The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-07-10
CHAPTER XVIII.

In the composits Car.
II was the gentle strangers turn
20 miss his guess. He bent over the
chair into which Mallory had Topped.
and said In tense. low tone: "You
look like thoroughbred sport. I'm
trying to make up q game Of stud
poker. VIII you Join me?''
Mallory shook his heavy head In re-
tcsal and with dull eyes watched the
man. whose profession he no longer
misunderstood. saunter up to the bliss
ful Doctor from Ypsilanti. and mur.
muir again:
win you join met"
Join you In what. sirf" 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"
Quilt your kiddin'." the stranger
coushed. How about little freeze
outf"
''Freeseoutf- said DIR. Temple. "It
sounds interesting. Is II something
like authors?"
D The newcomer shot q quick glance
at this man. whose innDceAt an h.
suspected. But he merely drawlcd
Well. you play II with cards"
Would you m'nd teaching me the
rules?" said the old sport from Ypsi.
lanu.
The gambler was growing suspicious
Of this too. too childlike innocence.
He whined: Say. what's your little
eame. eh?" but decided to risk the
venture. He sat down at q table, and
Dr. Temple. bringing along his glass,
drew mp . chair. The gambler took
. pack Of cards from his pocket, and
stunned them with snap that startled
DE-. Temple and q dexterity that de-
lighted him.
Go on. MS 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 OF
nvs cards to each place with q grace
That staggered the doctor.
Mallory was about to intervene for
the protection OF the gaileless physi-
cian when the conductor chanced to
saunter In.
The gambler. seeing him. snatched
Or. Temples cards from his hand and
: sIipped the pack into his pocket.
What's the matter now?" DR.. Tenn
pie asked. but the newcomer huskily
answered: Wait q minute. Wait a
mirr-e."
The conductor took in The scene
at glance and. stalking no e. re
table. spoke with the grimness q
|, ses-csptain "Say. I've got nv ye
or you. Lolt start notnin'"
The stranger stareu AZ him wonder.
fnsiy and demanded: "Why. what you
drivin' at?"
You know all right" the conductor
growled. and then turned on the be-
fnddlsd old clergyman. and you. too"
NE. too?" the preacher gasped.
= Yes. you too" the conductor re-
psatsd. shaking an accusing forefinger
under his nose. "Your actions have
oeen 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 ~ 1 can see one. You and your
SIDE partner here want to look out
mats all. or Ill droD you at the next
tank" Then he waved out, his very
shoulder blades uttering threats.
, Dr Temple stared after him. but
= the gambler stared at DIR. Temple
with q homage. so you're one OF us"
ne said. and selling the old mans
ump hand. shook IL heartily: 81 got
70 slip II to you. Your makeup ia
great You nearly had me for q come.
on Great!"
And then he sauntered out, leaving
, the clergyman's head swimming. DIR.
Temple turned to Mallory for explana.
lions. 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 DIR. Temple the glare Of two basil.
isk eyes The old man put out a be.
seeching hand and began:
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 II I spot you with n
pack OF cards In your hand again. III
tie you to the cow-ketcher."
Then he marched OF again. The
doctor fell back into chair. trying TO
ngure IL out. Then Ashton and Fos
dick and little Jimmie Wellington and