The Salt Lake herald-Republican. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1909-1918, 1909-09-12

and more he took notice that the place
was in a particular uproar. Places Of
this sort were apt to be. Only, it dawned
on his preOccupied mind, a stable vOr-
tex Whirled near by. He looked the vor-
tex over. 1t was d crowd of men III
Sreat excitement, and, as usual, rOU-
iette table.
He took the trouble now to observe
that the principal player at the table
was a bOy-a handsome, delicate lad, an
unlighted cigar between his clenched
teeth, his hat thrown back on his head,
and his whole body twisted and his eyes
glazed by the wine of chance. He was
playing with silver dollars, which he
/ scattered with both hands up and down
ne board, seemingly careless where
they fell
Nelson stared with a right good Will.
Of Battle, returning to him, he inquired
with possibly more Indifference than he
felt: Who's the lad over there?"
"A fool kid out of the east Did
I George treat you right2" said the other.
| It's just as I tell all the old timers-if
| they don't make themselves at home it's
! their own fault. I'm married
since you left here" the genial Battle
concluded.
Where did you say that lad came
| from?"
who, him? Oh. I don't know. Ken
lucky or Ioway or maybe it's Wiscou-
/ sin. All I know, he's from the east.
| It's a wonder you wouldn't get mar
| ried."
Pardon my curiOsity''-and interest
| softened Nelson's manner-"but it's a
| face the merest bit familiar. What did
1 you say the boys name was?"
Green double Or 1t was the roulette
/ dealers voice, followed by a yell, a
stamping of feet, and a subsequent
| pause and silence. A man came away
/ from the table saying, Here 1 quit. -
and a waiter passed him with a tray,
/ taking refreshment to those who re-
manned. The place was almost quiet for
| the moment. 1t was the boy who broke
| the silence, he having gUlped a whisky
| from the tray. Roll the ball. roll the
| ball, roll the ball, you couldn't do that
! again in q year,
Again the ivory marble Whirred. and
| slackened, and fell to skipping the met
| al compartments of the wheel, and came
1 to rest in one of them.
Green double O." observed the
/ dealer.
Let me see it, cried the boy.
Battle turned complacenuy TO Mel
son. It's one of these WouId-bes that
winter with $4,000 and a cough. and
your old boss Thadwaite sold him that
eighty acres UP above for six thou
which was a dirty, outrageous. low
| lying highway robbery" The
man swallowed back his altruistic
wrath. "He-the boy-can't last long.
anyway. Has d pretty sister, by the
way. Funny. She sets up to be one
of the aTistOcTaCy, so I've heard-likc
as if me and you wasn't good enough
/ for her. And by thunder she amt got
good shoes to her feet. Not to her
feet" said Battle.
Nelson bit the end of a cigar
| Name" he suggested.
Her name? Why. Lane That" Che
pointed) 'is Edgar Lane. Edgar" he
went on, with all the intolerance of a
shearer for his sheep. Edgar is a
dead game tin-hOTn sport. He's been
playing and drinking and staggering
around here for the last three DAYS.
Yesterday ne won $500, after which we
raised tine limit on him. and since then
the moneys been coming back to Us
at about $50 a throw"
I'm other words. he'll be broke in
| three hours.
Two hours. possibly"
Nelson tugged at his short mustache.
Suddenly. Battle" he said. getting to
his feet. I'm going 10 make myself
at home Hc strobe across the inter-
val of floor to where the boy wallow5d
i'm the ebb tide of his dollars. and
clapped him on the shoulder and drew
him out of the crowd. You come with
me" said Nelson quietly.
The lad came with him, a r0uleau Of
silver still Clasped i'm one hand. his
eyes blank with anna cement and fear.
He wished to protest, but his wits were
scattered with surprise. His spinning
brain noticed that the two moved rapid
ly cut Of the place and down the street;
that they had stopped before a corral
and that a man was bringing out sad
die horses.
He suffered himself to be helped to a
seat taxing his wits the while to tell
him what it meant. At length he made
Joke or violence? Do YOU realize what
you have done, robbing me of precious
time wherein a fortune might be won
and lost? 7 an going back" he cried.
Softly said Nelson. with detain-
ing hand on his bride. we have set
our backs to the town"
demand an explanation. If YOU
propose to rob me, have done with it
and let me 60"
Where are you taking me?'
y am taking you hack TO your
ranch; where your duty lies" said Mel
son.
The boy rode ahead doggedly. piecing