The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1904-09-04


Sam Hsskins' gambling house at
tie time when he stumbled down The
front steps and fell in a. heap AZ
the edge Of the sidewalk. They were
not in the habit Of throwing people
out of Hasklns', and more than that,
no other person than F'ilton was WIS.,
bic III the doorway at The time when
he emerged.
Il seemed entirely likely, however,
from the manner of his exit. kat there
was some accelerated cause. As he
never referred 10 the matter Il ere
after it can only be said that he came
out.
hsskins' was a better place 10 come
out OF than 10 go into. haSkins him
self was known as a gambler WHO got
along fairly we'll without Wasting any
effort ia trying TO build up a ieputa-
ton for honesty. Young Elton was
an unsuSpecting stranger. He hal
been seeing lite" busi.y ever sIuce he
arrived in Chicago. some six weeks
previous to the time mentioned.
Arrived at the edge of the sidewalk
lie made no immediate motion indi-
catiYe OF an intention to depart IN
stead, he swung his feet around into
the gutter. and, leaning forward, sat
meditating.
He Passed On.
At the end OF twenty minutes Has
kinS' door opened again. and a short
thick set man came down the steps.
Noticing young FiIton ne smiled anJ
seemed about 10 speak but passed. on.
Before he had gone a dozen STEPS,
however, he turned back, ard. APP
preaching the motionless man, said:
~ Qx forgts 1s1
pFoffered one.
Don't smoke, thank you" said Fiji
ten, without looking up.
HIN. That's curious too" said the
stout man. as if to himself
He looked at the cigar, BIZ off the
end of it, lighted il ana pufIcd fo-
fully a minute before he spoke again.
Then
Going homer"
No" said Filton.
Where are you soing?" persisted
the stout man.
Rather looks 10 me as IL 1 had
gone" said Elton. There was no re-
sentiment of the questioning. and 10
particular interest in the replies.
What are you going to do was
the next inquiry.
Filton's Mood Changed.
Filton looked up angrily but has
mood changed before tie words Canc,
and with exaggerated politeness ne
said: I'm going for a drive in the
park as soon as my coachman comes
around Won't you wait and go Gilh
me? He ought TO be here by Wednes
day"
Broker" asked the stout nan.
But the others patience VAS eX-
hausted. Resuming his meditatiHe at
titude he poised his head carefully
over the gutter again and sai1 TO him
self: IF it was mosquito, ! cculd
swat it,
Wien your coachman comes. you'd
better drive around to my rooms" said
the stout man, taking card from
his pocket and scribbling an address
on it. He offered the card TO Faton,
who paid no attention.
For a moment only the stranger
seemed irresolute. Then. stopping. he
laid the card on the sidewalk ana went
on his way. II was a long while be-
fore Filton Strengthened up au1 looAe&
around. Then he saw the card.
THAT mosquito-iike person sug-
gested going TO his rooms. 1t seems
foolish. but it is equally fooiinst. 10
I'll toss for it," And he searched his
pocket for a coin. but found none.
well. supposing I toss the card,
he continued. IF it falls written side
up. III call. II it's blank side up
well, I reckon it's the under side Of
the lake for mine
He tossed the card and it fcll with
the address uppermost. whereupon he
shrugged his shoulders and walked
away in search OF the stout mans
rooms.
In His Pajamas.
The latter was in his pajamas when
Elton knocked. Come in he SAL.
and when the other entered he waved
him to a seat by the table on whiCh
were tobacco and liquors.
Filton seated himself, declined the
drink, selected a cigar, and saF, eX-
pectant.
Reached the very end?" said the
stout man presently.
Looks like it," said Elton. uncjE-
cernedly.
Like to play another Land?"
Naturally. II would depend,
though"
''WelI, do you know me?"
'I know Billy Gordon by reputation
replied Elton. The name on the card
was William Gordon.
That's what they call me- said the
stout man, and L believe they cali me
square"
FiIton bowed. Billy Gordon had the
reputation of being the whitest gam
bier west of the AlleghaHies.
well, my point is this: You'd like
TO get square with Haskins, wouldnt
you?"
Filton's eyes cleaned. and he
clinched his fists, but in a moment he
resumed his Indifferent expression.
"Why should I?'' he said. I'VE played.
He won and / lost. II I had won--''
But you couldn't win" interrupted
Gordon again. Don't you know yet
that he did not play with you? He
simply robbed you"
IF I thought that would kill him.
said Elton.
Gordon started. There was not
trace Of buster in the youngsters tone.
We'll that's a good<way, too" said
Gordon, after a pause, but Chicago
isn't a good place. But I take il Has
kins has ruined you. How would you
like TO ruin him?"
Didn't See How He Could Do Tt.
Again the CLEAN shot from Piiton's
eyes. Dut he spoke eailly enough. *
might not be bad thing" ne said,
but / fail TO sea how ] can do il"
Il reckon you "a" said Cord III. but
can pat ycu wise. ] have Il Srudge
against Haskias Listen"
And n talked for fully hail an hour,
earnestly and very carefully, illustTat-
ing some OF the things he said with
some extremely clever manipulation OF
a deck OF cards.
When he finished. Elton said: But
thought you were the man that ev-
cry body called a square gambler"
MY dear boy" said Gordon, "a
square gambler is man who pays his
debts. plays fair with his pals and Rev-
er gets canght I've never been caught,
and l still owe Haskins a large debt.
Understand?
Within the next week il became
known that young FiltCn had come into