Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1911-11-25
CHAPTER i-continued-


I'll play it, but you've got to know
how 1 stand There's my steamer, the
Bella-worth twenty thousand If she's
worth an ounce. There's Sixty-Mile
with five thousand in stock on the
shelves. And you know l gol a saw
mill coming in. It's at Linderman
now. and the scow is building. Am |
good?"
dig in; you're sure good" was
Daylight's answer. And while we're
about it. ! may mention casual that
1 got twenty thousand in Macs safe,
there. and there's twenty thousand
more in the ground on Moosehide.
You know the ground. Campbell Is
they that-all in the dirt?''
There sure is. Daylight"
How much does it cost now?"
Kearns asked.
Two thousand to see"
Wen sure hump you If you-an
come in." Daylight warned him
Its an almighty good bunch"
Kearns said. adding his slip to the
growing heap. Il can feel her crawl
in up and down my back"
Il amt got bunch, but l got toll
cradle good hand Campbell an
nounced. as he slid in his slip; but
1t 8 not raising hand.
Mine is" Daylight paused and
wrote. 81 see that thousand and raise
her the same old thousand
The Virgin, standing behind him.
then did what a mans best friend was
not privileged to do. Reaching over
DaylighDs shoulder. she picked up his
hand and read it. at the same time
shielding the faces of the cards close
- -
three queens and a pair of Fights. but
nobody guessed what she saw
Every players eyes were on her face
as she scanned the cards, but no sign
did she give She laid the hand face
the lingering eyes withdrew from her.
having learned nothing.
Macdonald smiled benevoIently. Il
see you. Daylight, and 1 hump this
time for two thousand. How's that
bunch, Jack?"
still a-crawling. Mac. You got me
now, but that bunch is a rip-snorter
persuadin' sort of a critter, and it's
my plain duty to ride it l call for
three thousand. And got another
bunch; Daylight's going to call. too"
He sure is Daylight agreed. after
Campbell had thrown up his hand.
He knows when he's up against it.
and he plays accordin' l see that
two thousand. and then I'll see the
draw"
In a dead silence. save for the low
voices of the three players, the draw
was made. Thirty-four thousand dol
lars were already in the pot, and the
play possibly not half over To the
Virgins amazement, Daylight held up
his three queens, discarding his Fights
and calling for two cards. And this
time not even she dared look at what
ne had drawn. She knew her limit
of control Nor did he look The two
new cards lay face down on the table
where they had been dealt to him
Got enough" was the reply
You can draw if you want to. you
know" Kearns warned him.
Nope: this'n do me-.
Kearns himself drew two cards, but
did not look at them. Still Harnish lei
his cards lie.
Il never bet in the teeth of pal
hand" he said slowly. looking at tbs
saloon keeper 'You-all start her roll
ing. Mac"
Macdonald counted his cards care
fully. to make doubly sure it was no
IOul mana. wrote sum on Dapel
slip, and slid it into the pot, with the
simple utterance:
Five thousand
Kearns. with every eve upon him
looked at his two-card draw. counted
the other three to dispel any doubt o
holding more than five cards. ant
wrote on a betting slip.
81 see you. Mac he said. land
raise her little thousand just so as I,
keep Daylight out"
The concentrated gaze shifted I,
Daylight He likewise examined hi
draw and counted his five cards.
Il see that six thousand. and rails
her five thousand just to tr.
and keep you out, Jack"
And I raise you five thousand jus
to lend a hand at keeping Jack out.
Macdonald said In turn
His voice was slightly husky an
strained. and nervous twitch in tn
corner of his mouth followed speech
Kearns was pale. and those VIII
looked on noted that his hand tren
bled as he wrote his slip But hi
voice was unchanged
Il lift her along for FIVE thor
sand" he said
Daylight was now in the center
The Kerosene lamps above flung hig
lights from the rash OF sweat on nj