Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1907-11-21

out of the shaft of light, viewed the
scene within.
1t was busy one and we'll bore out
the inviting legend Of the single sign.
Along the plank bar ''the troopers"
were thickly ranged, smacking their
lips in delight over greasy glasses.
Beyond them was squint eyed man
who trotted untiringly to and fro,
stove, its angular barrel and wide
spread legs giving it the appearance
of some horrid fire belching animal.
An unbroken circle of men surround
ed it, hats on. rawhide bottomed chairs
tilted back to an easy slant. From
their pipes and cigars smoke rose
steadily and hung, blue mist, against
the sloping rafters of the roof.
There was little talking in the circle.
Two or three were asleep, their heads
sagging on their necks with maudlin
looseness. The others spoke infre-
quently, but often let down their
chairs while they spat in the sand box
under the stove or screwed about in
the direction of the gaming table.
Among these was old Michael. He sat
nearest the door, a checker board bal
anced on his knees, his black stub pipe
in it's toothy wise. And when he was
not feeding the stoves flaming nav
with broken boxes, barrel slaves and
green wood his blowzy countenance
was suspended over the pasteboards
| he was thumbing in game of soil
taire.
The two outside went under the
shaft Of light and peeped into the rear
of the room. There was Matthews.
| one of five at a square table. A cigar
box partly filled with coin and chips
was before him. In front of the other
players were other chip piles. About
the five, hanging over them, almost
pressing upon them, were a number of
| troopers. Two or three were idle on
| lockers. But the majority We're fol-
| lowing with excited interest every turn
| IF the cards.
"Wretches being plucked of their
good six months pay" whispered Fra
| ser.
Looks like they're in for all night"
Lounsbury returned.
But the officer was pinching him.
Ssh! See there
| \ half drunken trooper was inter-
rupting the game. He had reeled for
ward to the table and seemed to be
addressing himself to Matthews, who,
as he answered, glanced up indiffer-
entity. The trooper continued, empha-
sizing his words by raising clinched
| fist and striking the board a blow.
The chip piles toppled. He turned
TO those about, gesticulating. \ few
surrounded him, evidently bent on
leading him toward the door. Others
appeared TO be continuing the dispute
| with Matthews. But as the disturber
was pushed out they gradually sub
sided.
I've got an idea," announced the
storekeeper And he disappeared
around a corner.
When he returned he was leading
the trooper and talking low to him.
All three retired to the shadow of the
wall.
Here there was a colloquy. First
Lounsbury held forth, next the troop
er, protestingly. When the lieutenant
broke in two phrases We're frequently
repeated Ito the guardhouse" and
won't if you will"
At last the three went back to the
window.
Remember" cautioned the store
keeper, 1--WE don't want all these she.
bangs stirred up"
Needn't worry" said Fraser. "JuSt
listen to that rumpus down the street.
The disjointed music of a wheezy
accordion was rending the night. Will
it sounded the regular stamp of feet.
Now the trooper rounded the corner
A moment and through the window
Lounsbury and the officer saw him en-
ter the door.
| He slipped down to a seat beside ole
Michael. There he stayed for awhile
| Whenever brother trooper looked his
way he called him up by the crooking
of a finger and whispered to him. Be
fore long a knot of men had again sur
rounded him. But this time their at
tention was all for the table at the
rear of the room.
There the game was going on. Mat
thews' chip pile showed where the
winnings were gravitating. In the din
light there was a strained look on thu
faces of the players.
Deal after deal passed. Finally ont
of the five, having no more disks be
fore him, pushed back his chair an(
got up.
As he stood. dazed and dismayed
the trooper who had been elected ap
peared at his side, clapped him upoI
the back and spoke. At their elbows
was the knot that had gathered at tn,
stove.
The next moment the trooper turned
to the table and snatched the pack o
cards from Matthews hand. He hel,
up one, pointing at its back, snapped
it down, pointed at second, thel
scattered the pack in the air.
Lounsbury and Fraser whipped
round the corner and in through tn