Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1903-11-11
a.. E N TRY,
~ GAMBLER
LOUIS JOSEPH VANCE
Copyright, 1908, by 7. c. Mcclure =
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES

| OutHl Inc tn1Tu man, Davies, as
called himself, raped the table wit
his knuckles indifferently. He W,
ahead of the game and could afford
lose the pot.
There remained old man Lorry.
him Gentry looked with surprising II
souciance. Having dealt the cards, I'll
gambler was disturbed by no doubts {
to Lorrys action. He would raise an
promptly. Lory had cut before ii
deal, it is true, but Gentry had reverse
the cut adroiIly, unobtrusively.
Nevertheless. TO the gamblers SUI
prise, Lorry was uncommonly SLOW
He vacillated mentally between cal
ton and cupidity; his weak, red rim
med eyes shone feverishly behind til
iron bound glasses, and he chewe
nervously upon one end of his ragged
| tobacco stained mustache. Finally h
slammed his hand upon the table
Gentry arched his brows inquiringly.
"Out?' he asked. motiOning tOwar,
the discard.
Old man Lorry swore abandonedly
"Naww he replied. "See yer twent.
an go yer hundred better"
From the interior of his shirt he pro
duced a roll of bills which the gambler
appraised with amazement. He hat
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
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 queensw 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 fifty in the
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
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 a road which formed the
main street of the half deserted mining
village then halted suddenly.
"Old fool" he muttered impatiently, |
himself against the thought |
Of the wrong he had done old man |
Lorry. Gle should have known bet
er Well. what's his loss is my gain.
II ! hadn't got it some other fellow
would"
Gentry lighted cigar, stuck his
lands in his trousers pockets jauntily
md retraced his steps toward Healy's
But he did not stop there Through its
pen windows fragments of an argu-
nent hOated TO his ears, punctuated
With old man Lorry's voice, bleating
hat he had been shorn. That was
ute true. but the gambler did not
wish to discuss the question with him
incc of necessity it would mean even
lal bloodshed. He stepped quickly past
he fan of light which the doorway
brew across the road and began an
scent of the mountain trail. He would
eturn ere long. when things were
uieted. saddle his horse and ride on
} the next camp.
The night air was warm and sOOth-
~ with the balm of the pine scent.
lie gambler strOllcd beneath a high,
'Oad arched, brilliant sky, fretted with
right stars. But from these he kept
Is face. His thoughts were too near
the earth for contemplation of the
AS Inc left the struggling
llage behind him he entered upon q
eat sweet solitude whose essence was
the mystery of night upon the noun
ms. The road wound temptingly on,
forest aisle empty. dusty. now white
the glare of the heavens, now black. &
Swallowed by massed pines. through t
hose interstices the starlight fell. 4
Presently the gambler came upon Z
tie clearing in which. set at dis b
nee back from the road and sur h
unded by dilapidated picket fence,
Is a'small cabin, vine clad. Its win b
WIS shone dimly with yellow lamp f
Int. this although the hour was a
st midnight. AS he stopped. pulling II
upon his cigar voice
lied nina feminine voice. singular n
rich in information and clcdr-and at b
1t he made out slender figure sway :,
, upon tie gate of the fence. He b
scd away his smoke. removed his
UGH hat and approached. n
Good evening" he said courteously. Il
Howdy. stranger. Be you from "
down yonderY g,
'entry failed to repress a start. The
couthness Of the words, the strong W
ch OF dialect. was so distinctly ont ri
munnn szzEst<.