Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1903-10-29
! CENT
; - GAMBLER
LOUIS JOSEPH VANCE
Copyright, 1903, by T. G. Mcclure
Observation-Disclosures

lean Yankee from the Cross Triangle
outfit. The third man, Davies, as he
called himself, raped the table with
his knuckles indifferently. He was
ahead of the game and could afford to
lose the pot
There remained old man Lorry. To
him Gentry looked with surprising in
souciance. Having dealt the cards, the
gambler was disturbed by no doubts as
to Lorry's action. He would raise and
promptly. Lorry had cut before the
deal, it is true, but Gentry had reversed
the cut adroitly, unobtrusively.
Nevertheless, to the gamblers sur
| prise, Lorry was uncommonly slow.
He vacillated mentally between eau
ton and cupidity; his weak, red rim
med eyes shone feverishly behind the
| iron bound glasses, and he chewed
nervously upon one end of his ragged,
tobacco stained mustache. Finally he
slammed his hand upon the table.
Gentry arched his brows inquiringly.
| "Out?" he asked, motioning toward
the discard.
| Old man Lorry swore abandonedly.
| "Naw!' he replied. ''See yer twenty
an go yer hundred better"
| From the interior of his shirt he pro-
duced roll Of bills which the gambler
| appraised with amazement. He had
not thought to find such rich prey.
Lorry, conscious that he was creating
a sensation, threw two bills upon the
table with an air.
"Steddy, pop" cautioned Healy, pro-
prietor of the saloon
mind yer own business" responded
old man Lorry sharply
"And five hundred BETTER" Gentry
remarked softly.
"An' five hundred
again"
Lorry glanced defiantly about the ia
BILE. Healy had turned his back. AS
for the rest, startled out of their COM
posure by this abrupt change in the
complexion of the game, they watched
breathlessly
Call yer!' exclaimed the old man,
depositing the remainder of his for
tune in the pot.
"Aces up an queensv' he added, with
an oath, as Gentry displayed his cards.
"Better n my kings up an jacks He
broke off, staring blankly at the gam
bier as he calmly raked in his spoils
and passed the cards to Dugan. The
latter shook his head, with an air Of
fnality.
"Nope," he said. "No more for me-"
''None in NINE" agreed the lean Yam
kee briefly, and Davies nodded assent
to the judgment of the others.
Lorry shambled dispiritedly toward
the bar. Gimme some ski, Billy" he
demanded.
Gentry arose and placed a fifty in the
bartender's hands. "You can pay for
the drinks out of that. I'm going to
take a little walk to cool off. See you
later, gentlemen" He paused on the
threshold, but none answered him, and
he passed on out into the infinite silent
peace of the mountain night
He walked few steps along the
apology for road which formed the
main street of the half deserted mining
village, then halted suddenly.
y,
comforting himself against the thought
of the wrong he had done old. man
Lorry. He should have known bet
ter. Well, what's his loss is my gain.
If I hadn't got it some other fellow
would"
Gentry lighted cigar, stuck his
hands In his trousers pockets jauntily
and retraced his steps toward Healy's.
But he did not stop there. Through its
open windows fragments of an argu-
ment f1oated to his ears, punctuated
with old man Lorry's voice, bleating
that he had been shorn. That was
quite true, but the gambler did not
wish to discuss the question with him
since of necessity it would mean even
tual bloodshed. He stepped quickly past
the fan of light which the doorway
threw across the road and began an
ascent of the mountain trail. He would
return ere long, when things were
quoted, saddle his horse and ride on
to the next camp.
The night air was warm and sooth-
ing with the balm Of the pine scent.
The gambler strolled beneath a high,
broad arched, brilliant sky, fretted with
bright stars. But from these he kept
his face. His thoughts were too near
to the earth for contemplation Of the
armament. AS he left the struggling
village behind him he entered upon
great sweet solitude whose essence was
In the mystery of night upon the noun
tains. The road wound temptingly on,
forest aisle empty, dusty, now white
In the glare Of the heavens, now black
~ shadowed by massed pines, through
whose interstices the starlight fell
Presently the gambler came upon a
| little clearing in which, set at a dis
| lance back from the road and sur
rounded by dilapidated picket fence,
was small cabin, vine clad. Its win
dows shone dimly with yellow lamp
light this although the hour was
past midnight. AS he stopped, putting
speculatively upon his cigar, a voice
hailed lima feminine voice, singular
ly rich in information and clear-and at
that he made out a slender figure sway
Ing upon the gate Of the fence. He