The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1907-12-12

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the psychological moment and sat
down beside me just as though he be-
longed there.
Tell you how 1t was; we were both
tired Of the monotony Of the rolling
plains and a good talk, even with a
stranger, was most welcome. But,
somehow, Luggins did not seem like
stranger; after ten minutes talk I
had known him a lifetime and YETI
what did know about him? Absolute
Nv nothing-still, would have staked
hny life on him.
/ didn't notice his little finger at
first, but when / did | turned around
and looked al him narrowly. Was It a
phenomenon Of nature? Was 1t little
vanity in which he iDdulged? Was it
a fad or fancy? What was It?
But I was no man to ask him why
the little finger on his right hand was
polished SO highly that it shone like a
jewel / have travelled somewhat and
learned to avoid foolish questions. But
II ever burned to know anything it
was at that moment when his nail
flashed upon me / knew 1t was his
nail and yet it looked and shone and
glanced like a bit Of glass with a
silver coating.
He talked Of Frisco, whittier we
we're bound. I was puzzled. It got upon
my mind, 1t grew upon my imagina.
tion; when looked at him he fairly
scintllated with sprouHng little finger
nails, in the most impossible places.
| fear I was rude In my fascinated
staring, for, suddenly, he jerked out
lis hand, palm downward. held the
nail in the light and watched me as
puzzled over the phenomenon.
Notice that nail? Bad for sore eyes
eh?" he ventured.
'Well-well, er, rather / gasped
fearing that he was administering ;
deserved rebuke to my curiosity.
"Old habit Of mine Been In thu
same condition for 20 years or more
That finger nails insured for $4,000,
he mused Valuable finger that. If
lost 1t I'D never make another cent.
I uttered an embarrassed laugh I
show him that took his words light
ly and he went on, in a moment, Don
show that finger to everybody. It ism
everybody that I'd care to have see Il
You wouldn't have noticed 1t If ha
thought for a moment that 1t wouldn
interest you or would interest you to
much.
ventured the remark, I've ofte
wished / had something like tha
Something different. Something with
romance built around IT, A fellow me-
er feels alone if he's got hobby
hobby's fine thing and 1t might a
well be the care Of polished tinge
nail as the collecting Of totem-poles. =
Then the conversation quite natura
" changed to those horses which II
hobby-people ride.
I We parted at the station in Frlsc
! hated to have Luggins leave me. Il
. tie finger and all, / wanted to see moi
Of him. He liked me. | knew; b.
press Of business, he said. would kes
him from having dinner with me al
we parted with the mutual hope thi
we would meet again.
After finishing up my business hl
but one engagement to keep befo
leaving Frisco. 1t necessitated my pI
j. ting in another lonely night IN Z
city and I cursed my luck as sat
4 the hotel lobby and wondered why
! had become such slave to busine
as to lose "a hours Of this good Il
just to keep an engagement B
there / was, with a choice Of the II
ater OF bed
| Suddenly, l thought Of roulette;
nights quiet play over the table wou
II be just the thing. knew Of comic
H able little place where the stakes we
high and the play racy. | was just
the mood for IT,
was earlv. the wheel was not y
n running, but already two poker tabl
were busy In other rooms and ask
H for a chair There was room for me
II one table and I walked in quick
i took my seat. and then looked arou
at my companions
BY Georgel There was Luggil
% right opposite me.
It leaped from my chair and crush
his hand, $4,000 nail and all in !
a. hand
+ He did not appear overIoyed at s.
x, ing me and cloud Immediately s
II tied on his face as we resumed {
1s seats.
h. Hes been losing thought.
x else he's not in the habit Of playi
a and doesn't want 1t known"
M No--he hadn't been losing. as I Sc
" found out. He had been winning G.
"a sistently and bis pile was handsome
For an hour l played. Eighty
e cent. Of my money went to Luggins
y per cent. was distributed among
4 others and had hardly another al
'e left There was a big Jackpot on
- table, | had king-high flush q
=, wanted a ''look-ln." Not a cent dl,
/" have. It was my bet. Just then-w
" an eager look--Luggins thrust thi
piles Of "blues" acros. The table