Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1899-10-11
XIV.
A FAsc1NArINo aAMp.

XIV.
A FASCINATING GAME.
"Gone up" muttered, and my heart
sank within me. was about to reply |
10 the challenge, when PUNK took the
words out of my mouth, and sang out,
IN excellent southern lingo:
"Hain't got no time to stop, stran-
ger; got to git through right off. Ben
ter the medical officer of the army TO-
luinine; sick man waitin'."
Corporal of the gyardl" sang out
the voice that had stopped us.
We heard some one brushing
through the weeds that lined the road,
and presently saw a figure coming on
foot. By this time we noticed that the
challenger was mounted, and we knew
that the force was composed of cav
airy.
"Who's thar" from the corporal.
PUNK replied that we were two men
and gal, and repeated what he had
said to the picket.
Gan right; come on"
I was about to propose that we de-
cline the honor and go by another
road, when the madness of such
method struck me; besides, had
promised to let PUNK do the talking;
so I kept silent. We were led into
the camp, the men being in bivouac.
sleeping about their camp-fires. Meet
ing the officer of the day, he took US
in charge, and, not being satisfied to
let us go forward on his own responsi-
bility, conducted US to the headquar-
ters of the commanding officer.
We found him engaged with his staff
at game Of draw-poker, the party be-
ing seated in tent on camp-stoola
about pine table lit by a couple
Of tallow dips. He was splendid
specimen of southern manhood, tall,
well built, with manly open counte-
nance that seemed incapable Of harbor-
ing q mean thought.
"Col Archard," said the officer of
the day, "here are some citizens who
want to go through the lines"
Without stopping the game or even
glancing up at us, he asked us where
we were from and where we were
going. PUNK answered with his story
about the quinine.
"I'm glad you've got some quinine,"
said the colonel, looking at his hand
from under the rim of his hat. 81 have
a lot of men down with camp-fever,
and Old Pills hasn't any. Can you
spare little?"
My heart went up in my throat, and
Margaret turned shade winter.
Certainly, colonel" said PUNK,
without moments hesitation. Then,
turning to me: Bring out the bottle,
joe"
T-hsven't-any bottle" I STAN
mered.
Haven't it7 I gave it to you"
By this time caught my cue. "You
did no such thing"
"You good for nothing, forgetful crit
ter, d. y mean ter tell me you've done
left tn STUFF behind, after our ridin'
ten miles t git it?"
fumbled in my pockets and
scratched my head. Meanwhile the
players were too interested in winning
and losing to follow the matter up.
New hands were played, and 1, who
could never look at any game of
chance without wishing to be in it,
soon forgot that was making my
way through the lines with IN impor-
tant war secret and with my life in
my hands. I drew q bill from my
pocket and was about to call for chips,
when felt Margaret's hand grasping
my arm. Looking at her, I noticed the
fright on her face and was saved from
my folly, for had I gotten into the game
would have surely betrayed the whole
party. As it was, came very near
doing SO within another ten minutes.
It was the colonel's turn to draw to
fill his hand. he drew one card.
Whether the game was of more inter
est to him than the medicine know
not, but he forgot all about the qui-
! nine-at least for the moment. !
hoped he would win; it would put him
in good humor, and he would be all
the more lenient with us.
was standing where could over
look the hand of a Heutenant-a
youngster about my own age, with an
impassive face. I noticed that he held
three aces, and I looked for him to
win. I was surprised to see him pass
out. The rest kept on betting till all
were satisfied.
"Call."
"Show down." ~.
"Three knaves."
"Three kinPs.n !
"What y got, colonel?"
Full o. tens"
Scoop" And the "pot" was brushed
over to the colonel Iadmired the lieu
tenants foresight in passing out with
three aces.
Another set Of large hands was dealt,
and the confederate bills began to pile
up on the table like the contents of q
waste-paper basket. A little betting
soon drove all out except the lieuten-
ant and the colonel. The colonel bet
$50; the lieutenant who had passed out
on three aces called him and won the
pot" on three deuces.
by thunder, corporal" exclaimed,
"that was well played"
Every man at the table looked up
at me. I turned red, then white, while
Margaret instinctively shrank back
into the darkness.
where's the corporal?" asked the
colonel.
"1'm no corporal" said the neuten.
ant, III he means me.''
I was too paralyzed to reply. PUNK
came to the rescue. Looking signif-
cantly at the confederates, he put his
finger on his lips, and tapped his fore
head, as il to say: Don't mind him;
he's of his head"
There's something queer about you
ALL" said the colonel; reckon I'll look
into this. Captain" he said to the Of
ficer of the day, stake my cards." He