The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1910-12-10

himself a urLAA. sprawled elegantly
over an adjacent couch.
"Well, / calculate that's the easiest
mark that ever came our way" he
observed. with laugh. Screen as
the everlasting hills" quietly pocket
ing Mr.. Randall's wallet, a delicate
maneuver which Kirby neglected to
note. Il calculate this Is the first
time yoh and l ever played together,
Ell? Yoh're deuce of hand at the
cards. my boy-never saw yoh equal
befoh. l take it, yoh partner. Mr..
Larkin Bunce. is not with yoh this
trip or yoh wouldn't have SO uncere-
moniously doubled up with me. Or
perhaps yoh two have fallen out. eh?
II so. sub. will be happy to make
our impromptu partnership perma-
nent"
Kirby swung slowly around and nx-
eddy regarded his magnificent and
amiable companion. "Since when
have you contemplated such an admi-
rable Partnership he blandly In
quired.
Ever since I frst saw yoh play,
Kirby. Come: yoh partner, Bunce, is :
crude-a blubber faced Yankee. with
no manners whatever, sub. But yoh
and l are gentlemen and would make
the best team on the river. consider
our play tonight the biggest haul In
a decade. and promise yoh mob like
it, fob l never 60 In fob picayuns af-
fairs. My fingers are growing a little
too stiff fob skillful manipulation, and
frankly own haven't yoh delicate
and admirable nnesse. But have the
manner. Kirby. and can rope the cat
tie for yoh to brand. sub. I'll guar
antee yoh the biggest game on the
river"
you WILL oblige me. SIR" replied the
other. carefully lighting cheroot, ''by
employing the prefix to my name-if
ever in the future l am unfortunate
enough to have you address me. Per
NIT me to inform you that You are
blank scoundrel, sirl l cannot be too
emphatic concerning that statement.
! Whenever l form partnership with
you l will he more qualified for q
front seat In hades than l am at tho
present moment. Why, you low, THEW
ing swamp cat" he cried, losing all
self control, how dare you think
gamble like you-by getting unsuspect-
ing victims drunk and then robbing
them? watched you outrageously
cheat Mr.. Randall and ply him with
liquor in order to cover your charac-
teristically clumsy manipulation of tho
cards. and If l stepped in tonight and
stopped to emulate the type of game
which you solely play 1t was in order
to save your victim from complete and
total ruin. 1t Is unnecessary to say
TINT when Mr.. Randall is capable Of
estimating what has occurred and is
once more himself this deed will be
returned to him."
Nov, Kirby, yoh can't play that
game on me-" cried Morenu. jumping
to his feet. "Yoh come In on my kill
and then try to do me out of the spoils.
That don't go. Kirby. I'm too old n
hand. Keep that line of tulk for sap
heads. The Randall plantation is sold
under the hammer, and l get two
thirds Or
"Or what?" coldly demanded Kirby,
carefully pocketing the deed you
know me, Mr.. Moreau, 80 don't try
to pull derringer. It's considerably
safer to wait until my back is turned.
l say Mr.. Randall himself will destroy
this deed and that his plantation will
not be sold. and you may believe 1t
or not. just MS you like. That ten thou
sand you virtually stole l cannot. I'M
fortunately. refund: but, believe me,
that is the entire extent of your steal
ings. For once in your life you are
going to release victim before he has
been completely sucked dry; for once
in your life you are going to be half
way decent
"DecentY" beloved the other.
"That's compliment from one Of
yoh standing
Like yourself, game for living,
Mr.. Moreau." coldly interrupted Kir-
by; but, unlike yourself, l endeavor
to dc so honestly. and l have never
yet stopped to the methods which you
exclusively employ. Although you are