The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1908-03-07

| a dirge which we were given to under.
stand was his swan song. At night we
| Joined another horde Of the sky.
sorapers under another chief, and
passed the long, dark hours unbound.
but carefully guarded by circle of
hungry.looking dogs. | never saw so
many dogs in one family before, and I
began to appreciate that the canine
was a great institution among these
embryo policemen.
1T was the second morning after
our capture that Tib and discovered
that which surprised us more than the
finding of the giants themselves. For
| after our captor and the new chief had
conversed for few minutes, and Tib
had wanted to bet neither understood
what the other was saying. they sat
down on some skin artsquares near
u.s. and our Simon Legree produced a
dirty deck of playing-cards. thought
| Tbs eyes would pop out OF his head.
| | wouldn't have been more surprised
II the chief had yanked out a grand
| piano.
Playing-cards! gasped Tib. The
| idea of these untutored children know.
ing anything about our great institu.
ton! Why, Billy. It shows some white
man has been here among 'em and re-
mained alive long enough to teach em
a few of our home pastlmes. wonder
II he was offered up to the Black Dog!
What are they playing -whist?'
"Tib, you know, had no use for
sports, and had never known him to
tease Fortuna with coin. He always
said he was too busy earning money
to find time to throw 1t away to a
greater knave than himself
""They deal five apiece | informed
him. i think-by heavens. it's SO!
They are playing poker'
And hang me. sir II they weren't
There they sat. two enormous, copper.
colored, tin-horn sports, discarding and
drawing with the utmost celerity. and
punctuating their luck with a few
wahs! They evidently had estab
lished standard OF values, as bows
and spears and skins and pieces OF
driftwood were quickly put up and
changed hands without any confusion
Mr. Goliath, % Gath, is evidently
playing in hard luck, observed Tib
with swapping eyes. as our captor lost
a big pot on three jacks held cold.
| "'Glad of it, | cried. i hope he gets
maced for every barbed arrow in his
culver. Serve him plaguey right.
i don't know mused Tib. follow
ing the play keenly; the other Elfel
tower strikes me as being, II anything
even more reprehensible of feature
That scar on his left cheek makes him
look hungry
| Il, too, noted this. The chief OF our
tribe was now down to his dogs and
captives, and 1t was evidently strug
gle for him to decide which he would
hazard. But the dog means life to the
snow people, and with grunt intend
ed for a sigh, he sullenly motioned fol
me to step on the carpet.
Great Scott! He's betting you Bill
ly! cried Tib. Why, thisiwill never
do! We mustn't be separated, for Id
be ashamed to go back without you
And alone up here you'd be as helpless
as an elder duck In Central park
81 wrung his hand, but felt discour
aged. was elated to observe he had
decided to postpone dying. and hope
surged through my frost-lined veins
as he gave evidence of returning tC
his old masterful self. For, even as
was wagered, | believed his savoii
faire would yank us both back to the
friendly coast, once he got to work
ing.
THE visiting chief tossed a few
skins and spear beside me,
| Looks kind of bad for our boys
now observed, sorrowfully.
You're worth more than that. Bill
ly!' cried Tib, drawing near in his ex
citement. It's a shame to sacrifice q
man that way. Make the old miser al
least approach your value. Make him
throw in another spear!'
But brought no more, and, to Tbs
dismay, | changed owners ON a pail
of tens.
, "'Of all the senile monstrositles he
roared. Why. my child In a gilded
cage. | haven't played poker since
was young and foolish, but Id know
more than that. Tell me, what will q
| flush take?'
| Il was ashamed to show any deer
knowledge OF the game, as Tib had al
ways kept me pretty straight, but
told him. and with low heart STUN
| bled back to my new master.
"And this idiot here!' continued
Tib, forgetting himself in his disgust
and tapping his owner on the head
has thrown you away. He let slide a
chance OF making flush In order to
| draw to measly pair!'
"Mr. Goliath gave a howl at Tbs
presumption and raised spear. But
! Tib was mad clear through, and shak.
ing his dimpled fist in the others face
he pointed accusingly at the lone pair
and then quickly showed him from the
discard how he would have made a
heart flush II he'd been bright. And
| you call that poker, you old pirate!
hissed Tib, swapping his fingers be,
meath his disgruntled masters long
nose.
\ "I firmly haliavad tho irata gaunaetar