Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1909-10-02
GENTRY THE GAMBLER
He Had a Heart, Although He Was
an Inscriptions BIaCkIeg.
By louis JOSEF VANCE.

THAT puts me out" remarked the
lean Yankee from the Cross Triangle
outfit. The third man, Davies as he
called himself. raped the table with
his knuckles indiGerently. He was
ahead of the game and could afford to
lose the pot
There remained old man Lorry. To
him Gentry looked with surprising in
souciance Having dealt the cards. the
gambler was disturbed by no doubts as
to Lorry's action. He would raise. and
promptly. Lorry had cut before the
deal, it Is true, but Gentry had re-
versed the cut adrot!y. unobtrusively
Nevertheless. TO the gamblers sur
prise. Lorry was u1commonlJ slow
He vac:.ated mentally between eau.
ton and cupidity; his weak. red rim
med eyes shone feyerishly behind the
iron bound glasses, and be chewed
nervously upon one end of his ragged.
tobacco stained mustache. Finally he
slammed his hand upon the table.
Gentry arched his brows inCuirlngly.
"OutY he asked. motioricg toward
the discard.
Old man Lorry swore abandonedly.
Nav" he replied. See yer twenty
an go yer a hundred better"
From the interior of his shirt he pro.
duced a roll Of bills which the gambler
appraised with amazement. He had
not thought to End such rich prey.
Lorry, conscious that he was creating
a sensation, threw two bills upon the
table with an air.
''Steddy, pop" cautioned Healy pro-
prietor of the saloon
Mind yer own business" responded
cid man Lorry sharply.
And five hundred better" Gentry
remarked softly.
An five hundred"
Again"
Lorry glanced defantly about the ia
BILE IIealy had turned his back As
for the rest. startled out Of theiI com
posurc 10y his abrupt change 10 tA&
complexion or the game, they watched
breatnlessiy.
Cali YER exclaimed the ole MAJ.
depositing the remainder OF his for
tune in the pot
Aces up an queens" he adoeG, WIKI
an oath, as Gentry displayed his cards.
Better Il MY kings u an jacks He
broke of. staring blankly al the gam
bier as he calmly raked IN his spols
and passed the cards to Dugau. The
latter shook his head. with an air OF
fnality
Nope" he said NO 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" be
demanded
Gentry arose and placed a fifty in
the bartender's hands. You can pay
for the drinks out of that I'm going
to take a little walk to cool Off See
you later. gentlemen" He paused on
the threshold, but none answered him,
and he passed on out into the infinite
silent peace of the mountain night.
He walked a few steps along the
apology for road which formed the
main street Of the half deserted min
ing village then halted suddenly.
"Od fool be muttered impatiently.
comforting himself against the thought
of the wrong he had done old man
Lorry. "He should have known bet
ter. Well, what's his loss is my gain.
If l hadn't got it some other fellow
would"
Gentry lighted a cigar, stuck his
hands In his trousers pockets jauntily
and retraced his steps toward Healy's
But he did not stop there. Through its
open windows fragments of an argu-
meut foated to his ears. punctuated
with old man Lorry's voice beating
that he had been shoru. That was
quite true. but the gambler did not
wish to discuss the question with him
since of necessity It would mean even
tual bloodshed. 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 air was warm and sooth'
ing with the balm of the pine scent
The gambler strolled beneath 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 armament. AS he left the strag-
Cling village behind him he entered
upon 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
stices the starlight fell.