Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1911-10-27

had made strike on Moosehide), all
Three of whom were not dancing be-
cause there were not girls enough to
go around, inclined to the suggestion.
They were looking for fifth man
when Burning Daylight emerged from
the rear room. the Virgin on his arm,
! the train OF dancers in his wake. In
response to the hail of the poker-play-
ers, he came over TO their table in the
| corner.
|; Want to sit in" said Campbell
Elbows your luck?"
81 sure got it tonight Burning Day
light answered with enthusiasm,
and at the same time felt the Virgin
ipress his arm warningly. She wanted
| him for the dancing. 4 sure got my
iluck with me, but I'd sooner dance
I amt hankerin' to take the money
away from you-all."
!; Nobody urged. They took his re-
]. fusal as final. and the Virgin was
pressing his arm to turn him away
in pursuit Of the supper-seekers, Wnen
|! he experienced change OF heart. II
vas not that he did not want to dance
nor that he wanted to hurt her; Dut
/ that tlsistent pressure on his arm put
/ his free man.nature in revolt. Inc
|: thought in his mind was that ne dlu
not want any woman running nlm'
s., Himself favorite with women. never
thcless they did not bulk big with him
!. They were toys. playthings, part OF the
relaxation from the bigger game o.
life He met women along with the
whisky and gambling, and from ooser'
walton he had found that it was iaf
easier to break away from the drink
md the cards than from woman once
the man was properly entangled. ne
resisted the pull on his arm by the
mere negative mass of him. and SAID:
81 sort Of fec, harkering to give
you-all flrttcr."
Tact and sympathy strove with him.
and he smiled with his eyes into the
Virgins eyes as lie said:
"You-all go and get some grub
amt hungry And We'll dance some
more by and by. The nights young
yet. Go it. old girl"
He released his arm and thrust her
playfully on the shoulder, at the same
time turning to the poker players.
Take off the limit and I'll so you
all"
Limits the roof" said Jack kearns.
Once started, it was a quiet game,
With little or no conversation, though
all about the players the place was
a-roar. Elan HarDiEh had ignited the
spark. More and more miners dropped
in to the Tivoli and remained. when
Burning Daylight went on the tear, no
man cared to miss it. The dancing
floor was full. The luck at the table
varied monotonously, no big hands be.
ing out. AS q result, high play went
on with small hands, thong h no play
lasted long. But at three in the morn
ing the big combination OF hands ar
rived. It was the moment OF moments
that men wait weeks for in poker
game. The news of it tingled over the
Tiyoli. The onlookers became quiet.
The men farther away ceased talking
and moved over TO the table. Inc
nlayers dc serted the other games, and
the dancing-fioor was forsaken, so that
all stood at last, fivescore and more IN
a. compact and silent group, around
the pCker table. The high betting
went on, with the draw not in sight.
Eearns had dealt, and French Louis
had opened the pot with one marker
in his case one hundred dollars.
Campbell had merely seen" it. but
Elam Harnish, coming next. had
tossed in Eve hundred dollars. with
the remark to Macdonald that ne
was letting him in easy. Macdonald
slancing again at his hand put in
thousand in markers. Kearns, de-
batting a long time over his hand,
finally saw" 1t then cost French
Louis nine hundred to remain in the
game, which he contributed after
similar debate 1t cost Campbell like
wise nine hundred to remain and ORA"
cards, but to the surprise OF all he
saw the nine hundred and raised an
other thousand.
"You-all arc on the grade at last"
Harnish remarked, as he saw the III
teen hundred and raised thousand
in turn. Helen Breakfasts sure on
top this divide, and you-all had best
look out for Dustin harness.
"Me for that same lady accom-
panied MacDonald's markers for two
thousand and for an additional thou
sand.dollar raise.
II amt got no more markers.
Kearns remarked plaintively. WED
best begin /. o. US
"Glad you're going to stay" was
MacDcnalds cordial response.
Il amt stayed yet. I've got thou.
sand in already. IIow's it stand
now?'
It'll cost you three thousand for a
look in, but nobody will stop you from
raising"
"Raise-h-l. You must think got