Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1911-05-02
KlRb
Adapted From
the Play Of the Same
Name by w. B. N.
Ferguson
A,ssLEE MAGAZINE COMPANY

possessor of such consummate skill as
that owned by Mr.. jackson. the latter
handsomely won his fourth showdown
with surprising ease. verve and dash.
"Well. that winds her." airily re-
marked the colonel. arising and stretch
ing his long arms. Zone hundred thou
sand amt such a tad cleanup, ! reck-
on. but yoh always were lucky. yoh
young scamp. aud there's no playing
against 1t. Yoh even topped my fob
kings. calculate the Randall luck
finished a very poh last How about
yoh theory now. subj"
The planter did not reply. for 1t is
somewhat difficult for a but newly
ruined man to sense the full humor of
his condition. In silence he drew to-
ward him the pen and ink. while for
q long moment he stared at the white
sheet Of paper. upon which he was
about to give title to all which he
owned He and his children were beg
gars. total and complete. This was
the turning of the tide. bis royal home
coming. For a moment he bowed his
grizzled head; then. shutting his teeth
against all thoughts Of the future.
seized the quill pen. For u Randall
must show the world how 1t can lose.
A Randall must be beaten at nothing
-even at playing the fool.
"Yoh name, subj he cOurteously In
quired. turning to the young stranger
who had proved so fortunate.
Eugene Kirby. SIR"
"What?" exclaimed the planter IN a
dazed manner. II thought, SUBJ
"Oh. the colonel sometimes calls me
Mr.. Jackson because he thinks re-
semble the general" lightly replied
Cameo Kirby as, head between hands.
he stared gravely at the table. ANY
one will tell you my name IL Eugene
Kirby-even the Texas tender knows
It."
"Ah. the General. have boy, sub,
whom we affectionateiy call by that
name." replied MIR. Randall Irrelevant
~, staring ut the ceiling. Il have
three children. sub. There is Tom and
Adele and the General Their mother
Is dead. sub. And yoh say yoh name
u Eugene Kirby. Very strange. sub.
| know the Kirbys Of Plaquemine,
sub. No relation. suppose. But yoh
pardon. subj"
And, with q hand now steady and
6rm. he wrote and signed the deed to
the Randall plantation and. with q
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 nan
who had been his nearest neighbor
and closest friend.
This accomplished. Mr.. Randall arose
unsteadily and walked to the door.
where he turned and for a moment
surveyed the smoke fouled room with
its litter Of empty bottles. And If for
q moment feeting realization Of the
very thorough manner In which he
had been victimized permeated his
throbbing brain no hint Of It was de-
picted In face or bearing.
Good evening. gentlemen" he said
gravely. ''ano thank yoh for the obli-
CATION. Good evening"" Head erect,
be walked out and very softly closed
the door.
Kirby resumed his prsoccupisd atti-
tuds At the table. while Moreau. care
iessly lighting a cheroot and pouring
himself Q drink. sprawled elegantly
oyer 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.. Randall's wallet, a delicate
maneuver which Kirby neglected to
note. II calculate this Is the first
time yoh and ever played together.
Ell? Yoh're 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 90 uncere-
moniously doubled up with me. Or
perhaps yoh two have fallen out, Ell?
II 60, sub, l will be happy to make
our impromptu partnership perma-
nent.''
Kirby swung slowly around and tx
eddy 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. I consider
our play tonight the biggest haul in
a decade, and promise yoh mob like
1t, fob l never 60 in fob picayune af-
fairs. My fingers are growing little
too stiff fob skillful manipulation. and
frankly own l haven't yoh delicate
and admirable finesse. 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. sir! l cannot be too
emphatic concerning that statement.
Whenever l 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-
to- ,,lo<S,~>o <9v,,rl, op1 thovN v<EH,iv,w