The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-09-27

And you had been looking on at the
YES"
We'll. did the man cheat?"
But this was the one thing Ginter would
| not say, though Waters asked him twice
over.
Hunted Up Henderson.
''WeIl. never mind" said the LITTLE
hunehback. finally. IF my brother said
ne dld' he did. Jim never said a thing
In his life that wasn't So"
AND the interview closed. Walters ask
ing only one more question, us this man
| Henderson round here YETI"
.. Oh, yes" said Ginter. He's over
| to my place every night"
suppose he always goes armed"
| stared.
Il thought for a minute that moor uttIa
| shrimp was thinl1in' O. goin' gunnin' for.
Bud" he said, but 1 seen how foolish that
was, soon as thought of it. so just said,
| 1 reckon he does" and l come away"
Are you Bud Henderson," he asked.
| Yes" said the gambler
am Harry Waters Did you kill my
| Henderson gasped and for a moment
FOUND 1t hard to speak. He felt the gaze
| OF the bystanders, however and presently
answered: Yes. 1 shot him in a fair
Never mind about that. You killed
Yes" said the gambler, sullenly.
yes, but amt going to fight YOU
didn't ask you to. I'm not such a
fool fool Is It the same one you killed my
Now look here. What do you mean
Answer me-" and the thin little voice
| rs 1t the same one?"
We'll. yes. it is. What of it?"
on, nothing In particular, only I'm
rather glad 1t is the same one. Now Til
tell you what I'll do I'll put I'D a thou
! sand dollars against that gun and play
you freeze-out for it. And if win I'll
Il won't do anything of the"
Then you're coward, Mr.. Bud Hen
ders t If 1 was a man that was able to
meet you in fair fight I'd kill you on
sight, but this is the only way l see. and
II you're half man you'll give me a
Henderson looked around wildly. He
certainly was not coward, but the prop
osition seemed so prepostefous that il was
little wonder that he was staggered To
| his dismay, however, he saw in the faces
around him that, horrible as it seemed to
him, the others evidently approved of the
suggestion.
A Life the Stake.
While he still hesitated. Ginter spoke.
There couldn't be no fairer way to set
tie it,, he said. And Henderson realized
that If he should refuse he would lose
caste forever
''II do it," was all he said. And in a
few moments they We're seated with cards
and chips between them. A little to one
side of the center of the table lay the gun
| and ten 500 bills.
"All I ask for" said the hunchback. as
he picked up the cards, us fair play"
And you can bet your life you'll get
II" exclaimed Ginter. The others said
nothing, but there was no sign Of dissent.
Each man had hundred chips and they
anted one calls two. For half a dozen
deals there was nothing Of Importance to
tell. Then on a jackpot Waters opened
and Henderson came in. 1t was his deal.
Waters drew two cards and Henderson
After the draw Waters said: 'I refuse
to bet. I opened on three kings" And he
showed them.
Henderson said nothing. but Waters,
after waiting a moment to see if he would
speak, said: you don't seem surprised.
Now, 1 want to say that that's the last
time. When a man deals himself card
off the bottom of the deck 1 take it for
kings"
What the began Henderson, but
Il don't wonder Jim caught you. He
played as well as 1 do. But don't try it
again."
Henderson Lost.
The big man shook with rage. You
miserable little whelp!" he exclaimed. and
would have gone on, but Ginter interrupt
Better keep quiet, Bud" he said.
Hes got you dead to rights, and your
only chance is to win out" And from
some ominous growing in the room Hen
derson evidently concluded he was right,
for he said no more, and put up his
ante.
The freeze-out did not last much longer.
A full against a flush took half of Hen
derson's chips, and he backed a pat
straight against a flush for a considerable
number more, when after he had gone
down to twenty chips he tried to carry a
bluff through, it was not badly done.
either, for Waters had opened a pot for
five chips and he raised Ii five before the
draw. Then Waters took three cards and
bet a chip, and Henderson took two and
raised it all he had.
He had done 1t on pair Of kings, ace
next, and Waters showed down two pairs,
so the struggle was over.
Slowly the hunchback reached out and
picked up the revolver, looking straight
at Henderson the while, as if watching
for some treacherouS movement. The
other sat like a statue however though
he had suddenly gone as white as chalk.
Still more slowly the hunchbacE cooked
the weapon and brought it up almost to
a level. Then his hand sank suddenly.
Damn it, Why don't you shoot?' ex-
claimed Henderson. i pay when 1 lose"
1T isn't that" said Waters MY hand
is too weak to hold this thing steady
and don't want to take two shots"
AS he spoke he raised the. weapon
again, using both hands this time and
steadying 1T with an evident effort he
took careful aim and pulled the trigger.
He seemed less affected than any Of
the witnesses OF the strange scene for
some few minutes. but when he under
took to rise from his chair he was seized
with violent fit Of trembling Then
he Wept like a child, calling his brother
by name again and again, and the weep
ing was followed by hard coughing which
continued till he was entirely helpless and
they had to carry him to his room
And when they talked OF requiring him
dead In his had.