Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1900-03-07
CHAPTER IV.=CONTINUED

One hand WAS played to the advantage
OF the officer. That was to be expected.
Then another went smoothly enough in be-
half of the fox, after which, though with
cut moving, l looked sharply for the end.
The method was slightly unusual, though
conceived and executed with skill. They
had each been in the habit of fitting back
On the rear legs of their chairs as they picked
up 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. 1t was
then the fine play came in. Seeming to lose
his balance, to save himself from fall he
threw out foot which caught beneath the
officer's 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 skilled villain, l saw him
draw cards from his pocket, throwing thoss
dealt him on to the surplus pack, then
slamming his false hand face down on the
table, he jumped to the assistance of his
companion.
The officer accepted the rough apologies
offered him, and, after dusting himself with
his handkerchief, played cut the hand. 1t
fell to his lot to lose, and he paid with q
good grace.
AS was usual, the winner proposed part
ing dram and set up loud clamor for the
waiter to fetch a bottle of rum, swearing he
would have no more of the like of the wine
he had been drinking the empty bottle of
which stood betwixt them on the table.
Now had the waiter been Forthcoming,
would probably have less of tale to tell
But 'twixt the heat, long hours and the
present lack of custom, he had doubtless
fallen oclnan md Jnof tO ba co1le Oi1-au
him. Anyway. after fruitless bawling by the
winner, the officer took hand in the mat
ter by turning his attention to me, for he
shouted:
Here, We lazy son of bullock pricker!
step out and find the waiter, and be damned
to you' at the same time hurling the emp
ty 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
stant it gave me exquisite pain, but the
sling did much to deaden the force of the
blow, though it had naught to do will
lessening the towering anger to which botf
words and bottle had brought me. In si1
strides / was on them, and upsetting the
card-sharper, chair and all, with my opcr
palm l dealt the naval man a blow in the
face, lying him backward in the dust where
he had been but 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 sprawlinl
in the dirt.
Never could I hold heat longer than
wire Though l take it as readily and haC
they been quick to acknowledge the mistake
that had been made, / would have cried
them quits, and even joined them i'll
dram.
But it was not so to be. After few sec
onds' bewilderment, the officer scrambled
to his feet, and, pulling his sword from it
scabbard, paused as though to take hi
bearings for an onset. He was no more thar
20 years of age, carrying plenty of tn,
marks of dissipation on him. and what Will
his dust-whitened clothes, his boyish pro
portions, and his dirty face he looked, will
his drawn sword, like a ruffled bantam.
1 should have been obliged to hurl tn,
table at him in self-defense (which woulC
have been i'll for him) had not at that mo
ment cavalryman on a black charger driver
full tilt into the tavern yard, refining VI
close to us.