The Redwood gazette., 1909-12-29

SOiC. OftC UttOO OftC.
him to draw the crowd into their game
it would be difficult to say, but twice
more they permitted him to win.
Newmark plucked his sleeve.
you're 500 ahead" he muttered
"Quit it."
''What limit do you put on this game
asked Orde.
"How much do you want to bet?''
'Would you stand for $500?' asked
Orde.
The gambler pretended to deliberate.
his cool. shifty eyes running over the
group before him. A small door i'm.
behind him swung slowly
ajar an inch or so.
SCOT the money!" he asked.
"Have you?" countered Orde.
The man nodded. 'I'll go you, buh,"
said he. Lay out your money"
.Orde counted out nine fifty-dollar
bills and five tens.
"All right" said the gambler, taking
up the cards.
Hold on" cried Orde. ''Where's
yoursY'
'Oh, that's all right" the gambler
reassured him. "I'm with the house.
McNeill's credit is good"
"I'm putting up my good money, and
expect to see good money put up in
return" said Orde.
Finally the gamblers yielded and put
up the money.
The audience now consisted of the
dozen of Orde's friends. nearly twice
as many rivermen, eight hangers-on
Of the joint, probably fighters and
''bouncers;" half dozen professional
gamblers and several mattresses. The
four barkeepers still held their posi-
tions. The rivermen were scattered
back of Orde, although Orde's own
friends had gathered at his shoulder.
The mercenaries and gamblers had di-
vided and fanked the table at either
side. Newmark, a growing wonder
and disgust creeping into his usually
inexpensive face, recognized the stra-
tegic advantage of this arrangement.
A determined push would separate
the rivermen from the gamblers long
enough for the latter to disappear
through the small door at the back.
A gasp of anticipation went up as
coolly the gambler made his passes.
Orde planted his great red fist on one
of the cards.
''That is the jackr' he cried.
ooh, is it" sneered the dealer.
swell, turn it over and let's see.''
"No!" roared Orde. "You turn over
the other two!''
A low oath broke from the gambler,
and his face contorted in a spasm.
For moment the situation was tense
and threatening. The dealer, with a
sweeping glance, again searched the
faces of those before him. In that
moment probably he made up his
mind that an open scandal must be
avoided. Force and broken bones,
even murder, might be all right enough
under color of right. If Orde had
turned up for jack the card on
which he now held his fist and then
had attempted to prove cheating a cry
of robbery and lively fight would
have given opportunity for making
way with the stakes. But McNeilrs S
could not afford to be shown up be-
fore thirty interested rivermen as run
ming an open and shut brace game.
'That isn't the way this game is
played" said the gambler. "Show up
your jack"
Its the way 1 play it." replied
Orde sternly. ''These gentlemen heard
the bet.' He reached over and dex-
terously tipped over the other two
cards. ''You see. neither of these is
the jack. This must be-
'You win," assented the gambler
after a pause.
Orde, his fist still on the third card.
began pocketing the stakes with the
other hand. The gambler reached
across the table.
''Give me the other card.' said he.
Orde picked it up. laughing. For a
moment he seemed to hesitate, hold
ing the bit of pasteboard tantalizingly
outstretched. as though he was going
to turn also this one face up. Then
quite deliberately he handed the card
to the gambler.
"All to the BARR yelled Orde.
Orde poured his drink on the floor
and took the glass belonging to the
man next him.
Get them to give you another
Tin, Of e,a -