The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-08-04
The Globes Daily Short Story

| ials and tore them up, though none
| of them touched the tragedy of the
| day.
| Usually a temperate man he drank
four or five times before dinner, feel
| ing that he must take something to
brace him up. and finding he could not
eat when dinner time came he drank
again. He did not get drunk, but the
whisky affected him.
That night the game went on as
usual in the Blue Crystal saloon where
Jennings had usually played, and where
| he was looked on as one of the lead
| ing spirits in everything of sporting
character in Helena. He had not been
popular man, but his skill and dar-
| ing as a gambler had won recognition,
and the well-known fact that he would
| fight on occasions had seemed to re-
| strain hostile sentiment.
Moreover, his associates, while they
were not sufficiently excited to think
of avenging his death, realized that he
| had been attacked for doing what they
all did and had met his death in re-
| senting the attack. None of them
was prepared, however, to see Hap
good walk into the place, shortly be-
| fore midnight.
The nervousness that kept him from
work had driven him out of doors for
| walk, and the whisky he had taken
| for his nerves had dulled his Judgment
, SO that 1t seemed well for him to defy
| the men whom he had attacked. Be-
| ing in he appeared not to know exactly
/ what theCS was for him to do, and
pausing irresolutely near the door he
| looked around.
The usual quiet of the room was not
disturbed, but was rather accentuated
| Six men were playing poker and four
others were looking on. Mcpherson,
the proprietor of the place, was be-
hind the bar, and two otner men were
| talking with him in undertones, but
on Hapgood's entrance their conversa-
| ton ceased.
One of the players who faced the
| door caught sight of him and spoke
/ under his breath, whereupon the others
| looked around, but after staring at him
for moment they went on with their
| game. 1t takes considerable to inter-
rupt game Of poker.
Presently Hapgood stepped to the
| bar and said:
Gentlemen, will you join me in
| drink ?'
But one said: Thanks, I don't care
to drink and the other said, with even
less ceremony: 81 don't drink" and
they leered at him.
perhaps you'll join me?" he per-
! sisted, turning to Mcpherson, but Nc
| Pherson said he never drank behind
the bar, and Hapgood turned away and
walked over to the poker table
No one spoke at first, and he stood
| looking on, conscious that he was do
ing foolish thing, but too confused
to see just what he should do, when
one of the players spoke.
Perhaps the gentleman would like
to take hand" said he, and there
was a quiet smile all around
Il hardly think" said GaIIigan, the
big Missourian, that he'd dare chance
"Dare!" exclaimed Hapgood, holly
He began to feel that all this contempt
must be met somehow.
Yes, dare" repeated Galligan.
That's what I said''
Il dare, all right" said Hapgood.
If you have room for another player"
Charmed, I'm sure" said young
Holloway, the most reckless man in
| Arkansas, according to his reputation.
Make room, gentlemen said Dick
| Farrell, crony of Red Jennings, and
before Hapgood fairly realized what
had happened he was seated with $40
| in chips in front of him, for which he
had paid. His seat was opposite to
| Farrells.
The other three players were strang-
ers in Helena, but were plainly pro-
| fessionals. 1t was not a particularly
| heavy game, no one having more than
$50 in front of him, but it was for blood.
was table stakes. Hapgood, an indif-
| ferent player at best and unused to a
| professional game, stood little show.
| and he knew the fact we'll enough eS-
| peclally as his newspaper fight had
been, not against straight gambling,
but against the crooked work for which
the saloon was notorious.
Nevertheless, he won the first Jack
| pot. Having pair of aces, he stayed
| when Holloway opened It, and catch
| Ing third ace on the draw he won
| out.
There was no comment, but after the
| next Jackpot the explosion came. Far
| rell opened it and Hapgood, having
a four flush, again stayed. Again he
| filled, and as Farrell had only three
| queens, he won again.
| But as he was about to rake in the
A pot Holloway spoke:
/ Hold on, there" he said. "You
\ didn't say you were splitting openers.
| Where's your other jack?'
Il didn't have jacks" said Hapgood.
Il drew to a flush."
But" said Holloway, 'you can't
open a jackpot on a four flush. We
don't allow cheating in this house."
81 didn't open it." exclaimed Hap
good, angrily, but Galligan, taking the
cue. spoke quickly.
You lie," he said, cad in an instant
the place was in an Gproar.
Hapgood sprang 20 his feet. He
knew we'll enough that it would be a
fight for life and is he rose he reach
ed for his revolver, but too late. Far
rell was quicker than he, and when he
fell forward there was a hole in his
forehead.
Red Jennings was avenged.-New