The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1902-1905, 1903-11-27
q TRY,
~ GAMBLER;
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LOUIS JOSEPH VANCE
Copyright, 1903, by It. c. Mcclure Z
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ing down his cards.
"That puts me out" remarked the
lean Yankee from the Cross Triangle
outfit. The third man, Davies, as he
called himself, raped the table with
his knuckles indiffcrently. 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. lie Vpuld raise and
promptly. Lorry had cut before the
deal, it is true, but Gentry had reversed
the cut adroitly, unobtrusiyely.
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 inquirlngly.
"Outp he asked, motioning toward
the discard.
Old man Lorry swore abandonedly.
"Nawp he replied. "See yer twenty
an go yer a 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 yerw exclaimed the old man,
depositing the remainder Of his for
tune in the pot.
aces up an queens!" 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 dlspiritedly toward
the bar. Gimme some ski, Billy" he
demanded
Gentry arose and placed fifty in the
bartender's hands. "You can pay for
the drinks out of that Pm 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 n few steps along the
apology for 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.
If l hadn't got it some other fellow
would"
Gentry lighted q 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 foated 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 1t 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 q
great sweet solitude whose essence was
In the mystery of night upon the noun
tains. The road wound temptingly on,
a forest aisle empty, dusty, now white
in the glare of the heavens, now black
| ly shadOwed by massed pines, through
whose interstices the starlight fell.
Presently the gambler came upon a
little clearing In which, set at a dis
tance back from the road and sur
rounded by dilapidated~p picket fence,
was a 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 him-a feminine voice, Singular
ly rich in intonation and clear-and at
that he made out slender figure sway
ing upon the gate OF the fence. He
tossed away his smoke, removed his
slouch hat and approached.
Good evening"" be said courteously
,''Howdy, stranger. Be you from
Hammels, down yonderT
Gentry failed to repress a start. The
uncouthness Of the words, the strong