The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1902-08-05

miles LOnlgnC e
''Yis, sor," exclaimed the nighthawk,
springing down and throwing open the
rickety door of the cab. He's betther
thin he looks; there's a hape av foight
in him yit."
The cabman sized up the party. Big
BOLTON, the gambler, he knew. The two
men with the youth he recognized as
hangers on of the gambling resorts, al
ways ready for any scheme. AS for the
boy, he was handsome young fellow.
in spite of flushed face and bloodshot
eyes, and the cut of his evening suit
and fur lined coat showed plainly
enough that he was a man Of wealth.
"a foine lookin' lad" soliloquized
O'Grady, IAN a pritty penny it'll cost
him to see the town with Big Dolton
as guide"
As the boy was helped into the cab
he said thickly: "Where are we going
l don't want to go home yet-the
nights young. I'm not a kid, nor
drunk either"
''Of course you're not drunk" an
swered the gambler soothingly, "and if
you don't want to go home I'll take you
! to quiet little place where we can
have game of draw; no percentage to
the bank or loaded dice against YOU"
"All right" answered the boy eager
| ly. Come on; the money b-burns in
my pocket"
Waiting until the three were safely
within the cab, the gambler in low
voice gave O'Grady the directions.
| After driving for nearly an hour the
address was reached. 1t was in thin
ly populated part Of the city, and
| O'Grady turned into street but re-
Gently thrown open. Fumbling in his
pocket, the gambler drew forth roll
of bills, from which he extracted v.
remarking carelessly as he did so:
There's your fare. That's ALE
Hold on" said the boy impulsively
as he reached the sidewalk, and Pat
noticed that his voice was clearer and
firmer. your horse must be pretty
well winded. Let me add this" And
he slipped another bill into Pats hand.
AS his fares disappeared Pat lit a
match and discovered that the young
mans tip had been a ten dollar bill.
He jumped on to the box and started
cheerily down the street; then, with a
sudden impulse, he pulled Billy almost
to his launches.
"Phwhat wull that black haired divil
be afther dom to the ladY' he muir
INJURED HE give me tin dollars, an
Oi'll not lave him there to be muir
thered most loikely'
! Covering his patient horse, he stole
back to the house, which he recognized
as the one roomed shanty used by the
contractor for an office when the street
was being graded. Lights burned with
in, and Pat caught the murmur of
voices, but something had been hung
over the windows, and twice he made
the circuit of the house before he de-
termined on line of action.
"Howly St. Patrick, but phwat a
shpot to bring a young by. The sons
av divils moight cut his throat, an
he'd not be found in the month.
Pat was studying the ridgepole. A
low shed, or lean-to, reached from a
point within a few feet of the ground
to the caves of the shanty, and near
the ridgepole was square, dark spot.
With prayer to the Virgin and every
saint he could recall, Pat drew himself
up to this dark square, a window
frame guiltless of glass. A minute
later he was crawling, snakelike, over
the rafters of the attic toward CLEAN
of light.
Reaching the light, he drew back
suddenly, for he found himself looking
squarely down on Big BOLTON. 1t took
but a few seconds for the experienced
nighthawk to grasp the situation The
room was newly furnished, even to the
lamp brackets on the wall. Big BOLTON
had spotted his victim and lured him to
this promising lair.
When Pat returned to his post of OBJ
servation. the boy was winning, and
his flushed face and quick breathing
showed how skillfully the sharks were
playing him. Gradually the stakes
were increased, and the lad began to
lose, until all his money and check
for 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 match turn them over with his
sleeve. Next they were skillfully 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
to the floor, striking Van Elston's shoe.
The young fellow glanced down just in
time to see the trickster pick it up and
! place it in his hand.
Trembling like a leaf. he rose slowly
| from his seat and laid his hand-four
kings face up upon the table.
''The pots miner he burst out In a
voice choked with anger and excite
ment ''That fellow Blowser is a
cheatl He's got six cards. saw him
pick an ace up off the floor"
'Hold on, Van Elston." said the gam
bier in cold. hard voice and his eyes
glittered as he spoke. Don't use such
ugly words. These men are gentlemen
and my friends It's 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 a word laid five cards down before
him-four aces and queen.
Hes a swindlerp' 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 a
choked revolver. Put your hands on
the table,
Il won'tr screamed the boy.
Crashl A heavy body shot down
through the battered ceiling amid a
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 a
strong Irish voice shout out to him:
''Kiver the ither two sphalpeens, me
b'yi Kape thin kivered an blow their
dirty heads off If they thry to move!
Oi'll w-r-r-ring the neck av this muir
therin' bla'guard, Oh wullT'
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