The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1899-04-19

with a mOuthtul OF STEAK. Snt1ll, III
not askin to see any av th' clan. Ut's
good riddance, anyways ye take ut,
an hope ther's as many moiles betune
us as there is behoind as.
The door creaked a trife on it's wood
en- hinges. Crackerbox looked round
quickly. Sergeant Kay stood in the
doorway with leveled revolver in his
hand.
..I'll trouble you, McCorkle, he said
easily. .sOaka-quick now! You know
the formula. :,
The gamblers hands went up. Mil
ligan raised his at the same instant.
His eyes were engaged at the window
before him.
..'Bout facet Milligan came round
mechanically in obedience to the sharp
word of command .'Tut! tutl'' Kay
went on protestingly, "you needn't
strike your dukes, Milligan. Keep 'em
up. keep 'em up. They look first rate as
they are. Hatherton. walk round here
s-I:ll do the honors while re COM
ing and fit these new cuffs on the gen
tlemen. want to see how they look.
Cutest thing in the market; lots Of
starch in 'em and polished to make
Chinese laundry ashamed of itself. We
haven't had a. chance to try EN- on q
real eligible candidate before. I"
He bowed with mock Difference to the
gambler. Crackerbox smiled amiably.
in return.
.sI' m right glad to see you, sergeant. "
he said. s.Seems just Like home again.
Funny how things turn out. amt it,
was just wonderin if you wouldn't
happen along and here you arel
Well, airs fair in love and war-and
fox chase Some fools in my shoes would
probably see things-ropes, beams and
hornpipes. don't. Life's too, short to
waste in speculation over what probably
wouldn' occur. Play your game out
aud keep on lookin happy. That's good,
clean philosophy for man. And if you
do pass out before the rest Of the play
5ers. why you're only band ahead, and
they II is hot in your moccasin tracks
to the sweet by-by We only just hit
the ranch an hour before you, and aeein
we was here first NE can't do less than
make yon welcome. You wouldn't have
grudged us a hearty reception, know,
If it had happened ths other way
round. = Crackerbox laughed. .'We
was right hungry. Mr.. Bennett, here
was so good as to fix us up real enjoy
able meal, an we've just wolfed it,
And. as the handouts went on: "And
them braceletsl Amt they charmini
Such finish! Do you know, sergeant, as
soon as I'm out o. this I'm a-goin to.
get me a pair. gold-miniature, you
know-same pattern, to hang on my
watch chain as souvenir. What's
wrong. Milligan2 You don't look pleas
ed
The big Irishman glowered under his
thick. red eyebrows. 81 suppose this is
another twelvemont' for me-" he
growled
Crackerbox burst into a loud laugh.
..Don I. be downhearted, me son, !" he
returned. They can't give me too
much Of a good thing. I'll ask them to
let me have it. >
( ..Well. Mr. McCorkle. said Kay,
..now you re wearing government
iewelry we can be more sociable. L
guess you haven't finished your break
fast yet. It's ahead of anything you're
likely to get between this and the fort,
which the same is 80 miles, so you'd
best make the most Of it. Jump in.
And since ron re so hospitable, if Mr..
Bennett will be good enough to fry
little more steak, we'll eat with you.
guess you know better than to make
any breaks. he added, significantly
looking from one prisoner to the other.
..Too busy to think Of it" returned
Crackerbox, sitting down to the table
again. s.Kind Of tough proposition,
this. sergeant. he added moment
later after an Intellectual attempt to
cut his meat '.ryin to handle meal
with, your wrists sawin one against the
other. like cattle in yoke.
-. Kay glanced at Hatherton. 'tHelp
him out. went your" he said. "Mr.
Bennett will do the same for the other
man, I'm sure.
..sOh, can't allow thatl" protested
the gambler. s.I'll manage" BE seized
the meat in his fists and tore it between
his teeth. like dog.
ssHere, quit thatl'' exclaimed Kay.
"You re human at least. not an ami
NAL. He took out his keys and un-
locked one handcuff. "There. I'll let
you eat decently and not like pagan
if you'll promise not to try to escape.
A sudden brightness flashed into the
gamblers eyes, but there was nothing
Of it left in the look he turned on Kay
as he replied with bland smile: ''Sure
thing I'd promise anything under the
circumstances. That's easy. I say, SER
geant. you re real obliging. plls that
you're mentioned in orders. =
.sSee that you keep your promise,
thatll be sufficient said Kay, shortly.
unlocking a handcuff of the other man.
Crackerbox laughed provokingly.
.sNow. sergeant, I like your jokes. You
two loaded down with deadly weapons
and us
Sergeant Kay was naturally kind
man Also he dearly loved game Of
poker, and, therefore, perhaps unsus-
pected by himself. nurtured secret ad-
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