The Farmington times. [volume] (Farmington, Mo.) 1874-1902, 1900-01-25
CHAPTER Iy.--CoxrINuED.

One hand was played 10 the advantage
n the officer That was 30 be expected.
Then another went smoothly enough in be
half Of the iox, after which, though with.
ut moving, / looked sharply for the end.
The method was slightly unusual, though
onccycd and executed with skill. They
lad each been IN the habit Of fitting hack
IN the runr legs Of their chairs a. they picked
up their hands and conned them. As the
last card was dealt and the balance Of the
rack laid aside, the officer settled himself
backward, while the fellow nearest me did
The same thing but a second later. II was
then the fine play came in. Seeming to lose
lis balance 20 save himself from fall he
threw out foot which caught beneath the
officers chair, sending that party over on 10
the broad Of his back snd bringing himself
down on the four legs Of his scat With
the rapidity Of a skilled villain. / saw him
draw cards from his pocket, throwing thoss
dealt him on 10 the surplus pack, then
siamming his false hand face down On the
table. he jumped to the assistance Of his
companion,
The officer accepted the rough apologies
offered hun. and, after busting himself with
bis handkerchief, played out the hand. 1t
Tell TO his lot to lose. aud he paid with a
good grace.
As was usual, the winner proposed part.
ing dram and set up 8 load clhnor for the
waiter 20 fetch a bottle Of rum, swearing he
would have no moge Of the like Of the wine
be- had been drinking, the empty bottle Of
which stood be,wi1t them on the table.
Now had the waiter been forthcoming. ]
would probably have less Of a tale to tell
But 'twi1t the heat, long hours and tho
present lack Of custom. he had doubtless
fallen asleep and was deaf 10 the calls given
him, Anyway, after iruitless bawling by the
winner. the officer took hand tn the mat.
ter by turning HE attention 10 me, for he
shouted
Here, ye lazy son Of bullock pricker'
stcp out and find the waiter. and he damned
b. you" at the same time hurting the emp-
b. bottle az me
The glass missile struck me fairly on the
wounded arm, about an inch above where
the neEro's knife had entered. For an in
slant u gave me exquisite pain, but the
sling did much TO deadeh the force Of the
blow. though it had naught 10 10 with
losscnins the towering anger to which ",tn
words and bottle had brought me In six
strides ! was on them, and upsetting the
card sharper, chair and all, with my open
palm ! dealt the naval man blow IN the
face. lying him backward in the dust where
ho had been but q short time before.
With this my anger slipped away from
me like breath from polished steel, and |
saw but the comic side Of the Two sprawling
Ia the dirt.
Never could ! bold heat longer than a
wire Though take it as readily, aud had
they hccn quick to acknowledge the mistake
that had been made, | would have cried
them quits, and even joined them in a
dram.
Blu, il was not 30 to be After few sec
onds' bcwildcrmcnt, the officer scraub led
20 his feet, and, pulling his sword from lie
tcibbard. paused as though to take his
bearings fer an onset He was no more than
20 years Of age, carrying plenty Of the
marks Of dissipation on him. and what with
his dust.whitcned clothes, his boyish pro.
portions, and his dirty face, he looked. with
he drawn sword, like rufiied bantam.
] should have been obliged 10 huri the
table ~ him in self.deiense (which would
have been IN for himl had not at that mo.
ment cayalrymAn on black charger driven
full tilt into the tavern yard, refining M
close 30 US.