The San Francisco call., 1906-06-03

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the miners. a tall, good d-looking fellow.
very trim, in his Sunday togs, arose sud
denly and flung down his; cards. Its on
me again" he said. with a conscious
laugh. u didn't think I'd get stuck again
so soon"
whats the row." demanded Martin.
picking up. the hand and running it over.
'.Oh-that?'' Ineffable contempt was ex-
pressed in his voice and in his manner
as he threw across the room the card
which had interrupted the game. 1t was
backed like the others, but on its face
it bore an. Invitation to attend the services
at the Methodist church that evening
Come, set down. he said to the MINER
what in hell's that card to do with our
gamer"
"why. It's this way. pard,' said one
of the others mildly. an old man; its
kind of an understood thing amongst
some of us if the Parson can put one
o. them cards o. hisn inter the pack an
we not notice, that fellows got to go TO
meetin' See? I guessss longs the party's s
broke up III go along with YOU" He,
too, arose.
Martin swore furiously OF all the
blaspherned places that he ever got into,
this was, the most wickedly and shock
ingly vituperated. He walked angrily out
=,
he returned the room was empty. The
third miner had erept out and followed
the other two. ~
He was not left long alone. A company
of cowboys entered, riotously, and filled
the saloon. To them Martini now beyond
reserve or caution. rehearsed his woes,
beginning with the loss of his girl and
ending with the loss of his game, blaming
the Parson for all. The cowboys drew
n
pathy.. suggested means of redress, shout
ing to Pere Hyacinthe every now and
then that Twas time 10 f'll-up." Sew
eral of them flourished the. TASKS they
already had in their pockets. The bar
tender kept out of their way and watched
for Jack. 1t was long past the usual time
for him to return.
There had been special meeting Of
the. ways and means committee. which
consisted Of the Pesson and Jack and
whoever else Jack ctyId, as he termed it,
''haul in" Tonight 1t happened to be
Shed Wellman upon whom he fastened
After comforting with the Parson for a
while. the other two men walked away
together and renewed, with. more free,
dom, their discussion.
What I like about him. said Jack.
in his customary drawt. ''is that he don't
make a poor mouth. y
Wldl-E .CTieu cAeQ,. Ills SNORT.
snappy manner offering an amusing con-
trast to Jacks deliberation. i've always
said there was three kinds of poor, the
Lords poor, the devils poor and poor
devils. and most generally parsons come
under the last head; but he DON'T
Not much.'' said Jack. with a ehuckle.
when he goes. broke he acts as If
there was nothin' too good for him.
"Sure!' declared Shed. Hes a regular
High Tippy Bob Royal, That's what i
told Mart Young yesterday, But Mart
can't see any good in him, for some rea-
son or other"
81 may have to deal with Mart" said
Jack slowly.
They had neared the saloon. Sounds
of the horseplay within foated out to
them. Jack puickened his pace. AS they
mounted the steps they heard Martin
Young, quite beyond restraint now. COM
planning bitterly. while his noisy COM
panions appiauded every word.
With one stride Jack was in their
midst. 1t was good to see his great
shoulders heave and to catch the gleam
IN his steel-sray eyes. The talk and
| laughter ceased. Even Martin was silent
| for moment, then he began again,
''Nothin' but prayer-meetin's. Jack amt
the same since he made lemonade
He stopped, his Jaw fell. before the look
in the saloon-keepers eyes.
go on,'' said Jack.
"w-w-w-with IA stick in It," STAN
mered Martin.
| Go on. said Jack.
"F-for the--the Parson s--sDciablesi l.
| Twas only foolin'. Jack. Honest, / was
only foolin'i Don't shoot, for Gods sake
don't shooti''
''Get down on your knees thundered
Jack. with his revolver at Martins head
land say, I'm a damn liar'.'
| Martin stumbled to his knees .'Tn-
La damn liar, he mumbled
stay where you are.'' commanded
Jack. 'And-crawl TO the Parsons study
and when you get there lick his boot and
say again, I'm a damn nar.' Go on
newi Crawl,'
There was deathly silence in the room
| Martin looked up, saw death in the shin.
| ing barrel before him. death in the pit
iless gray eyes that met his own. ana
he crawied. across the floor down ths
steps. into the street.
His late comrades pressed to the doc,
and stood staring after him. Over al
! Jackson's, the loiterers on the corne,
stared, amazed What was this thfne
that slowly, painfully, came oat and dowr
and UP the street? A misshapen quad
ruped? A monstrous worm?-It could
not be man.
They crossed the street. Others came
from saloon and dance house and alley
to stare and question. What was it? A