The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1902-12-28

sOning was correct. for Jim had no
more than got inside when a big. rough
locking fellow, evidently a miner.
rOared out: "All hands to the bar!
My treat''
There was no hesitancy on the part
of anyone TO get what was coming.
and when all were served there was a
general chorus wishing the big man d
merry Christmas and many more of
them.
1t was not long before Jim had made
several new friends of his own class
and was obliViOus of everything but
what was going on within the saloon,
getting plenty to eat and an even
greater quantity of drink The 25-cent
piece meantime nestled in his pocket,
and he made up his mind that Denver
was not the only place on the map
As the night drew on, rafting for
poultry began. Each purchaser of a
chance was given the privilege of
throwing three dice from a round
leather box on the bar. the highest
I total in three such attempts TO win the
prize. Jim thought of the three loaded
dice in his pocket Perhaps it was the
effect of the numerous drinks that
made him reckless. for he bought a
J ticket Reaching out as he was called
| upon to throw, he quickly palmed the
/ three black-spOtted pieces of bone and
! substituted the loaded ones which the
| gambler had given him There was a
| general following of eyes as the dice
| ratified along the bar
| Three skies" called the scorer, and
la general murmur of surprise went up
/ from the crowd. 1t was a good start
/ they said
That's fine remarked the big min
! er. but you have to beat my fifty"
| Jim said nothing but quickly gath
| cred the dice together and once more
| cast them on the bar Two fves and a
six were revealed, and the scorer called
out "Thirty-four in ALL" The excite
ment increased. Jim knew he was be-
/ ing watched. but his recklessness gave
/ him confidence. once more the dice
/ went back and he tossed them about.
This time two more skies and a five
/ showed up.
Il win" shouted the tramp. in order
! TO cover up suspicion, as he picked up
the loaded dice and palmed them, re
placing them with the other three that
| ne had kept hidden in the same hand.
Several men about tried TO beat the
| tramp's throw of fifty-One, but it was
not long before they gave il up as a
useless job, and Jim discovered he had
turkey in his possession, and began
| TO wonder what to DO with it. In the
midst of his dilemma he was offered 5.
for the bird, and with the money II
his pocket he felt like a millionaire.
A second bird was won in a similar
manner, and this he raffied off among
a dozen men, realizing SO after he had
bought the drinks for ali who had par
ticipated
The loaded dice and his nerve stood
Jim in good stead for the next hour
but when he won his third turkey ht
was thrown out. bird and ALL by ths
Ienvious saloonkeeper. Despite thi:
treatment he was happy as h renewe,
his Wanderings. BY this time the SNOW
was deep and he found some difficult.
in getting along. but he didn't care. Il
the course of his walk his path led pas
one of the largest stores in the place
Crowds of purchasers going in induce.
him to glance at the windows and hun
dreds of toys greeted his gaze In tn
corner was a large doll and as tn
tramp stared at it he could hear tn
livoice of the boy who thought he wa
Santa Claus. saying Don't forget
The attractiveness of the scene grey
on him and the words OF the youngste
refused TO leave his mind
7 The more ne looked at the toys tn
more the meanness of the situation be