Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1902-10-29
or n large amount lay on the table


Pat saw the gambler, as he dealt,
drop two cards from the pack into his
lap; then, as If feeling In his pocket
for a match, turn them over with his
sleeve. Next they were skilfuly hand
ed to the fellow on the right but at
that point the carefully arranged plan
failed. The gamblers tool fumbled
the cards awkwardly, and one dropped
70 the floor, striking Van Elston's shoe
The young fellow glanced down just In
time to see the trickster pick 1t up and
place 1t in his hand.
Trembling like leaf, he rose slowly
from his seat and laid his hand-four
kings-face up upon the table.
1.-THE pots mine" he burst out In a
voice choked with anger and excite
ment. THAT fellow Blowser " a
cheat! He's got six cards. saw him
pick an ace up off the foorw
"Hold on Van Elston," said the gam
her in n cold hard voice. and his eyes
gIfttered as he spoke. Don't use such
ugly words. These men are gentlemen
and my friends. It's a show down,
and the best hand takes the pot. What
have you got, Blowser"
The stool pigeon, his face flushed
with annoyance at his blunder, with
out word laid five cards down before
him-four aces and queen.
Hes q swindlerw cried the boy.
"By heaven, believe you all are swim
dlers. The pots mine, and I'll have
IT, And his right hand went down to
his hip pocket.
"Stopw Kissed the gambler, and the
excited boy looked across the table
straight down into the muzzle Of
choked revolver. put your hands on
the table"
81 won'tw screamed the boy.
Crash! A heavy body shot down
through the battered ceiling amid a
shower Of plaster and broken lathe
straight upon the broad neck and
shoulders Of the gambler, smashing
his chair beneath him and hurting him
to the ground. Out of the chaos and
above the bang OF the revolver, the bull
let from which whizzed harmlessly
into the floor, Van Elston heard q
strong Irish voice shout out to him!
"Kiyer the ither two sphalpeens, me
by, Kape thin kivered an blow their
dirty heads off II they thry to move!
Orll w-r-r-ring the neck av this muir
therin' bla'guard, OF wull"
Van Elston, encouraged by the
friendly shout, leaped quickly back
ward, drew his revolver and ordered
the other two men, who had sprung in
terror toward the door, to hold their
hands above their heads and turn their
faces to the wall.
Over and over Pat and the gambler
rolled like two ferocious bulldogs fight
ing to the death, Pats left hand grip
ping like an iron wise Big bottoms
right, which still grasped the revolver,
while the long, bony fingers Of his own
right hand were twisted with a
strangers grip about the gamblers
throat. The table and chairs were over
turned and the floor was Uttered with
fragments Of plaster and broken laths,
among which the two men writhed,
one painting like lnbOrlng locomotive
and the other, blue In the face and al
most breathless from the deathlike
grip about his throat, still struggling
family to free his pistol hand.
"Dhrap it! Dhrap 1t, OF say, or
Oi'll thwist yer bloody head clane off
yer neckw And as he put all his re-
naming strength into one more vigor-
Gus shake the fight came to an end,
the gamblers head fell back. his hand
relaxed, the revolver dropped to the
floor, and Pat, wthdra wing his stiff
ened fingers from the discolored neck,
slowly rose from the senseless form OF
Big BOLTON.
BE gorrah, me by, it wor a-close
shave-yez had" His breath came in
jerks. Don't yez-know enough-not
to thry-an' pull yer gun-whin man
has tn dhrap OH yez loke thot?'
II didn't care" answered the boy, re-
alizing for the first time how near he
had been to death. "Who are you any
way"
"NhO am OiY answered Pat In gasps.
"Shure an OF believe OF must-be-th'
wholte winged angel thOt looks-afther
foolish b'ys."
1t was the work OF but n few mo-
ments to disarm and Danish the gam
bler's cowed assistants. Then, gather
ing up his money and check, young
Van Elston meekly followed the re-
doubtable O'Grady from the shanty.
leaving Big Dolton to recover Mt his
leisure.
Just what passed between O'Grady
and his youthful companion on that
hOmeward ride no one knows, but GER
tain it is that Van Elston no longer
plays cards for money. Neither Is
O'Grady to be found on the list OF
licensed hackmen, for he acts as head
coachman in the Van Elston stables.
while patient Billy is pensioned or as
reward for the part he played on the
memorable ride.
Kisses.
An old oao oaptoip undor fha inn