The searchlight., 1912-01-05

was darkened by the accession Of
blood. His black eyes glittered and
his 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
Arm and customary. and. unlike
Kearns his hand did not tremble when
he wrote
Il call. for ten thousand" he said
Not that I'm afraid Of you-all. Mac.
It's that hunch Of Jacks"
Il hump his hunch for five thousand
just the same" said Macdonald. Il
had the best hand before the draw.
and still guess got It."
"Mebbe this Is a rase where q
hunch after the draw is better'n the
hunch before" Kearns remarked;
wherefore duty says. Lift her.
Jack. lift her. and so ! lift her anoth-
er five thousaid."
Daylight leaned back In his chair
and gazed up at the kerosene lamps
Il was In nine thousand before the
draw. and | saw and raised eleven
thousand-that makes thirty. I'm only
good for ten more" He leaned for
ward and looked at Kearns. so I call
er five thousand"
you can raise II you want" Kearns
answered. Your dogs are good for
L.,
Nary dawg You-all can win my
dust and dirt. but nary one OF my
dawgs. Just call"
The saloon keeper finally spoke:
III anybody else wins. they'll have
to take a mortgage on the Tivoli"
The two other players nodded.
so ] call. too"
Macdonald added his slip for five
| thousand Not one OF them claimed
the pot. and not one Of them called
the size Of his hand simultaneously
and In silence they faced their cards
on the table, while a general tiptoe
Ing and craning of necks took place
among the onlookers. Daylight
showed four queens and an ace: Mac
Donald four jacks and an ace. and
Kearns four kings and a trey. Kearns
reached forward with an encircling
| movement OF his arm and drew the
pot In to him. his arm shaking as he
did so. Daylight picked the ace from
his hand and tossed II over alongside
MacDonald's ace. saying:
That's what cheered me along,
Mac. knowed II was only kings that
could beat me. and he had them.
What did you-all have?" he asked.
all interest. turning to Campbell.
Straight flush OF four. open at
both ends-a good drawing hand"
You bet! You could a made a
OF It."
That's what I thought" Campbell
said. sadly. 1t cost me six thousand
before ! quit"
Il wisht you-aIrd drawn" Daylight
laughed. Then I wouldn't a caught
that fourth queen. Now I've got to
take Billy Rawlins' mail contract and
mush for Dyea. what's the size Of
the killing. Jack?"
Kearns attempted to count the pot.
but was too excited. Daylight drew
II across to him. with firm fingers sep.
! arating and stacking the markers and
I. o. us and with clear brain adding
the sum.
One hundred and twenty-seven
thousand" he announced. "You-all can
sell out now. Jack. and head for
home"
The winner smiled and nodded. but
seemed incapable OF speech.
Name your shake-juice. you-ali-
the winner pays," Daylight called out
loudly to all about him. at the same
time rising from his chair and catch
ing the Virgin by the arm. Come on
for a reel. you-all dancers. The nights
young yet. and it's Helen Breakfast
and the mail contract for me In the
morning Here. you-all Rawlins, you
Il hereby do take over that same
contract. and start for salt wate- al
nine a. m.-savvee? Come on. you-ail'
Where's that fiddler?"