Wallowa County chieftain. [volume] (Enterprise, Or.) 1909-1911, 1910-07-07

whom We affectionately cali by that
name" replied MIR. Randall irrelevant
iy. staring ut the ceiling. Il have
three children. sub. There is Tom and
Adele and the General Their mother
Is dead. sub. And yob say yoh name
Is Eugene Kirby. Very strange. sub
/ know the kirbys of Plaquemine.
sub. No relation. | suppose. But yoh
pardon, sub"
And. with hand now steady and
firm, he wrote and signed the deed TO
the Randall plantation and. with a
bow. handed 1t to the gambler whose
father he had befriended; the gambler
whose reputation was said to be the
worst on the river; the son of the man
who had been his nearest nelghbor
and closest friend
This accomplished. Mr. Randall arose
unsteadily and walked to the door,
where he turned and for moment
surveyed the smoke fouled room with
its litter of empty bottles. And if for
moment fieeting realization of the
had been victimized permeated his
throbbing brain no hint of it was de-
picted in face or bearing.
Good evening. gentlemen" he said
gravely. land thank yoh for the obli-
CATION. Good evening" Head erect,
he walked out and very softly closed
the door
Kirby resumed his preoccupied atti.
tude at the table while Moreau. care
iessly lighting cheroot and pouring
himself drink, sprawled elegantly
over an adjacent couch.
well, ! calculate that's the easiest
mark that ever came our way" he
observed, with laugh. Green as
the everlasting hills" quietly pocket
ing Mr.. Randalls wallet, delicate
maneuver which Kirby neglected to
hote. 81 calculate this is the first
time yoh and l ever played together.
eh? Yoh're a deuce of hand at the
cards. my boy-never saw yoh equal
befoh. 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. ehr
If so, sub, ! will be happy to make
our impromptu partnership perma-
nent''
Kirby swung slowly around and fix
edly regarded his magnificent and
amiable companion. "Since when
have you contemplated such an admi.
rable partnership he blandly In.
quired.
Ever since first saw yoh play.
Kirby. Come; yoh partner. Bunce. is
crude-a blubber faced Yankee, with
no manners whatever, sub. But yoh
and are gentlemen and would make
the best team on the river. | consider
our play tonight the biggest haul In
a decade. and | promise yoh moh like
it, fob | never go In fob picayune af-
fairs. My fingers are growing little
too stiff foh skillful manipulation. and
| frankly own | haven't yoh delicate
and admirable tinesse 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 a cheroot, "by
employing the prefix to my name-if
ever in the future | am unfortunate
enough to have you address me- Per-
NIT me to inform you that you are
blank scoundrel, sir! | cannot be too
emphatic concerning that statement.
Whenever | form partnership with
you | will be more qualified for
front seat In hades than | am at the
present moment Why, you low, thiev-
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-