The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1901-03-08
THE TABLES
..... TURNED.
A Story OF the Early Days
In California.
DIV ID M r-r17-
BY B. NJ. NELL.

1t was at the time of the gold fever,
many years ago: the place. a gambling
saloon in a mining town of California.
The players and spectators in the room
We're all, save two, of the ordinary type
recognized as that of the gold miner.
The exceptional two, though booted and
shirtcd like the rest, would have attract
ed attention Mt once. The fact of their
being the only two clean shavcn men in
the room would have been sufficient to
single them out The older and darker
man waS engaged in draining the peck
cts Of the miner who sat upon the other
side Of the table. The younger man was
merely overlooking the game.
The older mans face was not repulsivc,
yet there was something in the CLEAN of
his dark eyes that told of hidden fires
which would Scorch and shriycl the OBJ
jcct of his malice. Henry Gurth was
something of fayorite with the rough
men around.
The younger, Martin Baird. was
stranger there. having entered the town
but the day before He had an honest,
handsome face, and one could see he was
unused to such scenes as these
The miner who had been gambling with
Henry Gurth arose. saying coolly:
"Gou'vP cleaned me out, pard."
On the instant Gurth turned to Baird
Say, stranger, YOU seem to be interest
ed. Play same?"
~ never play cards." Martin replied
quietly.
said snceringly:
80, stranger we've got curiosity
among us-a mothers milksop."
The laughter rose high at this, and the
anger and Indignation in Martins face
showed hardly so much of the miksop
as the lion. In a moment a well direct
ed blow had knocked his insutcr off the
chair Gurth drew revolver. but Mar
tin was quicker than he in that particu-
lar, so he only muttcrcd:
81 shall challenge you to a duel tomor-
row morning-a duel, mind you, to the
death"
Martin saw the black eyes of the man
wayer in spite OF his bold words and
answered half contcmptuously:
every we'll | shall be ready"
Martin found, on arriving at the place
or meeting next morning that the entire
population had turned out to see him
made target.
But his adversary was nowhere to be
found. They searched for Gurth, they
hallooed for him, but still the blood
thirsty man who wanted a duel to the
death" came not.
At last the truth dawned on ALL Henry
Gurth had run away.
Three years went by. and Martin Baird
was still at the mining town. He was
liked well enough. but there was only one
man whom he called friend in the full
meaning of the word. This friends name
was Stephen. He was known by no
other than his Christian name.
He had saved Martins life once, and
they loved each other with all the
strength and almost all the tenderness Of
women.
Stephen, though a rough miner, had a
heart of more priceless gold than that he
toiled for. He had known and dsiked
Henry Gurth and once, in reply to an in
suit had left scar upon the mans
neck-a wide, red scar, which none could
help seeing.
Gurth had not reappeared during all
those three years. There were some who
shook their heads and said:
Perhaps he was coward, and per-
haps he wasn't. How do we know he
ran away? He may have been murder
ed"
And then the set lips and scowling
brows looked dangerous.
One night Stephen-he was not trou-
bled with Martins scruples-was play
ing in the gambling saloon when
stranger entered.
The mans face was well concealed by
heavy growth of whiskers and large
hat drawn almost over his eyes. Upon
his neck he wore a handkerchief
He moved from table to table. answer
ing the salutcs OF welcome with a grim
nod. Suddenly he sprang upon chair
and exclaimed in thick but loud voice:
MEN, listen to me! / am here for
vengcaucew
Every card was dropped; every miner
crowded forward to hear.
Men" he asked. do you remember
Henry Gurth?"
''Yes!" was roared back.
"You thought him a cowardp
1--WE did,
"IIe was no coward. That night you
thought he ran away like a sneaking cur
he was foully murdered"
Stephen OWNED what was coming, and
he looked with dread upon the miners
faces. II each man had taken upon him
tigers nature, the faces of the crowd
could have been no fercer. Every NUT
tered oath was that of an executioner.
'1IoarS, was the cry:
Name the man, stranger-name the
man.
He held up his hand, and the silence
was like death, till he broke it by Kissing
out, with the malice of hate:
Martin Bairdw
There was a rush for the door, but he
staid them.
Listen to my story" he cried.
The rest paused, but Stephen waited
not He was off like deer to save his
well beloved friend. He found Martin
in the two story log house they called
their own.
He rushed in and greeted the amazed
stare Of his friend with the words:
'Ye must run now, Martin, l tell
yer
"Runl Why should I runW
Because il ye stay here, yer a dead