The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1908-02-21

ared a forty-four Colt into q box of
wet sawdust beside his ehair-au ~
time. all IN the swinging spirit OF the
tune
The men, who were mostly young
danced ike college boys. while the wo-
men. who were all young and good
dancers, fioated through the measures
with the ease OF rose leaves on a sun
mer stream. Faces were flushed. eyes
were bright. and but rarely a voice
sounded that was not glad. Most OF
the noise came from the men, and. al
though one caught here aud there
hint OF haggard lines about the girlish
faces and glimpsed occasional eyes
that did not smile, yet as whole TIE
scene was ore OF genuine enjoyment.
Suddenly the music ceased, and the
couples crowded 10 the bar. The won
en- took harmless drinks, the men most
" whisky. Rarely was the choice OF
rotations criticised, though occasional
ly some ruddy eschewer Of sobriety IN.
sisted that his lady take the same,
ayowing that "hootch," having been
demonstrated beneficial In his case.
was good for her also. Invariably the
lady accepted without dispute, and IN
yariably the man failed TO note he
glance at the bartender or the sile2f
substitution by that capable person O.
ginger ale for whisky or of plain VA
ter for gin. In turn tie mixers collect
ed 81 from each man. Tipping to the
girl a metal percentage check, which
she added to her store. In the curtain
ed boxes overhead men bought bottles
with foil about the corks, and then
subterfuge on the lady's part was icle
hut. on the other hand, she was able -
pocket for each bottle a check redeem
able at So.
A stranger straight from the cas-
would have remarked first upon the
good music. next upon the good looks
of the women and then upon the shah
by clothes of the men, for some %
them were in "mukluk," others IN
sweaters with huge initials and wing
ed embIems, and all were collarless
Outside in the main gambling roo
there were but few women. MeH
crowded in dense masses about Athc
faro layout, the wheel, craps, the hio-.
dixie game, pangingi and the cara u
bles. They talked Of business, o.
home. of women, bought and So
mines and bartered all things froiA
hams to honor The groomed ana
clean, the unkempt and filthy jostiel
shoulder to shoulder equally affected
by the license of the gold fields and tie
exhilaration of the new. The myster!
of the north had touched them all tn
glad, bright wine of adventure tilea
their veins, and they spoke nightly q
things they had resolved to do, OF re
counted with simple difidence tn
strange stories Of their accomplish.
ment.
The Bronco Kid, familiar from Atli-i
to Nome as the best "bank" dealer Oh
fine Yukon, worked the shift from 8 Ii.
2. He was a slender man or thirty
dexterous in movement, slow to smli"'
soft of voice and known as a living
fame among women He had dealt
the biggest games of the early days
and had no enemies. Yet, thougi
many called him friend, they wondere
Inwardly.
It was a strong play the Kid hat.
tonight, for Swede Sam or Dawson
yentured many stacks of yellow chips
and he was a quick, aggressive gam
bier. A Jew sat at the king end with
ten neatly creased $1,000 bills before
him together with nil0S of smaller orr
rency. ne auvenuureu viclously ana
without system, while outsiders to the
number of four or five cut in sporadic
ally with small bets. The game wa
difficult to follow, consequently til
lookout, from his raised dais, was lean
ing forward, chin in hand, while t.
group was hedged about by eager o.
lockers.
Faro is a closed book to most peop''.
for its intricacies are confusing Luc
is he who has never persevered in Sc
ing its mysteries nor specialized upon
the systems" of beating it. From
those who have learned 1t, the game de-
mands practice. dexterity and c0oi-
ness. The dealer must run the cards.
watch the many shifting bets, hanjit
the neatly pied cneckS, Inquire i *.
ninglike the profits apd losses. 1t was
his unerring clocklike regularity III this
that had won the Kid his reputation.
This night his powers were taxed liz
dealt silently, scowllngly, his long white
fingers nervously caressing the cards.
This preoccupation prevented his no
ticing the rustic and stir of new.
conner who had crowded up behind him
until he caught the wondering glances
of those In front and saw that the
Israelite was staring past him. hie
money forgotten, his eyes beaIy an
sharp, his ratlike teeth showing in a
grin of admiration. Swede Sam glarel
from under his unkempt shock and felt
uncertainty toward the open collar of
his flannel shirt where a kerchief
should have been. The men who We're
standing gaZed at the newcomer, some
.,,sAl nfhore with n hnlf 70