The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1909-08-30

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'Nawp he replied "see yer twenty
an 60 yer hundred better
From the interior Of bis shirt be pro
duced ron Of bills which the gambler
appraised with amazement He had
not thought to find such rich prey
Lorry, conscious that be was creatini
a sensation. threw two bills upon the
table with an air.
"steddy. pop" cautioned Healy. pro.
prletor OF the saloon.
Mind yer own business" responded
old man Lorry sharply.
"And five hundred better" Gentry
remarked softly.
IAN i've hundred"
again"
Lorry glanced defantly about the Ia.
Bile Healy had turned his back As
for the rest, startled out Of their com.
posture by this abrupt change in the
complexion Of the game. they watched
breathlessiy.
"Cail yerw exclaimed the old man,
depositing the remainder Of bis for.
tune in the pot
Aces up an queensl" he added. with
an oath, as Gentry displayed his cards
Better n my kings up an jacks He
broke of. staring blankly at the gam
bier IS he calmly raked IN bis spells
ana passed the cards 70 Dugan. The
latter shook his head, With an air Of
fnallty.
Nope be said. mo more for me-"
None in mine, agreed the lean yam
kee briefly. and Davies nodded assent
to the Judgment Of the others
Lorry shambled dispiritedly toward
the bar. "Gimmi some ski. Billy." he
demanded
Gentry arose and placed a fifty In
the bartender's hands. You can pay
for the drinks out Of that I'm going
10 take a little walk to cool OF. See
you later. gentlemen" He paused on
the threshold. but none answered him,
and he passed 90 out into the infinite
silent peace OF the mountain night
He walked few steps along the
apology for a road which formed the
main street Of the BALI deserted min
ing village. then halted suddenly.
"0ld fool" be muttered impatiently,
comforting himself against the thought
OF the wrong be had done old man
Lorry. eHe should have known bet
ter. Well. what's his loss is nv gain
II I hadn't got It some other fellow
would
Gentry lighted cigar, stuck bis
hands IN bis trousers pockets launtily
and retraced his steps toward Healy's
But he did not stop there. Through its
open windows fragments Of an argu
ment foated to his ears. punctuated
with old man Lorry's voice bleating
that be bad been shorn, That was
quite true. but the gambler did not
wish to discuss the question with him
since of necessity 1t would mean even
tual bioodshed. He stepped quickly past
the fan Of light which the doorway
threw across the road and began an
ascent Of the mountain trail He would
return ere long when things were
quieted. saddle his horse and ride on
to the next camp.
The night mir was warm and sooth
ing with the balm Of the pine scent. I
The gambler strolled beneath a high
broad arched. brilliant sky. fretted
with bright stars. But from these he
kept his face. His thoughts were too
near to the earth for contemplation Of
the Ornament. AS he left the strag
Cling village behind him be entered
upon d great, sweet solitude whose es
sence was IN the mystery Of night
upon the mountains. The road wound
temptingly on, forest aisle empty,
dusty, now white in the glare of the
heavens, now blackly Swallowed by
massed pines. through whose inter
stiees the starlight fell
Presently the gambler came upon a
little clearing IN which. set at a dis
lance back from the road and sur
rounded BY a dilapldated picket fence. \
was small cabin, vine clad. Its win
dows shone dimly with yellow lamp
light this although the hour was
past midnight. AS he stopped, putting
upon his cigar voice
hailed hima feminine voice, singular
" rich in intonation and elear-and at
that he made out a slender figure
swaying upon the gate Of the fence.
He tossed away bis smoke. removed
his SLOUGH hat and approached.
Good evening" he said eourte0usly.
"Howdy. strangely Be you from
down yolder2"
Gentry failed to repress a start The