The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1904-07-17

-@.z===S-==- - ----z-=zzzz==zzzzz-=
a straw, they were so petrified at his
nerve.
well sir. that day marked the be-
ginning of Keno Christy's big counting.
The next day he was down at the house
with a gold watch for Opal. in appre-
citation of her many womanly qualities
Then he hit out for San Simon--to take
back the livery team-and what do
you think he brought back. outside of
some more whiskey for snake bite and
a few knickknacks for Opal? He
brought back new cart and buck
SIX. horse to take Opal out riding.
49, Simon, so much! He had a COM
sssts outfit of store clothes, too. and
~ Jaw he was out to win.
Maybe you savvy this game they
*. keno? NOT Well, hudred men,
say. put up a dollar apiece and then
they all draw pasteboards with lectures
of nine playing cards on them, three
cards In a row each and every way
and no two pasteboards alike. The
dealer deals from his deck and calls
the cards and the men put their mark
ers on the pasteboard whenever they
| hold called card. The first man that
acrost or catacorners-wins the whole
pot. The other ninety-nine lose. Kind
of a fierce proposition-but that as
Keno Christy's pet gamble, He went
| at counting like a true keno sport--ir
| to win
'But Keno would drink whiskey--
| that was his weak point-and. being al
we was all sore to drink with him, hs
naturally overdid 1t alone. and hi
work got coarse. About the time tina
he began to compare Opal, point b,
/ point, with other girls he had alst
| loved for their womanly qualities. sh'
1 flew into a rage and sent him HON,
to sober up.
1 Next morning she was still mad
but when Keno brought around TIL
buckskin horse and the cart she fel
better. So Keno jumped out of tn
cart and went in to make II good
Some of the boys were going by tn
| house, and when they heard all of tina
silly talk of Keno's they was plumb
disguised.
"'Ah. cut It out" says one of them
"'Watch me fix 'em says anothe
fellow. and he unbuckled the bell
band on the buckskin. Say nothing
he whispered, 'or Keno will do m
up
well, we didn't say anything, bu
we hung around near there and waite
for the show. Pretty soon out come
Keno and picks up Opal and swing
her into the seat.
my, how strong you are she say
smiling back at him.
"'Oh. that's nothing says Keno
grabbing the back of the cart to &c
In. The next minute the shafts wen
straight up, the cart tipped up. an
/ haa oil ard int
dirt.
well, well, we'll. That was tn
time Opal got mad. She was mad whe
Keno stood there gawping at her an
madden yet when he quit her to cate
the buckskin. who was running ava
with the cart. And when the boy
bobbed up Aom nowhere, and laughed
she just broke down and cried.
Things was awful quiet aroun
Tonic Creek after that Opars ma
Just handed out the mail to us, an
Opal just hid In the house. We wa
all sorry for her-but you bet Ken
didn't draw no sympathy. He offere
to fight the man that unbuckle
that belly band and finally ended Il
by going out on n big drunk and try
ing to clean up the whole camp. A
for Opal, she wouldn't no more look {
him after that then she would pet
horny toad. Every day she got lonelit
and more hid out, until we'd only SO
her going for bucket of water in I'll
morning. or hanging out the clotht
on the line. We wouldn't go to II
post office for a week sometimes, ar
1t looked like the whole social structui
of Tonic Creek was shot to piece
Keno Christy just spent all his tin
hunting for the man who juggled thu
harness, and drinking whiskey ou
OF his private stock, and everybod
| was so begged down and Responder
that we'd welcome anything for
change.
Just about the time We was ge
ting nervous as rats before blast WI
should pull up at the post Office b.
Bughouse Jimmy pale and white. b'
still with his New York manners ar
a glad smile.
Good morning he says pleasant
to the old lady. Is Miss Opal abou
haven't received any mail for
4 month, YOU know, and I should reall
and SO he went on bowling and sid
stepping until there was n break b
i hind and Miss Opal same out. all togg'
q IN again in her red and yaller wrapp
Il and smiling and happy as you pleas
Il "Well. sir they pulled OFF reuni'
Il for vour whiskers, right there. II
81 old lady invited Jimmy to stay for dii
81 ner, and Opal. poor little girl was
v glad she pretty nigh danced. You Sc
81 Jimmy was the only man in camp wi
a didn't know about that accident
a Keno's cart; besides. he was gent
n and ingratiating and awful thankf
"a for what Opal had done for him. The
"A was no fake about his gratitude, al
Opal was tickled to death just to
" with him and hear him talk. But VIII
won her special as to have Bughou
& come back that away. in spite of Ke
Christy. After Keno got turned dov
for good he naturally became mes
* and being on the fight anyhow
gave it out that he would underta
\ to correct any man who tried to ma