Of Il
big room all eyes followed him. 4
walked up to McLane, who was wal
ing by the card table, aud spoke for q
first time. There was no other sound
the room. MelVille's tones were Low
but distinct, and there was a look
determination ON his face.
LET me take your gun, please"
said
MoLane hcFitated, and the young ma
~ 80 att DO afraid. don't il
TEND 70 shoos you"