Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1911-11-23
CHAPTER I.--contInusd.

CHAPTER l.-Contlnusd.
II still got that hunch." Kearns
fingered his cards a long time. And
III play it, but you've got to know
how stand. There's my steamer. the
Bsila-worth twenty thousand II she's
worth an ounce. There's Sixty-Mile
with Ave thousand In stock on the
shelves. And you know ! got saw
mill coming In. It's at Linderman
nov, 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
! got twenty thousand in Macs safe.
there. and there's twenty thousand
more in the ground on Moosehide.
You know the ground. Campbell. III
they that-all in the dirt?"
There sure is. Daylight"
How much does It cost nowr
Kearns asked.
Two thousand to see"
We'll sure hump you II you-ail
come In" Daylight warned him
tits an almighty good bunch.
Kearns said. adding his slip to the
growing heap. II can feel her crawl
in up and down my back"
Il amt got a bunch. but ] got toll
cradle good hand" Campbell an.
nounced. as he slid In his slip; but
it's not raising hand"
Mine is" Daylight paused and
wrote Il 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
Daylight's shoulder. she picked up his
hand and read 1t. at the same time
shielding the faces of the cards close
to his chest What she saw were
three queens and pair OF Fights, but
nobody guessed what she saw.
Every players eyes were on her face
did she give. She laid the hand face
down again on the table and slowly
the lingering eyes withdrew from her.
having learned nothing
Macdonald smiled benevolently. Il
see you. Daylight. and ] hump this
time for two thousand. How's that
bunch. Jack?"
Still a-crawlins. Mac. You got me
now, but that bunch Is a rip-snorter
persuadin' sort of critter. and it's
my plain duty to ride It. ] call for
three thousand And | got another
bunch: Daylight's going to call. too. "
He sure u.s." Daylight agreed. after
Campbell had thrown up his hand.
He knows when he's up against 1t.
and he plays accordin'. 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 bis eights
and calling for two cards. And this
time not even she dared look at what
he 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 II you want to. you
know" Kearns warned him
Nope: this'll do me"
Kearns himself drew two cards. but
did not look at them. Still Harnish let
his cards lie
II never bet In the teeth OF a pat
hand" he said slowly. looking at the
saloon keeper "You-all start her roll
ing, Mac"
Macdonald counted his cards care
fully. to make doubly sure II was not
foul hand. wrote sum on q paper
slip. and slid It into the pot. with the
simple utterance:
Five thousand"
Kearns. with every eye upon him.
looked at his two-card draw. counted
the other three TO dispel any doubt OF
holding more than Ave cards, and
wrote on betting slip
( IL see you. Mac" he said. land
raise her little thousand just so a. to
keep Daylight out"
The concentrated gaze shifted TO
Daylight He likewise examined his
draw and counted his i've cards.
Il see that six thousand. and I raige
her Ave thousand -. Just to try
and keep you out. Jack"
And raise you Eve thousand just
TO lend a hand at keeping Jack out. I"
Macdonald said In turn.
His voice was slightly husky and
strained. and a nervous twitch In the
corner OF his mouth followed speech.
Kearns was pale. and those who
looked on noted that his hand trem-
bled as he wrote his slip But his
voice was unchanged.
Il lift her along for ave thou
sand" be said
Daylight was now In the center.
The kerosene lamps above flung high
lights from the rash OF sweat on his
Htorehead The bronze OF his cheeks
~sas darkened by the accession OF
blood His black eyes glittered and
bis nostrils were distended and eager.
They were large nostrils. tokening
his descent from savage ancestors
who had survived by virtue Of deep
lungs and generous air-passages.
Yet. unlike Macdonald. his voice was
firm and customary. and. unlike
Kearns his hand did not tremble when
be wrote
Il call. for ten thousand" he said.
Not that I'm afraid Of you-all. Mac.
It's that bunch Of Jacks
Il hSmp his bunch tah Eve thousand
Just the same" said Macdonald Il