The Washington herald., 1910-11-13


J Z Burning Daylight striding into the room The
free swinging movements Of the trail traveller
were unconscously exaggerated in that stride Of his
In truth seemed to him that he felt the trail beneath
his feet
Howdy. gentlemen; howdy." he remarked ignoring
the unnatural calm with which they greeted his en-.
trance He shook hands with them in turn, striding
from one to another and gripping their hands 50 hearth
y that Nathaniel Leton could not forbear to vince
Daylight flung himself into a massive chair and
sprawled lazly, with an appearance Of fatigue. The
leather grip he had brought into the room he dropped
carelessly beside him on the floor.
"Godde mighty, but I've sure been going some" he
sighed "We sure trimmed them beautiful 1t was
real slick And the beauty of the play never dawned
on me till the very end pure and simple knock
down and drag OUT And the way they fell for was
amazin"
The geniality of his lazy Western drawl reassured
them. He was not so formidable after all. Despite
the fact that he had effected entrance in the face Of
Lotions instructions to the outer Office ha showed no
indication of making scene or playing rough.
Well" Daylight demanded good humoredly, "aint
youall got good word for your pardner? Or has his
sure enough brilliance plumb dazzled you-alsf"
Letton made dry sound in his throat. Dowsett sat
quietly and waited While John Hammersmith strug-
gled into articulation.
"You certainly have raised Cain" he said
Daylights black eyes flashed in a pleased way.
Didn't i, thought" he proclaimed, jubiantly "And
didn't we fool 'emi / tee-tOtally surprised I
never dreamed they would be that easy
And now" he went on, not permitting the pause
70 grow awkward, "weal might well have an
accounting I'm pulIin West this afternoon on that
blamed Twentieth Century" He tugged at his grip,
got 1t open and dipped into it with both his hands
but don't forget, boys, when you-aH want me TO
hornswoggle Wall Street another futter all vou-a,l
nave TO do Is whisper the word I'll sure be right
there with the goods
His hands emerged, clutchng great mass Of st1,bs
cheekbooks and brokers receipts These he deposited
IN heap on the big table. and dipping again, he
nshed out the Stragglers and added them to the pile
he consulted slip OF paper, drawn from his coat
pocket and read aloud
Ten Million twentyseven thousand and fortv-trxo
collars and sixtyeight cents is my fgurin on lnve
penses- Or course tbat-alis taken from the ypts1
before veal get to gurin on the whack-up kvheres
your ngures! 1t must abeen mighty big cxan-upo
The three men looked their bepuzzled 9uandary ar
one another The man a bigger fool man thew
they could not divine -
Nathaniel Letton moistened his lips and spoke nm
1t VIII take some hours yet Mr. Harnish before tha
IuIl accounting can be made. Mr. Howison is at work
upon IL now We-ah-as you say, il has been a graft
lying cleanup Suppose we have lunch together ana
tax 1t over. Eli have the clerks work through the
noon hour SO that you will have ample lime TO catch
your train"
Dowsett and Hammersmith manifested a relief tba.
was almost OBVIOUS. The situation was clearing II
was dsconcerting under the circumstances to be pen
IN the same room with this heavy musced Indanlf-a
man whom they bad robbed. They remembered nm.
pleasantly the many stories of his strength and rec
iessness II Letton could only put him or long enough
Tor them TO escape into the polieed world outside hz
once door all would be well, and Daylight showed ali
the signs of being put off -
m real glad TO hear that" he said .T don't want
10 miss that train and you-a have done me nroud
gentlemen, letting IN on this deal inst do snnro
claIe IL without being able 10 express NV feelings
But am sure almighty curious and I'd like terrible
10 Know Mr. Letton, what your figures Of our winning
Is Can you-all give me a rough estimator
Nathaniel Letton did not look appeaincly at his two
Hends' but In the brief pause they felt that appea
pass out from him. Dowsett OF sterner nould than
tne Others, began TO divine that the Klondiker was
paying But the other two were still under the
Diandlshment of his childlike innocence
~ Is e3tremely-er-dIficult," John Hammersmitb
began You see. Ward Valley has nuctuated SO.
Letton supplemented
approximate it; approximate If" DavI;oh. -
selled eheerfully lit don't hurt If youau are nlt
or so out one side or the other The ngres strabtn
.nat @ up; @ But I'm that curious I'm just itching all
over. What dye sayy
WHY continue TO play at cross purposesfv Doyvsetf
demanded abruptly and coldy. LET us nave the ex-
PLANTATION here and now. Mr.. Harnish is lahoring
In this deal"-
But Daylight interrupted. He had played too muen
poker TO De unaware or unapprecative of the psyeho
logical factor and he headed Dowsett off in ordar ~
play the denouement OF the present game in his own
way.
Speaking of deals" he said, reminds me Of noksr
S0"'C oASe seeLl III Reno, Nevada. 1t want N
you-all would call square game. They-alI was fin
norns that sat In. But they was a tenderfootshort
horns theyaH are called there He stands behind
the dealer and sees that dealer give hissef our
aces often the bottom Of the deck The tenderfoot is
sure shocked He slides around to the player facin
the dealer across the table
Say ne whispers, seen the dealer deal hisself
four aces' s'A
Wei, an what Of itY says the PLAYER
I'm uyin to tell you-aI because thought vou-au
ought to know % says the terderfoot- tell you-al I
seen him desl hisself four aces
Say. mister says the player 'you-aIld better ger
oGta here You-all don't understand the game Ifs
his deal, amt it?"
The laughter that greeted his story was hollow and
perfunctory. but Daylight appeared not to notice II
Your story has some meaning, 1 suppose" Dowsett
said pointedly.
Daylight looked at him innocently and did nor -
ply. lie turned Joyially to Nathaniel Letton
Fire away, he said. Give US an approximation
OF our winning As said before a million ont ono
way or the other won't matter It's bound to be sucb
an almighty big winning"
BY this time Letton stinened by the sftituda
Dowsett had taken and his answer was prompt ana
definite FPS anu
4 fear you are under misapprehension Mr. Har
nish. There are no winnings to be divided with ron
Now don't get excited, beg OF you have but 10
press this buttQn"- =
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