Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-02-16

he added, Guess III cash in comfortable like
after all, parson."
then Britt sent for Pulliam. the village carpen-
ter. He agreed to build the church for part
cash. part chips. 1t also was agreed that work
was to be begun the next day and rushed
from the start. Pulliam accepting all con-
ditions and an instalment of fifty dollars in
cash. said that he could find plenty of Mexicans
to saw and lift the timbers in place and drive
nails, and Britt agreed that he would pay
these hands off daily at the rate of one dollar
a day for each, or the equivalent in chips.
Before coming to terms with Pulliam, how
ever. Britt had talked with Shadrach who
brought him the first instalment of the rake
off and went into the details of the schedule
settled on by the card players.
It's to be white for two pairs, said Shad-
rach, a red for threes or straight a blue Tor
flush or full hand, and yellow for four OF
kind or straight fush-all on calls. Here's
the kitty for to-day,-ffteen whites, seven
and twenty-five cents. How's that for a
starter?"
1.-Two steep!" said Britt with groan. AT
that rate they'll get tired of it in week Wen
have to rush work, Shad, so as to get through
fore they lay down on US.
When Shadrach had gone, however, Britt
dragged the red leather case up from the foot
of the bed, and with look Of deep concern
on his face spread out on the sheet beside him
the chips which Shadrach had brought.
I" If I'm wrong on this, lose the play, he
muttered, shaking his head doubtfully.
He opened the red leather case and disclosed
a check rack filled with poker chips. Selecting
one of these he compared it with one OF those
lying loose beside him. The look of concern
faded from his face, and smile succeeded 1T
mot too quick, though. Wait bit, Billy!
Wait bit, boy!" he said softly: Finally he
closed the case with snap, pushed it under
1 nii pillow and lay back on IT with Sign OF
They match to IT, he said, rubbing his
hands my, my! What roar that old
horse thief will let out! Pity l won't be alive
to hear it."
His physical condition considered, Britt did
a phenomenal amount of work without leaving
his bed In the weeks that followed. He re-
ceived small contributions from the towns
folk, and accounted for them to Hapsworth.
He conferred with the new minister on the
style of pews to be selected for the worshipers.
He insisted ON the high backed kind, and got
them. He went over Pulliam's plans with
Hapsworth, suggesting windows here and
there and set of rallied steps for the front.
By his wish the altar was built on a platform
elevated three feet above the body of the
church. and the front of it was ornamented
with rustic cross. He urged Pulliam to get
the best quality of white paint for the exterior
and fine mahogany coloring for the pews and
altar, even if he had to get the stuff from Boke
Doles. He paid the workmen off night after
night with yellow chips, requesting them as
favor to him to give their trade to Boke Doles.
%AAAo AuNAoCuSoAy liz Aioo OOS.
through Doles-an expensive burial casket
from San Antonio, so as to be prepared for
not remote contingency.
And as the end drew near he paid his debts,
provided for his funeral, and turned over to
Hapsworth for the church the small amount
of coin remaining in his saddle bags.
1t was the excitement of these many things
which kept Britt alive He had only one wish.
so he told Hapsworth, and that was to live
long enough to see the new church completed,
down to the last coat of paint He was fever
ishly anxious about this. He would be car
ried out then to look at the building, and when
he had seen it in all its glory they could put
him back in bed again and he would die in
comfort and at peace with the world.
And this wish was grati6ed
POKE DOLES stood behind his counter
troubled in spirit on the afternoon of the
day set for the funeral He had been doing
business on an unusual scale for some weeks.
Trade never before had been good: yet,
strangely enough, it seemed to profit him
nothing. His ready money was at low ebb,
having been expended to replenish a stock
which had been exhausted with chips.
1t was an embarrassing situation. In place
of the lidless cigar box behind the counter,
there was now cracker box for the poker
chips, and it was almost filled. OF course he
had expected some day to redeem percentage
of these chips; but it never had occurred to
him that so manY would be presented for re-