The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1900-01-05
CHAPTER Tv.-CoxrHUED.

One hand WAS played TO the advantage
oi the othcer. That was 10 be expected.
hen another went smoothly enough in be-
l'at OF the fox, after which, though with
cut moving, looked sharply for the end
The method was slightly unusual, though
conceived and executed with skill. They
Lad each been in the habit Of fitting back
oE the rear legs of their chairs as they picked
mp their hands and conned them. As the
last card was dealt and the balance Of the
pack 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 10 lose
lis balance, 20 save himself from a fall he
threw out a foot which caught beneath the
Ulcers chair, sending thaT party over on 20
The broad Of his back and bringing himself
down on the four legs Of his seat. With
the rapidity OF a skilled villain, saw him
draw cards from his pocket, throwing chose
Lealt him on 70 the surplus pack, then
4 siamIning his false hand face down on the
table, he jumped 10 the assistance Of his
companion.
The officer accepted the rough apologies
offered him, and, after busting himself with
rs handkerchief, played out the hand. It
fel 70 ms lot 10 lose, and be paid with
good grace.
As was usual, the winner proposed part
ing dram and set up a loud clamor for the
waiter 10 fetch a bottle Of rum, swearing he
would have no more Of the ike Of the wine
be had bsen drinking, the empty bottle Of
which stood betwixt them on the table
Now had the waiter been forthcoming I
would probably have less Of a tale 70 tell
Bat 'tWiXt tho heat, long hours and the
r. =
fallen asleep and was deaf 10 the calls given
him. Anyway, after fruitless bawling bv the
winner, the Ofhcer took a hand in the mat
ter by turning his attention to me, for he
shouted
Here &c lazy son OF a bullock pricberl
step cut and find the waiter and be damned
10 youi" at the same time hurting the emp
~ bottle at me.
The glass missile struck me fairly On the
wounded arm, about an inch above where
the negro's knife had entered. For an in
slant il gave me exquisite pain, but the
sling did much to deaden the force Of the
blow, though II had naught 10 do with
lessenlng the towering anger 10 which both
words and bottle had brought ne. In SIX
strides i was on them, and upsetting the
card-sharper, chair and all, with nv open
palm i dealt the naval man a blow in the
face, lying him backward in the dust where
be had been but a short time before
With this my anger slipped away from
me ike breath from polished steel, and I
saw but the comic side Of the two sprawling
IN the dirt.
Never could hold heat longer than
wire Though / take II as readily, and had
they been quick 70 acknowledge the mistake
that had been made, ] would have cried
them quits, and even joined them in a
dram
But u was not so 10 be. After a few sec
3nds' bewilderInent. the officer scrar- bled
10 ms feet, and, pulling his sword from its
sCaDbard, paused as though 70 take his
bearings for an onset. He was no more than
- years Of age, carrying plenty Of the
marks Of dissipation on him, and what with
bis dust-whitened clothes, his boyish pro-
portions, and his dirty face. be looked, with
las drawn sword. ike rufIled bantam.
/ should have been obliged 10 hurl the
table al him IN self-defense (which would
have been I'D for HIM had not al that mo-
raent a cavalryInan On black charger driven
,uIl tilt into the tavern yard, refining up
slose 70 MS.