The Florence daily tribune., 1899-04-06

Hi words and manner reassured the
ganiUttr. vino drew his Colt from its
holster aud passed IL over to u igiile
without further question. Ibe eul ineer
glanced u; the WEE non walEed 10 tho
renr oi the room AMI. openi1g the la k
do. r tittd fite shots in rapid sCcoos-
sicu iulo the ground
"put up your money" no said. ad-
dressing Mciaur as he returned to tho
curd table The gambler sat down and
couuted $1,000 in bilis and gold. pu he'd
the pile to one end Of the green cloth
covered table and looked M inquiringly
at Melville, Who was still m his feet.
The latter placed his money ON Me-
Lanes saying;
"1 hat is tor the winner. "
lie throw open the revolver. display
ing five emnty shells aud one loaded
cnItridse Closing the weapon, he set
thu haa,mer Tor the remaining load and
laid tuo revolver beside the money
Aud that" he added quietly. lis
for the loser "
81. Lano turned pale. "What?' he
asked. lis voice sinking
Tho ycpug NAN repeated: THAT"
pointing To the muuey---'goes In tie
winneg. aud that pointing to the re-
vuieer-"puCs to the loser He uses it
Aimttf-you understand. DO you ac-
cept:'
He was as cool apparently as il he
wore proposing a game Of cards for the
driuks McLauu moved unensily in his
chair, naking no response. Melville
spuGe again:
You haye called mo coward. Lot
those gentemop here see who shows
the whitu feather Now. put mp or shut
up
There Was solemn bush in the room
The crowd stared admirinely at the
tenaer'uot and then expeotantly AT tho
gambler, whose eyes bad dropped old
Dad Grayson, who stood in the front
row. broke tno silence:
The kids seen your bluff, Mac, and
rniEeA your You got to call him, He's
dead game, all right,
Mel lnuo studied for moment and
finally said huskily:
II II 20 you
Tho tensity that had held the crowd
relaxed AID there was n confused min
in comment
Melville called the proprietor
"Bring ma drink of Hennessy, Mr.
johnston, md please send over to the
drug store for box Of new cards. We
will have fresh deck for ench deal. ="
The chips were counted and the play
began Melville was much the cooler
of the two He had smoked very littlo
and drank nothing during the night
whilo his opponent bad "braced' him
self repeatedly aud had smoked inces
sanity, leaving his nerves shattered
MclIano's luck did not desert him,
and us he gradually lowered Melville's
stock of chips. Notwithstanding the
luttHrs cautious play, he became ag
gressiye and confident. He called for
whisky frequently, but Melville drank
no moro lie won occasionally. but his
losses exceeded his gains for "a long
tisle Then he drew a big hand> and
won back all that he had lost The chips
were coming to his side of the table
now
The awed spectators were gathered
around the table watching as the two
men played i'll silence They had stop
ped to see stiff poker game, Instead
they were witnessing duel.
Ii was Melville's deal There We're
several raises before the draw, and then
Moi4ane took two cards. Melville tossed
the deck aside and said. I'm play
these. Stacking up his chips, he showed
them to the center "I'll tap You, he
said. Without moments hesitation
the gambler put in his pile and called
MS opponent
II guess I've got yon," he snid, with
assurance Straight flushes don't 90
here, aud reckon that's good, " and
ne turned over three kings and two aces
Melville looked straight at him and
without word, spread out his hand
four queens and smalf card. The gam
bier, who was leaning over tho table
eager TO sweep in the chips. dropped
back in bis chair and gasped:
My God, I'm dead manr
"This belongs to me, believe, " said
Melville, rising from his chair and
gathering up tho money. And this, "
picking up tno revolver, "goes to you,
Bob McLano; But as tho proposition
was Line and since 1 have won L shall
(. take the liborty"-
He pointed the six shooter at the cell.
ing, pulled the trigger and handed the
empty weapon to its owner Frank
Lundy Webster in Lawrence (Ksn.
Gazette