Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1912-04-26
CHAPTER i.-Continued.

81 still got that bunch" Kearns
fingered his cards long time. "Ano
I'll play it. but you've got to know
how | stand. There's my steamer, the
Beila--worth twenty thousand if she's
worth an ounce. There's Sixty-Mile
with FIVE thousand in stock On the
shelves And you know | gol a saw
mill coming in. It's at Linderman
now, and the scow is building. Am
good?"
Dig in: you're sure good" was
Dayiight's answer. and while we're
about it. | may mention casual that
| 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-ail in the dirt?"
There sure is. Daylight.
Flow much does it cost now?
Kearns asked.
Two thousand to see"
Well sure hump you If you-alI
come in" Daylight warned him.
ITS an almighty good bunch,
kearns said adding his slip to the
growing heap. Il can feel her crawl
in up and down my back"
Il ein't got bunch. but | got toll
cradle good hand" Campbell an
nouaced. as he slid in his slip; but
it's not raising hand
Mine u.s." Daylight paused and
con that ond raise
her the same old thousand
The Virgin, standing behind him
then did what mans best friend was
not privileged to do. Reaching over
Daylight'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 Fights, but
nobody 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 benevoiently. 81
see YOU Daylight, and I hump this
time for two thousand. How's that
bunch, Jack"
Still a-crawling, Mac. You got me
now, but that bunch is a rip-snorter
persuadin' sort of critter, and it's
my plain duty to ride it. call for
three thousand And | got another
bunch; Daylight's going to call, too
"He sure u.s." Daylight agreed, after
Campbell had thrown up his hand
He knows when he's up against it
and he plays accordin'. see that
two thousand. and then I'll see the
draw"
In 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 III
his three queens, discarding his Fights
and calling for two cards. And this
time not even she dared look at what
he had drawn She knew her limit
new cards lay face down on the tabs
where they had been dealt to him.
Got enough" was the reply.
You can draw if you want to, yor
know" Kearns warned him.
Nope; this'il do me.
Kearns himself drew two cards. bu
did not look at them. Still Harnish le
his cards lie.
Il never bet in the teeth of a pal
hand" he said slowly, looking at the
saloon keeper 'You-ail start her roll
ing. Mac"
Macdonald counted his cards care
fully, to make doubly sure it was MOI
a foul hand, wrote a sum on paper
slip. and slid it 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 o
holding more than five cards. ant
wrote on a betting slip.
Il see you, Mac" he said, land
raise her a little thousa nd just so as t
keep Daylight out"
The concentrated gaze shifted t.
Daylight He likewise examined hi
draw and counted his five cards.
Il see that six thousand. and raise
her five thousand just to tr.
and keep you out. Jack"
and I raise you five thousand jus
to lend hand at keeping Jack out.
Macdonald said in turn.
His voice was slightly husky ant
strained, and nervous twitch in thu
corner of his mouth followed speech
Kearns was pale. and those VIII
locked on noted that his hand trem
bled as he wrote bis slip. But hi
voice was unchanged.
Il lift her along for five thou
sand he said
Eav:gti vas now in the center
t., ere lamps above flung hig
= :" r1e! - sweat on CT