New Ulm review., 1912-06-05

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
q pack Of cards from his pocket, and
shufled them with snap that startled
DR.. Temple and dexterity that de-
lighted him. r..
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 a 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. t.~ #
The gambler, seeing him, snatched
DR.. Temples cards from his hand and
slipped the pack into his pocket.
whats the matter now?" DR.. Tenn.
pie asked, but the newcomer huskily
answered.: "Wait minute. Wait a
minute" g.. r ~
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
lngly and demanded: "Why, what you
drivin' at?"
"You know all right" the conductor
growled, and then turned on the be-
fudd1ed old clergyman, "and you, too."
"Me, too?" the preacher gasped.
"Yes, you too," the conductor re.
peated, shaking an accusing forefinger
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, II can spot a gambler as
far as can see one. You and your,
side partner here want to look out,
that's all, or I'll 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 homage. $50 you're one of u.s.
he said, and seizing the old mans
limp hand, shook it heartily: Il got
to slip it to you. Your makeup is
great. You nearly had me for come,
on. Great!"
And then he sauntered out, leaving
the clergyman's head swimming. DR.
Temple turned to Mallory for explana
tions, 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
lsk eyes. The old man put out be
seeching hand and began: .s"
my good man, you do me a grave
Injustice"
The conductor snapped back: "You
say word to me and I'll do you worse
than that. And If spot you with q
pack of cards in your hand again, III
tie you to the cow-ketcher."
Then he marched off again. The
doctor fell back into chair, trying to
figure it out. Then Ashton and Fos
dlolr o~d 1i&&1o Tiro,,,3, Uyol1io o<or md
Wedgewood strolled in and, dropping
into chairs, ordered drinks. Before
the doctor could ask anybody to ex
plain, Ashton was launched on story
His mind was suitcase full of anec
dotes, mostly Of the smoking-room
order. .... .....-... -
Wherever three or four men are
gathered together, they rapidly organ
lze q clearinghouse of off-color stories
The doctor listened in spite Of him
self. and in spite of himself he was
amused, for stories that would be
stupid If they were decent, take on q
certain verve and thrill from ,theil
very forbiddenness. ...-s.
The dear old clergyman felt that il
would be priggish to take flight, but
he could not make the corners of his
mouth behave. Strange twitchings OF
the lips and little steamy escapes OF
giggle-jets disturbed him. And when
Ashton, who was a practiced racon'
teur, finished drolatic adventure
with the epilogue, "And the next
morning they were at Niagara Falls
the old doctor was helpless with laugh.
ter. Some superior force, the devil
no doubt, fairly shook him with glee
"Oh, that's bully" he shrieked, 81
haven't heard story like that for
ages"
"Why, where have you been, Dr.
Temple?" asked Ashton, who could
not imagine where a man could have
concealed himself from such stories
But he laughed loudest Of all when,
the doctor answered: "You see, live
IN YDSi1anfi They doDY +e31 ,,o