Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1903-10-28
Observation-Disclosures
: g EN- TRY, q
10 GAMBLER
- 10y ..-.s....
9 LOUIS JOSEPH VANCE
Copyright. 1898, BY 7. c. Mcclure

ing down MS caruS.
THAT puts me out remarked the
| lean Yankee from the Cross Triangle
outfit. The third man, Davies. as be
/ called himself. raped the table with
| his knuckles indinerently. 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 LoFry 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
posture by this abrupt change in the
breathlessly.
Call yerr' exclaimed the old man,
depositing the remainder of his for
tune in the pot.
aces up an queensr' 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
finality.
Nope" he said mo more for me-"
None in mine" 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 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 a few steps along the
| apology for a road which formed the
main street of the half deserted mining
| village. then halted suddenly.
"Old fool" he muttered impatiently,
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.
| II hadn't got it some other fellow
| would"
| Gentry lighted a 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 fioated 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
| quieted, 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 a
great sweet solitude whose essence w a.
in the mystery of night upon the mouna
tains. The road wound temptingIy on,
a forest aisle empty, dusty. now white
in the glare of the heavens. now black
ly Swallowed by massed pines, through
whose interstices the starlight fell
Presently the gambler came upon a
little clearing in which, set at dis
lance back from the road and sur
rounded by a dilapidated picket fence,
was small cabin. vine clad. It's win
dows shone dimly with yellow lamp
light, this although the hour was