The Irish standard., 1905-07-29
CHAPTER III.
BARRELS GAME AT HAwKB1LL'.

DARRELS GAME AT HAWKBILL'S.
Properly equipped with a stony dis
regard for human greed and frailty,
Hawkbill's on and after ten p. m. and
been certain of exciting entertainment.
A philosopher of another school might
have seen more than enough to point
moral and adorn tale and perhaps
have retreated with discouraged
sense of mans inhumanity to man.
Darrell could be Indifferent and hard,
or sympathetic and yielding. Deep in
his heart was ever feeling that
stirred at another's misfortune and his
moods varied with the characters of the
players as we'll as with the play.
He stood close to a table, facing the
door and dividing his attention be-
tween the fall of the cards and the
men who entered. An old, old game
familiarly known as two pluck one"
was in progress, wherein pair Of
merciless campaigners were taking
money from beardless and rash youth
who sat between them.
Cheating, On the part of the gam
blers, was constant and fragrant But
the boy had eyes for only his own
cards and was playing with absorbed
and tremulous intensity.
They'll have headlines on. me in
the eastern papers, he recklessly
averred, unless make big winning
tonight"
There's no telling when the luck
II turn" answered one of the gam
blere insinuatingly, shifting cut"
with lightning quickness. Its ali
chance, you know. Up to now I've
Won, but from this out it may be your
turn
The youth clenched his teeth and
whitened, for he had losers grudge
against winners assumed superior
ity. He wagered the last Of his money
"a dozen crisp bills marked with a
&c" in one corner.
He lost. Rising from the table with
the quiet remark, I'm done, gentle
men," he walked steadily out into the
darkness. far beyond the glare of the
red lamps.
~ "eao IAC OIO vi lllC luOLI
the flame. Darrell knew it we'll, but
not so well that familiarity bred any
thing but deeper and more consuming
pity.
He was at the youths back in time
to snatch a six-shooter from his con-
vulsive hand.
Come, come" he said, as the boy
gave startled cry ana turned or him.
.''Where is your manhood, young fell
low?"
Manhood" was the bitter response,
TASK the red, white end blue chips at
Hawkbill's. Give me that, or by
With plunge he sought to catch the
weapon and tear it frcm barrels grasp.
SOFTLY" warned the other, clutching
his hand. "If get your money bacl;
for you will you promise never to touch
another card so long as you live?"
''Who are you?" tasped the youth.
my money is gone and | am ruined.
How can you get it back for me?"
Follow me and you will find out.
AS to who I am, that is beside the
question. Have your promise?"
'Yes; but l should like"
Here's your revolver. I'd throw it
away, if I were you.'
Darrell pushed tho weapon into the
young mans hand, turned sharply and
retraced his steps to Hawkbill's. The
two gamblers were still at table.
What Darrell purDosed doing called
for skill and courage. Both qualities
were his and he sought the issue with
that airy confidence to which others
bad often attributed his success.
1t was by meddling in a somewhat
similar way that he had earned the
hatred of Murgatroyd. Yet that had
not cured him of the dangerous habit.
He had observed the gamblers care
fully. One was past middle age and
had iron gray hair and beard; the
other was but little older than the
man they had victimized.
''Well, Sturgis," the younger man
was saying as Darrell came up, "if we
could find some one else with a roll
this nights work would break the rec
ord"
"You're never satisfied. Cliff.n re-.