Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-03-03

apparently was cross. He had lost heav-
lily to the boy. The latter was dealing
when the little door opened and in came ,ii
Danforth and my partner. Frank Hollis.
Frank had discovered that the money
was missing and surmising that | had
taken it TO Dqnforth's he came to Keep
description. brought him into our room,
Thought I'd find You here, Bill said
Frank softly.
1.-The boy stopped short in his deal and
looked up when he heard that voice. just
how long the boy and Frank stared at
each other; couldn't tell ,r Drake noi aro Sc
made broke the spell.
Frank Hollis by thunder" said the
boy softly, and wonderingly. 1 thought
No thanks to you that I'm not, steer
The name had an electrical effect on
Danforth
Are you sure Of your man, Hollls?' he
asked.
Dead sure said Hollis. That man
IS Steering, the Texas card-sharper, horse
Bill
II pulled the boys hat OFF. Both his
hands were under the table and he was
watching every movement Hollis and
Danforth made. The boy was partly bald
and such hair as he had was streakcd
with gray. With his hat off he was the
in a two-years' Western experience.
."Ail right, Hollis. You are on. | think
that it is time for me to go, and before
realized what was happening. the boy
whipped OUT revolver with either hand
The odds were against him, however.
| DanfOrtn, who stood az one side was too
quick. His revolver began TO tax a.
soon as Steering's hand showed above the
| table. ,Hhe boy fell back, firing one shot
which went wild as he tumbled. Dan
! forth had shot right across my face and
| | was freed from the liquor in my brain
| al once. Ii had been close call for my
partner. Steering had shot him five
| years before in Texas and after robbing
| him. left him for dead. His hoyish face
| ana his nerve had been his stock in trade
| until Texas became too small for him
| Drake lad disappeared during the row
| and when Hollis showed Danforth how
the boys cards We're marked, my money
was returned to me.
| - must preserve order and weed out
| the bldCkIogS, WAS DantOrth'S comment
| on the shooting.
Steering was buried without any fuss.
| and saw II done. You can imagine
| Hollis and l worked together with vary
| ing luck for two years longer ANA then
| Hollis cut out for Texas to TIN cattle
grazing. | felt badly at losing him. ana
| | got to drinking steadily ana heavily
| An itch 70 play for high stakes took pos
| session Of me. | had collected about ST.
600, ana one day | fen in with party
that was bound for st. Louis. | went
! along, determined to have 4 snort fling
! and then return. There is something
about 81. Louis that makes YOU want tp
] I'll lnk nara. | nat WAS inc WAN IL Iitttt-
cd me. We reached town III the moran 4
| and as soon rs it was dark l fouud my
way TO Tom Schloss, rooms. sat in at
faro and ~ I played drank. Lu-k wa
through my hands. Tn, ISnts multiplied
and the colors on the board ran together.
Suddenly stranger, covered 10 his
| eyes in 4 Zig goat, sat, 4 wn in the seat
/ opposite me. ] was looking ut him care
lessly. His hat was pulled down over Ills
eyes As he settled into hi chair h
| slipped out of his overcoat ana looked up
At me our eyes met. For fully TWO
minutes We stared at ;ach other. The
| deller spoke to me sharply. | 'lidn't
stir. Opposite to me sat the hoy. Steer
| Ing. the CUt-throat whom | had seen shot
/ II death and buried in Dcavrr. Ills tacc
| hadn't aged. There wa the sam, iuua-
cent, contiding smile lurking around thu
corners OF his mouth; As he looked at
me | could see the light Of recognition
| coming into his eyes. Hi expression
| hardened ana ne began slowly u bring
| his hands UP from under the table
No you don't, you rl3ck.es. | shout
! ed, ana before he could level on M /
/ had my revolver cut ana cmptiui right
into him. | didn't miss him. but as
! looked he faded away. When | came to
l was in the hospital. They told mo thar
l had been delirious at Schloss'. and had
| fired off my revolver That Wa four
weeks before. ! asked ipr Jhe huy Win
they said that | had only imagined that
/ saw him. They probably We're in earn
est. | know that | had been drinking
that night. but | also know that the bow
came in ana slt opposite me JUST aS wen
rs | know that ypu are III this camp. IL
WAS tn boys ghost haunting his old re-
sorts. | know it, Making allowances for
All that ! mad Lcen drinking 1 ann SUN
confident of it.
''Whcn l was strong enough l came Ill
rectly home 10 Maine. J get lonesome
here 1T times. but | wouldn 60 back To
the mining regions for good deal. Tho
boys ghost still hauuts that country. ann
l know it. Before Hollis death al