Gilpin observer., 1909-06-24


club had no charter as
regularly organized institution
neither did it boast palatial Bedford
stone building as its home. Its
meetings were in "Old Bill' Powley's
bachelor home in a semi-select sec
ton of Chicago The honorary title
of colonel had been given Powley by
his acquaintances. The title was one
of the very few things that ever had
been given Powley. He had won most
of his other possessions by hard bat
ties and taking chances.
Col. Powley with all his presence of
a gentleman, could scarcely have put
up at or become member of, the
Union League club. For that matter
no one of the captains of finance on
the roster of the Union League would
have been welcome into the High Roll
ers'. The only bankers Col. Powley
ever had been on intimate terms with
were the ones who sat behind a green
covered table and dealt cards from
silver box.
Outside on the street the wind was
driving up from the lake and whirling
the snow around corners. binding
with its fury the few pedestrians that
were forced to be abroad. 1t was
about as hard a night as ever comes to
the city by the big lake and inside the
High Rollers club there were not
enough members to make up a bridge
game. Those present had made vain
attempts TO round up a player to fill
out with hand when a cab stopped
in front of the door. The passenger
dismissed the vehicle and let himself
into the house with a latch key, prov
ing that he was a member in good
standing. for none other had such
means of entrance.
We'll. If it isn't Doc Floyd, Where
have you been for the past week p"
was the greeting of the new conner
Col, Powley did not join in the bolster
GUS greeting but gazed over the tops
OF his gold-rimmed spectacles at the
man who had just entered and who was
his one prime favorite of others He
waited while the clean-cut person who
might have been either 30 or 40 years
old. so far as looks went, crossed the
room to shake his hand
"Sit down and tell us about your
SELF" commanded the colonel when
the Jap servant had relieved Floyd
from his ulster. leaving him immacu-
late of presence, white-fronted and
eyening-clothed, man who would
have been noted in any evening func-
tion as one who belonged with the
best
"Oh, I've been out in one of the
tank towns playing a week stand with
the courts" remarked Floyd by way
of explanation when he had seated
himself in front of the wide-open fire
place.
1T cant be that you've been in any
trouble. yourself" cut in the colonel
The older man had first admired Floyd
and then grown to hold him in af-
fectionate regard. because though he
had fought his way from boyhood and
wrested a competence from the world
by the power of his brain, never had
he been in the clutches of the law
Such thing was considered vulgar
in the circles of the High Rollers.
NO. 1t was Jack Cleland," explained
Floyd. He went out on a little deal
on his own hook and got caught before
he had chance to turn it. He found
a rich butcher who liked to play cards
and never had heard of the old game
OF giving the sucker the best of it.
Some one tipped of the game and the
town marshal got Cleland before he
even got the butchers bank roll.
had to do lot of talking and use all
OF my persuasive powers with that
country states attorney before | got
Jack loose. but I finally landed him.
He's promised to be good now and
not go out again on his own hook"
You're certainly old DIR. Fixer,' all
right enough" remarked the youngest
member Of the party and the one who
had greeted Floyd so enthusiastically
on his arrival. "If ever l get into any
trouble, I'll send for you first thing.
unless 1t happens to be trouble with
my sweetheart, and then I'd be afraid
that you might fix 1t for yourself"
mo danger in that" laughed Floyd.
"I'm afraid I'm too confirmed bache-
lor to fall for any particular line of
feminine charms now"
"Oh, you'll fall, all right" returned
the FIRST speaker. II wouldn't be sur
prised to hear Of It coming off at any
time"
Huh! Gals!" snorted Col. Powley.
Better let 'em alone. I've Just been
readin' in the afternoon paper, here.
where a smart Wall Street broker
from New York gets trimmed by
smart dame in one Of the Michigan
avenue hotels. She played the lone
and innocent widow act and passed