The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-05-06
DueIing at Poker,

1
with you? You amt got any sand-that's
what. You've got plenty of stuff n the
bank al Pueblo. and You know your
checks go with Johnston here You're
afraid, that's all. Jim Melville"
The poker game at the 'Head-Gate'
had been q warm one, and McLdne had
won everything in sight. Sprague, the
town-site boomer; old Judge St4llwei,
Griswold, the "cantaloupe king" and DR..
kinney, the canal company's surgeon.
with MoLane and young Neville, the su-
perintendent and engineer Of the con-
sruction company, comprised the players
| after midnight. By sunrise the other play
| ers had dropped out leaving McLane end
Melville in the game
There was an old feud between Melville
and McLane. They had grown up to-
gether 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 Melville betrayed the girl.
| VINO killed herself from rem9rse, and he
| disappeared.
! Red won steadily. When Melville's
last chip was swept away he pushed his
chair back from the table and announced
mat ne was through-and broke.
| The "Head-Gate' never closed down. On
this Fourth of July morning, when John
sion, the proprietor, went or duty at
O'Clock, he found an unusually large
| crowd in his place One man was still
slumbering comfortably on billiard ia
! Die, several were asleep in chairs, but
there was collection 81 wideawake rail-
road men and ditch hands, with a few
herders and punchers, who had ridden to
town early fer the celebration.
The crowd had become interested in the
| little play being enacted at the table and
momentarily forgot It's thirst. Melville
offered no reply to Reds taunts.
| McLane arose. Picking up his pack Of
cards he slammed it upon the table The
action recalled Melville from his reverie,
and he looked up at McLane, who was
| saying:
III tell you what I'll DO. I've got about
nYe hundred of your mon here. IN put
another five hundred with it and pay you
a game of freeze-out for thousand. You
needn't put up any talk about not having
the dough- Tom Johnson'H cash your
check
Melville remained silent He took from
| his pocket bunch of yellow papers, pour
ed some tobacco into one CO them and
rolled cigaret. After a couple of deep
| limitations of the smoke he arose from his
seat and went to the proprietor'S desk.
He wrote out two checks for $500 each
and handed them to Johnston. The pro-
prietor unlocked the safe, and, counting
out the money, gave the bunch of bills
to Melville.
He walked up to McLane, who was watt
ing by the card table. and spoke for
the first time.
Let me take your gun, please he
said. You needn't be afraid. 1 don't
intend to shoot YOU"
His words and manner treasured the
gambler who drew his gun from his hol-
ster and passed it over to Melville without
further question. The engineer glanced
at the weapon, walked to the rear of the
room, and, opening the back door, fired
five shots in rapid succession into the
ground
Put up your money" he said, address
ing McLane, as he returned to the card
table. The gambler sat down and count
ed $1,000 in bills and gold, pushed the pile
to one end of the green eloth-covered
table, and looked up inquiringly at Mel
Vile, who was still on his feet. The lat
ter placed his money on McLane's, say
ing:
THAT is for the winner"
He threw open the revolver, displaying
five empty shells and one loaded cartridge
Closing the weapon, he set the hammer
for the remaining load, and laid the re-
volver beside the money.
".
the loser"
McLane turned pale. WHAT" he asked.
his voice shaking.
The young man repeated: THAT"
pointing to the money, goes to the win
ner, and that" pointing to the revolver,
goes to the loser. He uses it himself
you understand. Do you accept?"
McLane moved uneasily in his chair,
making no response. Melville spoke again.
You have called me coward Let
these gentlemen here see who shows the
white feather. Now, put up or shut up
|. There was solemn hush in the room
The crowd stared admiringly at the ten
derfoot, and then eXpectantly at the gam
bier, whose eyes had dropped.
McLane studied for a moment, and then
finally said, huskily:
'Ill go you"
The chips were counted and the play
began. Melville was much the cooler Of
the two. He had smoked little and drank
nothing during the night, while his oppo-
nent had 'braced' himself repeatedly and
smoked necessarily, leaving his nerves
shattered.
McLane's luck did not desert him, and
he gradually lowered Melville's stack Of
chips. He called for whisky frequently,
but Melville drank no more. He won occa-
sionally, but his losses exceeded his gains
for long time. 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.
1t was Melville's deal. There were sew
eral raises before the draw, and then Nc
Lane took two cards. Melville tossed the
deck aside and said: I'll play these"
Stacking up his chips, he showed them
10 the center. TN tap you" he said.
Without a moments hesitation McLane
put in his pile and called his opponent.
q guess I've got you" he said with
assurance. Straight fushes don't go
here and I reckon that's good" and he
turned over three kings and TWO aces.
Melville looked straight at him, and
without a word spread out his hand-four
queens and a small card
The gambler, who was leaning over the
table, eager TO sweep in the chips, dropped
back in his chair aud gasped:
My God, I'm a dead mani
This belongs to me, I believe" said
Melville, rising from his chair and gather
ing up the money. And this" picking
up the revolver, goes 10 YOU, Bob Nc
Lane But, as the proposition was mine.
and since have won. shall take the lib-
erty-'
He pointed the six-shooter at the cell
ing pulled the trigger. and handed the
empty weapon 10 its owner.-Lawrence
(han.,) Gazette.