The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1912-03-14
CHAPTER i--ContInued.


I'll play II, but you've got to know
how ! stand. There's my steamer, the
Bella-worth twenty thousand If she's
worth an ounce. There's Sixty-Mile
with Ave thousand in stock on the
shelves. And you know | gor a saw
mill coming In. It's at Linderman
now. and the scow Is building. Am
good?"
dig in; you're sure good" was
Daylight's answer. And while we're
about It, I may mention casual that
/ got twenty thousand in Macs safe,
there. and there's twenty thousand
more in the ground on Moosehide.
You know tho ground. Campbell. Is
they that-all In the dirt?"
There sure Is, Daylight"
How much does 1t cost now?"
Kearns asked.
1.-TWO thousand to see"
We'll sure hump you II you-all
come IN" Daylight warned him.
TITS an almighty good hunch,"
Kearns said, adding his slip to the
growing heap. Il car feel her crawl
In up and down my back"
II amt got a bunch, but | got a toll
srable good hand" Campbell an.
nounced, az he slid in his slip; "but
It's not a raising hand"
mine is," Daylight paused and
wrote. 81 see that thousand and raise
her the same old thousand"
The Virgin, standing behind him,
then did what a mans best friend was
not privileged to do. Reaching over
Daylight's shoulder. she picked up his
hand and read 1t, at the same time
shielding Che 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 benevolently. Il
see you. Daylight, and ! hump this
time for two thousand. How's that
bunch. Jack?"
"Stili a-crawling, Mac. You got me
now, but that bunch Is q rip-snorter
persuadin' sort OF a c%ritter. and it's
my plain duty to ride 1t. call for
three thousand. And | got another
hunch: Daylight's going to call. too
"He sure is." Daylight agreed. after
Campbell had thrown up his hand
HE knows when he's up against it
and he plays accordin'. l see that
two thousand. and then I'll e the
draw"
In a dead silence. save for the low
voices Of the three players, the draw
was made. T~hirty-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 eights
and calling for two cards. And this
time not even she dared look at what
he had drawn. Che knew her limit
Of control. Nor did he look. The two
new cards lay face down on the table
where they had been dealt to him.
Got enough" was the reply.
"You can draw II you want to. YOU
knew" Kearns warned him.
Nope; this'll do me-"
Kearns himself drew two cards, but
aid not look at them. Still Harnish LEI
his cards lie.
81 never bet In the teeth Of a pal
hand" he said slowly. looking ut the
saloon keeper. "You-all start her roll
Ing. Mac"
Macdonald counted his cards care
fully, to make doubly sure It was mo-
q foul hand. wrote a sum ON a paper
alp, and slid II into the pot. with the
simple utterance:
Five thousand"
Kearns. with every y upon him
looked at his two-card draw. counted
the other three to dispel any doubt Of
holding more than i've cards. ont
wrote on q betting slip.
II see you. Mac" he said. land
raise her a little thousand just SO as tG
leep Daylight out"
The concentrated gaze shifted Il
Daylight He likewise examined bis
draw and counted his i've cards.
II see that six thousand. and raise
Der i've thousand just to try
and keep you out. Jack"
"And / raise you five thousand just
20 lend q hand at keeping Jack out
Macdonald said In turn.
His voice was slightly husky and
strained. and a v witch in tho
corner Of his mouth followed speech
Kearns was pale. and those Wit
looked on noted that his hand trem
bled a. he wrote his slip. But his
voice vas unchanged.
Il hft her along for nve thou
and." he said.
Daylight was now In the center
rAs kerosene lamps above aung high