The sun., 1902-09-07

ferry as he did, took the only chance that
seemed open OF putting me. and the proof,
out OF the way. was standing in the
moonlight, by the edge Of the boat and
ms aim was good II was 80 good, indeed,
that II II had not been for that coin then.
! would have been dead man. when fell
into the river as | did. As it was. | was
unconscious and they never found me,
though the ferrymen tried hard to get my
BODY before II sank out Of sight, and ID re
was considerable search made afterward,
or so they said
There was nobody al hand to arrest
me man who shot me, and he rode away.
Ihe gang scattered, and as | heard the
story they buried the stun somewhere on
the prairie. SO far as ! know II has never
been found
The bullet. "a you see. struck this
com. reckon there's glass in it 10 make
II ring, and enc ugh to make it brittle IT'S
a queer compound, I've beon told. Any
way, 1t broke. but stopped the bullet,
was stunned but not seriously hurt, and
the water revived me. would have
drowned although I'm good swimmer,
II hadn't caught piece Of driftwood
when | came up, for the weight of that
undershir was terrible handicap. But
as 1t was, | got ashore after a long strug-
gle, and made my way to Petris roadhouse, +,
and tho old man let me in himself.
l was favorte Of his, and he asked
no questions, though ] reckon he must
have known the whole story. Anyhow.
stayed there for few days and when ]
left, | was no longer Hal Harrington. |
threw the undershirt and its contents in
the river, all bur this bullet and broken
coin, and the coin has been my mascot q.
How do know il isn't the bullet? don't
know II. | inst feel il
After he had told ire this story, ] used
10 watch his play until | actually came TO
q As AlI ha
saw good deal of him on the river boats,
and he was always playing when he could
get into a game He was just an ordi-
nary river gambler, ard | wouldn't have
had much 70 do with him IL it hadn't been
for that Other story. but as IL was had kind
feeling for him, and was really sorry when
thet same mascot. or maybe II was the
bullet, was the indirect cause of his being
killed
1t was game among three profess
siouals and two suckers a. | sized IL, up,
and the suckers were getting their usual
medicine when there came a Jackpot that
was somewhat larger than usual because
OF its having been sweetened six or seven
times before anybody opened il, As a
general thing Harrington didn't put his
Land in bis pocket to feel of his mascot
except when he was about to draw cards,
and when he did It he almost invariably
bettered his hand 80 that, as | said, cane
to believe in IL a. much a. he did although
| used To ridiculc myself for doing it,
But this time be seemed 10 get impa-
tient at the number of deals that came
before anybody caught openers and he
reached into his pocket while one of the
suckers, "a | supposed him 10 be- was deal
ing. His idea was of course, to see II II
wouldn't bring him an opening hand, but
the dealer stopped and looking intently
al him, said angrily
,pIo l. ina ~ /, hplA aI,t
you've got hid in your clothes, but by -,
you cant play that game on me. Keep
your hands in sight while you play, or one
Of us'll h We to quit the game.
1T was no more than had expected TO
hear some time, for it was peculiar trick
and did lock suspicious. but il was the first
time anybody had objected 10 it, - far as
know. A. any rate, it seemed 10 take Far
rinGton by surprise. whether il really did
or not, and he hesitated a little before
he spoke. II was a. If he wasn't quite
decided whether to hluster or TO laugh.
AT length he said: Stranger, you ought
to know that it's iishtin' business TO talk
about hold-outs in this part o the world.
| don't work no hold-Outs, understand,
and the man that says | do has got to eat
his words | put my hand in my pocket
to feel of my mascot, an I'll bet you fifty
dollars there's a pair o jacks or better in
my hand before look al my cards.
But to my surprise the other man, who
was looking intently at him all the time,
made no answer Instead ne conilnned
TO stare for some seconds, and then said with
an oath. II | hadn't seen him die I'd
swear you were the same man
AT this Harrington stared, and in an
other moment saw that he bad recognized
his man His face turned livid, and start
ing TO his feet he exclaimed:
You are the man who shot mo, damn
vou. swore I'd kill you if ever found
yoI'
Pulling knife as he rose he rushed al
the other and stabbed him in the neck
before he could dodge, but he, rising TOO,
had drawn a revolver and fired almost
al the same instant This shot was more
successful thar the other had been, for when
We picked Harrington up hewas stone dead
The other man bled to death in "a few min
utes, and / never learned who he really
was