The commonwealth., 1911-11-17
CHAPTER t.-Continued

Il still got that hunch- kearnS
fingered his cards a long time. "And
I'll play it. but you've got to know
how | 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 gov 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
l 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-all
come in," Daylight warned him.
Its an almighty good hunch."
Kearns said. adding his slip to the
growing heap. Il can feel her crawl
in up and down my back"
Il amt got a hunch, but got a 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 mans best friend was
not privileged to do. Reaching over
Dayiight's shoulder, she picked up his
hand and read it. at the same time
shielding the faces of the cards close
to his chest What she saw were
three queens and a pair Of eights. but
nobobdy 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
down again on the table and slowly
the lingering eyes withdrew from her,
having learned nothing.
Macdonald smiled benevolently. Il
see you. Daylight, and l hump this
time for two thousand. How's that
hunch. Jack?"
Still a-crawling, Mac. You got me
now. but that hunch is a rip-snorter
persuadin' sort of critter, and it's
my plain duty to ride it. l call for
three thousand. And | got another
hunch; Daylight's going to can. 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 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 If you want to. you
know" Kearns warned him.
Nope; this'll do me-"
Kearns himself drew two cards. but
his cards lie.
never Uet III Tie leolu Oh d pa
hand" he said slowly. looking at the
saloon keeper. "You-al start her roll
ing. Mac"
Macdonald counted his cards care
fully. to make doubly sure it was not
foul hand, wrote sum on paper
slip. and slid 1t 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 five cards, and
wrote on a betting slip.
Il see you. Mac" he said, land !
raise her little thousand just so as to
keep Daylight out"
The concentrated gaze shifted to
Daylight He likewise examined his
draw and counted his FIVE cards.
II see that six thousand. and l raise
her five thousand Just to try
and keep you out, Jack"
And J raise you five thousand jus,
to lend hand at keeping Jack out.
Macdonald said In turn.
His voice was slightly husky and
strained. and nervous twitch in the
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 Eve thou
sand." he said.
Daylight was now In the center
The kerosene lamps above flung higl
lights from the rash of sweat on hi.
forehead. The bronze of his cheek!
was darkened by the accession o
blood. His black eyes glittered an,
his n0strils were distended and eager
They were large nostrils. tokenin,
his descent from savage ancestor
who. had survived by virtue of dec
lungs and generous air-passages
Yet. unlike Macdonald. his voice wa
firm and customary. and, unlik
Kearns his hand did not tremble whe
he wrote.
call. for ten thousand" be said
mot that I'm afraid of you-all. MAJ
It's that hunch of Jacks.
hunp his hunch for ave thousan
tast the same." said Macdonald