Catoctin clarion., 1912-04-25
Temple, with alert courtesy.

Temple, with alert courtesy.
"a little game"
T 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. ut
sounds interesting. Is it something
ike authors?"
The newcomer shot quick glance
at this man, whose innocent air he
inspected. But he merely drawled:
Well, you play 1t 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 chair. The gambler took
pack of cards from his pocket, and
shuffled them with snap that startled
DR.. Temple and dexterity that de-
lighted him.
Go on, it's beautiful to see," he
explained. The gambler set the pack
down with the one word Gut" 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
clan when the conductor chanced to
saunter in.
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 a minute. Wait
minute"
The conductor took in the scene
at a glance and, stalking up to the
table, spoke with the grimness Of
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' at?"
"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 forefinger
under his nose. Your actions have
been suspicious from the beginning.
We've all been watching you"
DIR. 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 gambler as
far as 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 homage. 80 you're one of u.s."
he said, and selling the old mans
limp hand. shook 1t heartily: Il got
to slip 1t 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 DIR.
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
isk eyes. The old man put out be-
seeching hand and began:
my good man, you do me a grave
injustice"
The conductor snapped back: you
say word to me and III do you worse
than that And II l spot you with a
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
~
dick and little Jimmie Wellington and
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 a suitcase full of anec
dotes, mostly Of the smoking-room
order.
Wherever three or four men are
gathered together, they rapidly organ
ize clearinghouse Of offcolor 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
certain yerve and thrill from their
very forbiddenness.
The dear old clergyman felt that 1t
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 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
doubt, fairly shook him with glee.
oh, that's bully" he shrieked, Il
haven't heard story like that for
ages"
why, where have you been, DR..
Temnle2 2" asked Ashton who could
not imagine where a man could have
concealed himself from such stories.
But he laughed loudest Of all when