The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1906-09-24

~ANSAaf iOOhiilS up cdIQS,
nodded casually to me and DoeIy
greeted me warmly and asked me to
take seat and wait for the next round
or drinks, which he was going to pay
Tor. The round, made up of the foulest
klnd OF firewater, such stuff as used to
set the Apaches on the war dance when
they got too much of it, came and an
other followed and noticed with some
uneasiness that my young friend from
Illinois was getting a bit husky in
voice and a little wabbly in motion.
Every time he'd thrown down his cards
l could see his body lurch and sway
FAR TO one side and, concluding that he
was we'll under the influence of liquor,
! tried TO persuade him to give up the
game and go to the quarters.
"Belden cast ominous chances in my
direction when / suggested to Wal
ter that it was time TO turn i'm and, not
wishing to have run-in with a no
torious gun-tghter, l became less i'm
sistent, especially as Walter himself
seemed bent on playing all night
the TWO gFeasers, who hadn't en-
tered with much, were cleaned UP soon
and the game was between Belden and
Doely. Doely had about $50 worth of
chips left and risked his pile on three
knaVes. In the draw he got another
and, turning to me borrowed all the
-S25-to bet on his hand. Belden cool
ly took the $50 bet and ON the call
threw down four aces,
K
"Doely stared in surprise. and as
quick as a fash snatched un the ball
ance OF the deck and ran through the
pastehoards to see whether there were
any more aces among them, having the
idea doubtless that Belden was cheat
ing. Belden looked across the table
at his late opponent and such cloud
gathered on his face as / never saw
depicted on a human cOuntenance be-
fore. Black rage and offended pride
were combined in the expression and
the rugged bearded face was trans
formed into that of a demon.
"Belden half rose from his chair,
leaving his winnings neglected on the
table before him, and leaning across
the table he placed his right hand on
his holster, showed his face close 10
Doely's and said in slow, steady tones:
SO yer think I'm a skin, 90 yer? An
yer Wusn't such a young one, an
green, too. Now git up an pull yer
shootin' iron; I'll wait for YER
Il looked at DoelY and saw the
young man straiehten up and then lean
far back in his chair. His hands. with
fingers wide spread over the mess OF
cards. were on the table, so Belden
could not fear gun play from under
cover. but Walters face instead of eX-
pressing fear or CONSERVATION, on the
instant became rigid, the lines about
his mouth deepened and the fash in
his dark eyes told OF rising ire and re-
sentiment.
you've got the drop on me, Hank,
and Walters voice, easy and natural,
did not tTemble i'm the least, and IL You
feel like shooting, shoot and be hanged
to you, but if you want TO give me a
chance, thank you for 1t; I'll go you'll
"'Doely slowly arose from his seat,
placed the chair close To the table and
turning his back ON Belden walked TO
the center of the room, where he
wheeled around and faced his enemy,
with arms folded across his broad
chest Wait minute, Hank he cried,
keeping his arms mOtiOnless and his
right hand away from his holster,
there is no use to endanger any mno-
cent lives; let's give Ham here q
chance to vamoose.
''Belden, still standing at the table
his hand on the butt of his big revolt
yer. said nothing, but only looked at
DOely. and as his arm dropped TO his
side he remarked: You're game, young
fellow. and 1 like TO see such grit as
your'n You amt got chance with
me in a gun-pullin match, cause I'd
have my pepper out and piece of lead
i'm yer head before you could think and
I'm going TO even up matters See
these cards here? running his hands
oarelessly through the mussed-up deck.
Well vel pile 'em up nicely an then
YOU an nell cut 'em. The man that
gifts the low card stands up again the
wall an lets the other fellow take
shot at him. Are you game for that?
"a
ANY way YOU say will suit me-
was Doely's cool return TO the DARING
proposition. You're square. so am J;
let's get TO the business and be through
with it Walter walked over 10 the
table and gathered TIM cards up i'm
neat pack and placing them i'm the CEN
ter Of the table stepped back and said:
You cut first. Hank, or shall ~
" No difference to me, the gun
fghter said III cut, though, to start
the fun. Those two desperate men.
each as brave as the braVest, were In
deadly earnest in their stirring acting
and neither quivered SO much as an
eyelash or went shade paler, Hank
took the cards in his left hand and
lightly let them fall one on top of the
other back into their original position
Then he cut and held aloft queen
It's a. high one to beat, boy, he cried
Have your try
"Doel. a smile of unconcern playing
about his lins, bent over the table and
took the top card off the remainder
of the deck. II was a four of diamonds
and my heart dropped into my boots
Doely looked at the card and saying
never q word whisked the thing over
the counter, behind which the barman
still crouched and then he quietly
walked across the room and stood
drawn UP To his full height, with his
back against the wall,
"T'm ready for YOU, Hank. he re-
marked in his usual tones. and, heav-
ing a sigh Of disappointment, waited
for his death and watched its APP
proach unfiinchingly. Belden strobe To
in, NJ nnpiN