The daily morning journal and courier., 1905-04-20

adherents, leaning across the window sill of one of the cabins. He also had a revolver in his hand, and the smoke was still curling out from it's muzzle.
 "so it was you that shot," said Sun niff. -.-.-. 9. ., 55.
 "Yes, but it would ha' been that skunk there in another second. He was aiming at you"
 "Why didn't you kill him?"
 Partland shrugged his shoulders.
 "Pears to me that's your job" he said. q reckoned was dotn' enough when shot the gun outen his hand. It was you he was goin' to shoot, not me- T reckon you're right, Jim,'' said 1 ICunniff. Then turning to the other man, he said, "Well?" ..5 :~,. ~ "Well," said Pearsall, sullenl1 T got sober this morning, an come to un- derstand heap more about that game O poker last night nor did then. The way I figgered It there ain't room for us two on this Yiver." Well, I reckon you're another one B uI puuoI pus punoI sIeAsIl1ios '3ssI ! without more ado he leaped at the oth- l CT, and with one blow of his left fist
 sent him reeling over the low bulwark of the beat and spiashing into the riv- er.s ,. ,sss. ....sz.-s ..-..... .9.ss.. > t tzs5
 He sank, but almost immediately rose again and struck out like a strong swimmer. The swift current carried 1 him down stream irresistibly, but 1t looked entirely possible for him to | reach the shore t some point further
 down if he should not tire out in the l struggle. sss:. -z... .@Ezss... ...-.s..,..s "a
 Better shoot him, Ed,'' advised Partland, as the two watched the swimmer, and Cunniff raised his revol- yer. r+ ,. --.-.s .......
 After hesitating moment. however Cunniff put it back in his pocket. ! T can't do it, he said. T have new
 CT shot a man in my life that had no ] chance. Let him drown" #
 Your funeraI,,,' said Partland, deep | Iy disgusted. That skunk was goin
 to do you all right. More'n that, it's the worse kind of a hoodoo to spare a mans life that tries to kill you. reck-
 on you'd oughter know that, 'thout me
 tellin' you" .... ..-.s.s- ....-... Y
 Anybody knows that" said third
 man, who came sauntering up, evident
 ly attracted by the noise of the pistol
 shot, but in no way excited, even by
 the sight of MT. Clay Pearsall splash- ing in the river. It was not hts fight, and he was as indifferent as Partland.
 Sam Sperry was worthy member of the trio. No more experienced gam
 blers, no cooler hands in times of e1-
 citement than these three were to be found on the river, and if he and Part land deferred to Cunniff in all ratters where leadership seemed necessary, 1t
 was because of his better business abils ity Money that they two made melted
 away, but Cunniff kept his, and by
 using 1t astutely made opportunities
 for all of them. Their footing on Gun : mfrs boat was that of permanent
 guests. #*& !
 I've heard O that hoodoo,'' said ' Cunniff, slowly. He was noted for his deliberation. "But reckon there ain't no hoodoos that's worse n shootin a
 man when he ain't got no chance to shoot back That's what that geezer was doin to you, on'y for me seetn' him when , did, said Partland.
 .Yes, I own you one for that, J--im,' \ said Cunniff, land I'm not liable tc
 forget it, but you see how the hoodoc worked on him. It was some quick : reckon he must be drowned by this . time" F. They all looked down on the river but there was nothing to be seen of the
 swimmer, and they fell to talking oi } other matters. The incident was ap ; parently closed. The crew of tht house-boat had watched the proceed, ings almost from the first, but they were too well trained to go aft, except. ing under orders. and what comments they made were not audible.
 There was reason to suppose that an. 7 other game of poker would be played on the Sally that night, the population l of Cape Girardeau being we'll informed of the general purpose of the owner ol r the boat in stopping when he had. Il
 was, however, a matter of some sur- prise when half a dozen men, singiy and in pairs, padded their skiffs along side the Sally before nightfall, and without great ceremony made their way aboard.
 They had little to say, though they
 responded readily enough to Cunniff's
 invitation to fSarpnle soma ,aal1,, s,,~