Lewiston evening teller. [volume] (Lewiston, Idaho) 1903-1911, 1907-12-21


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 its 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 pasteboartls
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 square table A cigar
box partly filed 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 number OK
troopers Two or three were idle on
lockers. But the majority were fol-
lowing with excited interest every turn
of the cards
good six months pay" whis ttred Fra
ser.
Looks like they're in for all night"
Lounsbury returned.
But the officer was pinching him.
.Sh! See there!"
A 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-
emily. The trooper continued. empha-
sizing his words by raising a clinched
fist and striking the board a blow.
The chip piles toppled. He turned
to those about, gesticulating. A 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 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
err, protestingly. When the lieutenant
broke in two phrases were 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, I'VE 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. With
1t 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 old
Michael. There he stayed for awhile
Whenever q brother trooper looked his
way he called him up by the crookinl
of 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 sthe table at thu
rear of the room.
There the game was going on. Mat
thews' chip pile showed where tn
winnings were grayitatfng. In the din
light there was strained look ON tn
faces of the players
Deal after deal passed. Finally on
of the five. having no more disks be
fore him, pushed back his chair am
got up.
As be stood, dazed and dismayed
the trooper who had been elected az
peared at his aide, ,clapped him upol
the back and spoke. At their elbow
was the knot that had gathered at tn
stove.
The next moment the trooper turnet
to the table and snatched the pack o
cards from Matthews hand. He he'll
up one, pointing at its back, snaRpe'
1t down, pointed at a second, the
scattered the pack In the air.
Lounsbury and Fraser whippet
round the corner and in through tn
door
An uproar greeted them. Cheat!
A'Clean him QUIZ do him like Sog
, CIV didr, Rafora them WAS a tostle q
blue backs. Across these, on the far
! Their side of the plank bar, they say
Matthews facing the crowd. His lef
hand held the cigar box against hi
chest, his right was up and empty.
Hold on, boys" II was Lounsbury
As If he had caught cue the fore
, most trooper-he who had been III
disturbing element-repeated the CT
and directed the eyes Of his eomrade