The French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1896-1912, 1910-07-14
c.,v,;tbt. 1909. by the Ainslee M5sazino
0 Company

L.ncnIf 8 Qrnk, GeSduI1y
.ror an adjacent couch.
sUpII. l calculate that's the easiest
vi that ever came our way" he
DSsorved. with a laugh. Green as
W. everlasting hills" quietly pocket
ing Mr.. Randal's wallet a delicate
uonouver which Kirby neglected to
ITO 81 calculate this Is the first
auoe voh and l ever played together,
- Yob're a deuce of a hand at the
.ords nv boy-never saw yoh equal
S.foh. l take it, yoh partner. Mr..
Torkin Bunce, is not with yoh this
t-In or yoh wouldn't have SO uncere-
anniously doubled up with me. Or
.orhaps yoh two have fallen out, Ell?
e 81, sub, 1 will be happy to make
onr impromptu partnership perma-
uent"
Kirby swung slowly around and tx
div regarded his magnificent and
.miabIe companion. '.Since when
have you contemplated such an admit
rable partnership he blandly In
CURED.
aE7er since l first saw yoh play,
Kirby. Come; yoh partner, Bunce, is
,rude-a blubber faced Yankee, with
no manners whatever, sub. But yoA
/ and I are gentlemen and would make
the best team on the river. l consider
Our play tonight the biggest haul in
a decade, and 1 promise yoh mob like
Il, fob 1 never go in fob picayune af-
fairs. Ny fingers are growing a little
TOO stiff fob skillful manipulation, and
frankly own 1 haven't yoh delicate
and admirable fnesse. But / have the
manner, Kirby, and can rope the cat
tie for yoh to brand, sub. I'll guar
sntee yoh the biggest game on the
river"
"You will oblige me, SIR" replied the
other, carefully lighting a 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 a
blank scoundrel, sir! / cannot be too
emphatic concerning that statement
Whenever I form a partnership with
you l will be more qualified for a
front seat In hades than I am at the
present moment. Why, you low, thiey-
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? 1 watched you outrageously
cheat Mr.. Randall and ply him with
liquor in order to cover your charac-
teristically clumsy manipulation of'the
cards, and if I stepped in tonight and
stopped to emulate the type Of game
which you solely play it was in order
TO save your victim from complete and
total ruin. 1t is unnecessary to say
that when Mr.. Randall is capable of
estimating what has occurred and Is
once more himself this deed will be
returned to him."
NOW, Kirby, yoh can't play that
game on me- cried Moreau, 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. Pm too old a
hand. Keep that line of talk for sap
heads. The Randall plantation is sold
under the hammer, and / get two
thirds orr
"Or What?" coIdly demanded Kirby,
carefully pocketing the deed. you
Know me, Mr.. Moreau, so don't try
10 pull a derringer. It's considerably
safer to wait until my back is turned.
say MI. Randall himself will destroy
THIS deed and that his plantation will
not be sold, and you may believe 1t
OF not, just as you like. That ten thou
SAND you virtually stole T cannot, un-
fortunately, refund; but, believe me,
mat is the entire extent Of your steal
mgs, For once in your life you are
gong to release a victim before he has
oeen completely sucked dry; for once
IN your life you are going to be half
way Decent
OecentY beloved the other.
That's a compliment from one Of
gOh standing'-
Like yourself, 1 game for a living,
VT Moreau," coldly interrupted Kir-
W; but, unlike yourself, 1 endeavor
" 10 so honestly, and I have never
YET stopped to the methods which you
sAcluSlVely employ. Although you r
seemingly not aware of the fact, there