Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1902-11-20

Deuce Of dark night, isn't it Here's
the crossing. The hotels just on the
other side of the street. Watch out
now-or you'll get mired."
With some difficulty they crossed
from one sidewalk to the other, care
fully picking their way along a mar
row path of cinders. The crossing was
dimly lighted by the rays of a large
lantern, perched upon a post standing
at the foot of the steps leading up to
the hotel entrance.
The building was a large and ram
bling frame with stone basement, and
veranda running along two sides.
Marlowe noted that much in spite of
the darkness.
Following his companion up the steps
and through the door, he found him.
self in a large bare-floored room that
did DUTY as Office and, also. served as
loafins rendezvous for the village idlers.
The operator placed Ralph's travelling
bag upon the floor; and turning toward
group of men, who were playing ''sev
en-up" at table in one corner, asked
quickly:
Where's the landlord?"
"Tendin' BAR mumbled one of the
players, vigorously and skillfully shut
fling the cards.
Then he slapped the greasy pack up
on the table. and nodding to his as
sociate on the right said briskly:
Cut EN-
The player addressed cut the cards.
The other took them up and proceeded
with the deal, wetting his thumb at fire.
Quent intervals by touching it to his
dubious neither lip.
''I'll go and bring the landlord in
said the operator to Ralph, in a low
tone. Il won't be gone but a minute.
Just take a chair
With the words he vanished through
a rear door.
Marlowe took seat and glanced rue
fully at his muddy shoes and damp gar
ments. The room was empty and chill;
and he shivered. The black and yawn-
ing CRATE contained only a few branches
of dead evergreen, bunch of wither-
ed dOgwoOd blOSSOmS-Summer decOra-
tions-and bits of waste paper. A
brown earthenware cuspidor upon the
hearth was full of tobacco guilds, cigar
stubs, and half-burnt matches. sin
gle lamp lighted the apartment, having
place of honor upon the rusty mantle
shelf. In consequence, much of the
room was in shadow. Against a side
wall stood a high, spindle-legged desk
with cabinet of pigeonholes overtop-
ping it; and upon its sloping lid lay
number of newspapers, wet and drip
ping umbrella, and small, canvas
bound, blank book-the hotel register.
The odor of moist SCOT came down
the chimney, and mingling with the
stale smell of rank tobacco smoke per-
vaded the close atmosphere.
Marlowe turned his attention to the
group of card players. There were four
of them. He learned afterward that two
of them were oil men-guests of the
hostelry-and two of them were viii
layers. The small, pop-eyed man, with
short-cropped red hair, was the village
cobbler; his partner in the game-a
thickset individual with face like a
red full moOn-was the bridge-tender.
One of the oil men was a prospector,
and the other driller, in the oil fields
few miles back of the town.
They played out their hands, laugh
! ing, and bantering one another good
humoredIy. 1t was the cobbler's deal.
Holding the cards caressingly in his
calloused palm and tapping the bare la
BILE with his knuckles, he looked
searchingly at Marlowe and remarked:
bad night out"
very" replied Ralph in tone of
| conviction.
''Train was late, too"
Marlowe merely nodded. He was in
no mood to encourage the cobbler's adj
vances.
The latter persisted:
did Clark go to find the landlord for
your"
"The young man who came in with
me did-yes."
That's Clark-good Teller, too.
reckon you hain't had no supper, Meth
er."
Marlowe shook his head, uttering
curt negative.
"Come-shuffle up them cards, Craw-
ford" admonished the prospector. 1--WE
want to strike some grease this time.
Mix them up good. There must be big
ones in the deck some place. Me and
Roberts is tired o. strikin' busters. Amt
we, Roberts?"
''You bet,'' the driller answered with
cavernous yawn.
"Closer n a number eight foot in a
number six SHOE" whispered the cob
bier with nod toward Marlowe and
wink at the prospector.
But he dealt the cards; and the game
went on.
Presently Clark returned to the room.
foaming glass of beer in one hand and
ham sandwich in the other.
"Charley'll be in in a minute" he
announced mumblingly, his mouth full
of bread and meat. He's busy at the
bar"
Seating himself, he tilted his chair
against the wall and contentedly sip
ped his beer and munched his sandwich.
(To be continued.)
A Kentucky Conversation.