The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-02-17


three OF whom were not dancing be.
cause there were not girls enough to
go around, inclined to the suggestion.
They were looking for a flith man
when Burning Daylight emerged from
the rear room, the Virgin on his arm,
the train Of dancers In his wake. In
response to the hail OF the poker.play-
ers, he came over to their table In the
corner
Want to sit in," said Campbell.
"IIow's your luck?"
81 sure got 1t tonight" Burning Day.
light answered with enthusiasm.
and at the same time felt the Virgin
press his arm warrlngly. She wanted
him for the dancing. ~ sure got my
luck with me, but I'd sooner dance.
I amt hankerin' to take the money
away from you-all"
Nobody urged. They took his ~
fusal as final, and the Virgin wes
pressing his arm to turn him away
In pursuit of tho supper-seskers. when
he experienced a change Of heart. It
was not that he did not want TO dance,
nor that he wanted to hurt her; but
that insistent pressure On hts arm put
his free man-naturs In Vvolt The
thought In his mind was that he ala
not want any woman running hfm.
Himself favorite with women, never
theless they did not bulk BIZ with him.
They were toys, playthinss. part Of the
relaxation from tho bigger same Of
life. He met women along WITH Ne
whisky and gambling. and from ohssr-
vation he had found that Il wHs far
easier to break away from the drink
and the cards than from a woman once
the man was properly sntansled. He
resisted the pull on his arm By the
mere negative mass of him, and said:
IT sort Of feel hankering to give
you.all flutter."
Tact and sympathy strovs with him.
and he smiled with his syes into the
Virgins eyes as he said:
'You-all 80 and get some grub. I
sin't hungry. And we'll dance some
more by and by. The nights young
yet. Go 1t, old girl"
He released his arm and thrust her
playfully on the shoulder. at the same
time turning to the poker players.
Take of the limit and III 20 you-
all"
Limits the roof" said Jack Ksarns
Once started, It was . quiet game.
with little or no conversation. though
all about the players tho place was
a-roar. ELAN Harnish had igAited The
spark. More and more miners dropped
in to the Tivoli and remained. When
Burning Daylight went on tho tear. NO
man cared to miss it. The dancing
floor was full. The luck at the tablo
varied monotonously, no big hands be-
Ing out. AS a result. high play won't
on with small hands. though no play
lasted long. But at three In tho morn
ing the big combination of hands AZ
rived. 1t was tho moment Of moments
that men wait weeks for In q poker
game. The news Of It ingled over the
Tivoh. The onlookers became quiet.
The men farther away ceased talking
and moved over to tho table. The
players deserted the other games, and
the dancing-hoor was forsAken, 20 that
all stood at last, nvescors and moro In
a compact and silent group, around
the poker table. The high betting
went on. with tho draw not In sight.
Kearns had dealt, and French Louis
hf, ~,
in his case one hundred dollars.
Campbell had merely seen" 1t, but
Elan Harnish. coming next, had
tossed In FIVE hundred dollars, with
the remark to Macdonald that he
was letting him in easy. Mcdonald
glancing again at his hand, put In q
thousand In markers. Kearns, de-
batting long time over his hand.
finally saw" It then cost French
Louis nine hundred to remain In the
game. which he contributed after
similar debate. It cost Campbell like
wise nine hundred to remain and draw
cards. but to the surprise of all he
saw the nine hundred and raised an
other thousand.
"You-all are on the grade at last"
Harnish remarked, as he saw the fif-
teen hundred and raised a thousand
in turn. Helen Breakfasts sure on
top this divide, anu you-a1l had best
look out for Dustin harness.
ME for that same lady" accom-
panied MacDonald's markers for two
thousand and for an additional thOl1-
sand-dollar raise.
II amt got no more markers"
Kearns remarked rlaintively. Wed
best begin |. o. US"
Glad you're going to stay" was
MacDonald's cordial response.
II amt stayed yet. I've got thou.
sand in already. How's it stand
now?"
It'll cost you three thousand for
look In, but nobody will stop you from
raising"