The Delta independent., 1899-03-31
"RED" M'LANE.

that's what. You've got plenty of stoff
in the bank at Pueblo. and you know
your cbecks'll 90 with Johnston here
You're afraid. that's all. Jim Melville"
"Red" McLane cut huge slice from .
plug of tobacco. taking bis Fourth Of
July breakfast in one mouthful, and
with the scorn OF superior pefsonaRe
turned away from the young man whom
he had addressed. r..s..
Ths poker game At the Head Gate
had been . warm one. and McLane had
won everything in sight. Sprague. the
town rite Loomer; old Judge StilIwell,
DIR. Kinney. the canal company's sur
Reon. with McLane and young Melville,
the superintendent and engineer Of the
construction company. comprised the
players after midnight Early In the
evening Denver drummer aud . ranch
man from mp the river had contributed
to the stakes on the table and retired.
BY sunrise the other players had drop
ped out. leaving McLane and Melville
sione in the game.
There was an old feud between Mel
willie and McLane. They had grown up
togethpr back 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 gisl. who killed herself from re-
morfe. and he disappeared. No oue In
the Colorado town. where the two men
happened to meet each other several
years later, understood the cause OF the
k-e
that the young superintendent cherish
ed an intense hatsed for 4clApe. ~
gambler.
Had some one else won the money
that hs had lost that night Melville
would have quit with the otber4 bet u
was CALLING to be defeated BY - Rsd'' No
Lean. SO he contiuued playisg. with
the dogged determination 70 vHsquiph
bis enemy. But "Red" won steaaily as
before. When Nelville's lass chip was
swept away. he pushed his chair back
from the table aud announced shss -
was through-and "beeks." -
The herdga,o never ciossd dowD. ohy
aud night. winter and sumsssS. 1sy -,
sous aud wet, irrigation went on. There
was always supply for tboss 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 ut O'Clock he
found an unusually large crowd in his
place Ono man was still slumbering
comfortably on billiard table. several
were asleep in chairs. but there was
collection Of wideawske railroad men
aud ditchhands. with n few herders
l..l I'D 90 ea,r
early for the celebration. They had not
journeyed far and bard to hear the ora.
tion Of Judge Stillweli or the Declare
ticn Of Independence read BY the elocu.
tiopary daughter Of Murphy. the section
boss. It was not that their souls were
dead to their native land, but they
could dwell ON patriotic thoughts ont
on the range when there was no boli-
day aud where there Was no drink but
water.
The crowd had become interested n
the littIe Ilay being enacted st the ts-
BILE and momentarily forgot its thirst.
Melville offered no reply TO "Red's"
taunts. His face was gray. He gazed
absos bedly ms something far nway: he
seemed to see OF hear nothing around
him. He wss thinking that he had been
o fool-should he stop where he was os
take one more chance TO redeem his for
tunes and then redeem hin self aftor.
warn?
McLans eroes. Picking MP the pack
The action recalled Melville from his
rsyery. and ho looked mp at McLane.
who was saying:
"rIl tell you what Ill do. I've got
about $500 of your mon here. I'll put
another $500 with It and play you .
game Of freeze ous for $1,000. There's
. chance 60 get your money back and
$500 of mine on top of 1t. You neednt
Put up any talk about not having the
.duugb.' Tom Johnston'll cash youe
check"
Some enc back in the crowd whisper
ed sudibiy:'
.The tenderfoot aims got no n,rva
I'll bet be don't call Red. 4"
Melville still remained silent H
took from his pocket . bunch Of yellow
parers, poured soups tobacco into one a
them and rolled . cigarette. After. .
eouple Of deep iphslatious Of the smoks
he arose from mis- seat snd went behiud
the Tar ssd forward to tie proprietor's
.csk He wrote ont two checks for 900
.ob and handed them to Johnston Ths
ropriesos unlocked his safe sud couse-
irg cot the mcDey gave the bunch of
bills 20 Melville. Tie esrious crowd
he'd faced around 90 watch MelyiIls,
aud % Ls reformed tn TIE center of tie
big soum all eye followed him ISe
walked sp 10 Aclsss. Who wss wsts-
ing By the s.rd table. SD spoxe sos ~
AYsa tiDA There VS. % othes sosn6 =
~ p0oo. WoiVtA1o's .esoes were joV.
bos dtnstose, and eABo - Q iouk e
6sessoiaasiaD - hts GssA +