The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1903-03-05

grew friendly with Chalmers, and that
is what led to that game in the Gold
Mine saloon.
"The lad was unlucky that night.
though he played with the grit Of a
greaser. But it wasn't no use, for the
gold dust he had was soon heaped on
my side of the board.
"Then he pulled from his bosom a
little gold locllet, which he tossed,
with a sigh. on the table.
IDEAL 'em DIP, Bill he said. It's the
last thing I've got, but I'll risk it,
with the pulsing of luck in my
veins and my cheeks growing warm
with the fever of gambling, shuffled
tho cards and played, with the madness
Of winning. And when it was over the
locket was mine.
with sigh Chalmers rose to his
feet and, reaching his slim, little fin
gers, he opened the lOcket and pressed
to his lips the picture within it.
Then, tossing it to me, he blushed
of sob in his voice: 1T is yours, Bill,
but Lord, how I'll miss it,
MY heart gave a leap at the words
and to culver to death like a stag that
is stung with a bullet.
Il snatched up the locket and glanced
at the picture it held. Twas the pic
ture Of Clara!
with an oath on my lips and curse
in my heart, reached for my gun, but
it wasn't no use, for the eye Of his
pistol stared cold at my horehead l
RI ipyzxy h
beat my temples until they were sore,
but the flash in his eyes frOze my hands
to my side.
Listen he said. 4 will not deny
I'm in love with the woman; nor will
deny that she says she loves me. There
is naught else to say, only this: I'll
stand pat if you want satisfaction
Then, never once moving those
beautiful eyes from my face, he backed
his way into the darkness, and when
he had gone | sprang to my feet with
bulge in my throat, calling out for the
liquor | seized at the bar and drained
at a swallow.
"And then, with my gun in my hand
and my knife in it's sheath at my girdle,
l cursed my way into the night and up
to my house on the mesa.
"A light from the window fell soft
on the ground as l swung up the path
from the gate, with the devil squirting
me on, when suddenly, out of the dark
ness, full into my face, the nose of
pistol was thrust. and Chalmers stood
there on the porch.
Haiti he commanded, with voice
like the edge of a bowie and a CLEAN in
his eyes which pierced like the tooth of
a bullet. Now throw down you gun!'
II did as he bid, for l dreaded the
bark OF his weapon, but held to my
knife that was hid in my belt and
which itched for bath in his blood.
With my gun on the ground, Chal-
mers tossed his away and held out his
paw. with laugh that was meant as
a pleading for peace, but I-oh God!
what fool man is when he's jealous!
Il sprang like beast at his throat
and my knife chawed it's way through
his Quivering flesh, it's jaws grating
hard on his ribs.
"a coward, You say? Twas the deed
Of a cowardly cur, but the grog in my
head did the work
cat the touch of my steel he threw
himself forward and fell, with his arms
round my neck and kiss on my cheek
and my name on his lips.
in his struggles the beard he wore
was unloOsened and fell under our feet,
and there, in the light from the win
dow, looked on the face of my wife,
with the kisses of death making cold
the sweet features loved.
Still clasped in my arms, she raised
to my own those wonderful eyes, that
seemed to reproach me, and said with a
weakening voice:
oh Bill, it was only joke; it was
only the life which 1 could not control,
overfiowing my veins. But swear that
your love and your confidence, Bill, are
unbroken and that you forgive"
He paused and gazed silently over
the valley where deep shadows were
settling. Then softly he whispered:
"Oh, God, how lonely it's been in the
Joaquin valley!"