The Irish standard., 1899-04-08


that.
Hatherton was interested, too, and
stood beside the sergeant. Milligan
was still eating. Account for it as you
may, they appeared to have forgotten
him-perhaps because he had once
been fellow of B troop, with blank
defanlter sheet. Bennett apparently
knew all he wanted to about poker; he
hustled around, banging his tin dishes
and pans. The NOISE enabled Milligan
TO slip up behind the troopers unob-
| served.
"You see" said CrackerboN, picking
up the thread of his story again. 'there
was $1,000 in the pot and they'd all
dropped out except Wat Batty and me.
took the deck in my left hand'-it
was supremely interesting-"lil like this,
and 'Cards?' says I. Il want one says
Bat. I gave it TO him. I'm taking
three. myself says l. while he looked
at his hand, and took 'em. They were
good ones. and they came right out o
the deck here. like that-see?"
Glands up!" 1t was Miligan who
spoke. The two troopers faced about
muZZlc of his own revolver, which Mil
ligan had deftly extracted from its
holster as he leaned overits possessor's
shoulder.
sect thin up, now, quicl!" he re-
peated.
! Crackerbox laughed his eNasperating
laugh. "Yes, would if ! was in your
place. sergeant" he remarked. EVERY
thing has been real pleasant so far be-
tween us this morning and we wouldn't
like to have any misunderstanding,
now we're about parting from you.
Obligc us Did you notice how that
game came out? Funny how it goes,
Amt it? Luck With you one minute
an the next it's with the other Teller.
didn't know you understood the sign
language so WE'LL Milligan. You tum-
blcd handler than tailed steer. You
must have belonged to the lnvincibles
before you left the ould country.
What WAS your number?"
Bennett looked on stoically while,
with some difficulty, CrackcrboN re-
moved the handouts and replaced them
on the wrists of his late captors. In
accomplishing this the gambler hit
upon what he regarded as Il neat ar
rangement. He stood Kay and llathcr-
y ton back TO back and divided II pair
Of the cuffs between them on either
side. securely linking them together.
Bennett did no, propose TO risk his
health in any attempt To uphold the
dignity of the law Why should he"
or
rather a peculiar fact that there should
so seldom be apparent amy strong gem
cral un1ipa1hy toward the man who has
done nothing worse than shoot another
) man openly. II is only the wretch who
lays ,mrightcous hands upon woman
the Bill Sikcs,s of this Worldwide
find all floors of hope. of human for
nivencss and rorhcarhncc shut against
them
"Nou'vr been real hospitable, Mr..
| Bennett. and | just hate TO put YOU out
t any: but there are times. YOU UNDER
stand. when Il man has to burn all his
crossed bridges. aud this looks To me
like one of The times. It's quite Il way"
10 where we're going. and guess You
T. won't hold i, agains, us il we rope YOU
g up with the Others
y They bound Hays and llntherton's
ankles, and CrackrrboN walked Rcnmrt
10 his bunk in the corner and tied him
. on il. hand and foot Then IL he stood
, with his back tu he others. he pulled IL
} hill on, of the silk han,lkcrchie about
his neck, winLcd and held il ul, 50 that
the host could see the go printed on
The corner and then pushed i, into
$ Hrnnrl's wnslcuni. pocket, Milligan
t ,hrn went tn he corral and turned ont
. Hrnnc,'s stock. and brough, the troop
I horses from he bluff.
! "Wrll. 50 long. sergeant" said Crack
/. crboN. rs he stood beside Rays sad
. die. WED be glad to sp, "! another
a haIf-hour in your company hu, YOU I'M
. stand we've no time to wtste IN social
t entertainment. We thank YOU for Il
p. real pleasant m;,wnin and for bringin'
2 down these hoSScs for our use. My
feet WAS plumb pInyin' out. but reckon
1 We'll get on now. If you look real
e hard. boys. you'll find the keys of them
J.. cuff, in the grass not morr'n il hum
I drr, Yards from here; and Hrnnet,
, your hossr> won't stray so far but what
! you'll be able to pick EN- mp to-mor-
+ rcr. Good day. sergeant IT YOU ever
come down my Way. look me up. |
p wont forget your consideration. l
. won't. honest
r He Sprang into the saddle and clat-
tered Off. but AT Il hundred yards he
! stopped and drawlcd over his shoulder:
c ".\nd, oh, say. sahgeant. rcmcmbel,
I me to the ma jiah! And tell him ! said,
with my compliments, he want to
. fo'get to mention you in o'dehs!"
: Then the outlaws spurred across the
: prairie in the direction Of that line
t. beyond which lay another government,
j. driving Bennet's loose horses before
. them. and that was he last the two
> troopers saw that day of CrackcrboN an
, Milligan.
In after years sat often Of an even
ing over Scotch with Kay, when he no
longer wore government clothes or
| nurscd an ambition to shine at poker
but had married Il girl and settled
down to raising cattle and family
He spoke of many things. but he never
told me what his feelings were as he
lay through that hot August afternoon
on the floor at Bennet's, counting the
slow hours. until a traveller came along
4 ,,c1- IL, T