Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1912-08-08
CHAPTER XVIII.
In the Composite Car.


II was the gentle strangers turn
to miss his guess. He bent over the
chair into which Mallory had Topped,
and said in a tense, low tone: you
look like thoroughbred sport. I'm
trying to make up a game OF stud
poker. VIII you join me-"
Mallory shook his heavy head in re-
fusal, and with dull eyes watched the
man, whose profession he no longer
misunderstood, saunter up to the bliss
full Doctor from Ypsilanti, and MUIR
muir again:
will you join me?"
Join you in what, sir?" said DR..
Temple, with alert courtesy.
"a little game"
81 don't mind" the doctor smiled,
rising with amiable readiness. The
checkers are in the next room"
"Quit your kiddin'," the stranger
coughed. "How about little freeze
out?"
"Freeze-out?" said DR.. Temple. at
sounds interesting. Is 1t something
like authors?"
The newcomer shot quick glance
at this man, whose innocent air he
suspected. But ne merely drawled:
well, you play it with cards"
would you mind teaching me the
rules?" said the old sport from Ypsi-
lanti.
The gambler was growing suspicious
of this too, too childlike innocence.
He whined: "Say, what's your little
game, eh?" but decided to risk the
venture. He sat down at table, and
DR.. Temple, bringing along his glass,
drew up a chair. The gambler took
a pack Of cards from his pocket, and
shuffled them with snap that startled
DR.. Temple and a dexterity that de-
lighted him.
GO on, it's beautiful to see," he
explained. The gambler set the pack
down with the one word Cut" but
since the old man made no effort to
comply, the gambler did not insist. He
took up the pack again and ran off
five cards to each place with grace
that staggered the doctor.
Mallory was about to intervene for
the protection of the guileless physi-
clan when the conductor CHANGED to
saunter In.
The gambler, seeing him, snatched
DR.. Temples cards from his hand and
slipped the pack into his pocket.
What's the matter now" DR.. Tenn
pie asked, but the newcomer huskily
answered: Wait minute. Wait a
minute"
The conductor took in the scene
at a glance and, stalking up to the
table, spoke with the grimness of a
sea-captain: Say, I've got my eye
on you. Don't start nothin'."
The stranger stared at him wonder
ingly and demanded: why, what you
drivin' att"
you know all right" the conductor
growled, and then turned on the be-
fuddled old clergyman, "and you, too. "
me, too?" the preacher gasped.
Eyes, you too" the conductor re-
peated, shaking an accusing forefnger
under his nose. Your actions have
been suspicious from the beginning.
We've all been watching you"
DR.. Temple was so agitated that he
nearly let fall his secret. why, do
you realize that I'm "a"
"Ah, don't start that" sneered the
conductor. 81 can spot a gambler as
far as I can see one. You and your
side partner here want to look out,
that's all, or III drop you at the next
tank" Then he walked out, his very
shoulder blades uttering threats.
DR.. Temple stared after him, but
the gambler stared at DR.. Temple
with a homage. so you're one Of u.s.
he said, and Selling the old mans
limp hand, shook 1t heartily: Il got
to slip it to you. Your makeup is
great. You nearly had me for a come
on. Great"
And then he sauntered out, leaving
the clergyman's head swimming. DR.
Temple turned to Mallory for explana
tons, but Mallory only waved him
away. He was not quite convinced
himself. He was convinced only that
whatever else anybody might be, no
body apparently desired to be clergy
man in these degenerate days.
The conductor returned and threw
into DR.. Temple the glare Of two basil
isk eyes. The old man put out be
seeching hand and began:
my good man, you do me grave
injustice"
The conductor snapped back: "Yol
say a word to me and I'll do you wors'
than that. And If spot you with
pack Of cards in your hand again, II
tie you to the cow-ketcher."
Then he marched off again. Tn
doctor fell back into a chair, trying t
figure 1t out. Then Ashton and Eos
dick and little Jimmie Wellington an
Wedgewood strolled in and, droppin
into chairs, ordered drinks. Befor
the doctor could ask anybody to e1
plain, Ashton was launched on story
His mind was a suitcase full Of anet
dotes. mostly Of the smoking-roor