The Irish standard., 1899-04-08
it opens, hold your gun on 'em. from

fasting at a rough pine table. From
the manner in which they ate it might
have been inferred that it was long
since they had tasted food.
HE'LL" said the smaller of the two,
youngish. compact, sallow man. with
carefully pointed, narrow black mus
tache, pausing for minute as Ben
net set second heaping plate of meat
on the table. This is great! 1t would
take all B troop TO chase me from such
a feed"
Elegant" assented his companion,
with a mouth full of steak. "Shtill,
I'm not askin' to see any av tn clan.
Ut's good radiance, any ways ye take
ut, an | hope theirs as many moiles
betune us as Their is behoind u.s.
The door creaked a tritle on its
wooden hinges. CrackerboN looked
round quickly, Sergt Kay stood in the
hand.
"I'll trouble you, McCorklc," he said,
easily. "Oaka-quick now! You know
the formula"
The gamblers hands went up. Mill
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! tut." Kay
went on, protcstingly: you needn't
strike your dukes. Milligan. Keep EN-
up, keep 'em up. They look first rate
as they are. Hatherton, walk round
hcre-I'll do the honors while you're
coming. and fit these new cuffs on the
look. Cutest thing in the market; lots
of starch in 'em and polished to make
a Chinese laundry ashamed of itself.
We haven't had chance t0try 'cm on
real eligible candidate before"
He bowed with mock Difference to he
gambler CrackcrboN smiled amiably
in return.
I'm right glad 10 see you. sergeant"
he said. Seems just like home again.
Funny how things turn out. amt it?
was just wondcrin' if you wouldn't
happen alongand here you were!
Well. all's fair in love and war--and Il
fox chase. Some fools in my shoes
would probably see things-ropcs,
beams and hornpipcs. ] don't. Lies
too short to waste in speculation over
what probably wouldn't occur. Play
your game out and keep on looliin
happy. That's good clean philosophy
for a man. .And if you do pass out be-
( fore the res, of the players, why you re
only Il hand ahead. and they'll he hot
i'm your moccaSin tracks to the Sweet
Hy-by. We only just hit the ranch M
hour before you, and sccin' we
WAS here first we can, do less than
make YOU welcome. You wouldn't have
grudycd us Il hearty receptions. know
if ii happened he other way round
! Crackcrbox laughed. 1--WE was right
hungry. Mr.. Hennrt. here, was so goot
us to fix us up real enjoyable meal
an we've just wolfcd it," And, as tho
! handouts went on: "And them brace
let's! Ant they charming. Such fin
ish! DO You know. sergeant. as soor
as I'm out o this I'm a-going to gel
me Il pair. go'd-miniaturc. YOU know
same pattern. to hang ON my watch
chain as Il souvenir? What's wrong
MilIigan? You don't look pleased"
The big 1rshman glowercd undo
his thick red eyebrows. 81 suppos
This is another twrIvcmon1' for me.
lie yrowIcd.
Crackerbox burst into a loug laugh
"Dont be dowmhearted. me SON he
returned. '''Tlcy can't give III" too
much of Il good thing. I'll ask tAem It
let me have it,"
well. Mr.. McCorlilc." said Kay
"now you're wearing government jew
clry. we can he more sociablc. cues!
YOU haven't finished your brrakfas
yet. It's ahead of anything You're
likely to get between this and the for
which the same is 90 milessn Nuu'l
best make the most of ii. Jump in
And since you're so hospitabIc. if Mr.
Hcnnet will be good enough to fry
little more steak. wc'It eat with You
| guess YOU know better than TO MAX,
any breaks" he added. significantly
looking from one prisoner to tn,
other.
"'roo busy to think of it," rcturne,
Crackcrbox. sitting down TO the tabl.
again. "Kind of a tough proposition
this. sergeant" he added Il momcn
later. after an Intellectual attempt tt
cut his meat: "tryin' to handle a mcn
with your wrists sawn' one a"nins
Tie other, like cattle in Il yoke"
Kay glanced at IIathcrton. "IIcll
hin, ont ,ycD't ynu bn cuiI /,
Bennett will do the same for the othc
man, Pm sure
ooh, | can't allow that" protcstc,
the gambler. ell manage III
seized tile meat in his fists and tore i
between his teeth. like dog.
"llere, quit that!" exclaimed Kay
"You'rc a human, at lrast-not an ami
NAL" lie took out his keys and un
locked one hnnIcutr. There, I'll le
you eat deccntly, and not like pagan
it you'll promise not to try to escape.
a sudden brightness flashed into he
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 un
der the circumstances. That's easy.
say sergeant, you're real obiging
III see that you're mentioned in or
dcrs"
'Sec that you keep your promise
that'Il be sufficient" said Kay. shortly
unlocking handcutf of the Other
man.
II,