Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1914-08-04


he declared coldly.
ANY ornery cuss as wants ter OBJ
ject d better say so ter me" the old
man spluttered. glaring about. And to
Jim: 18th limits of. huh? Be l rightr'
9Th limits off," Railroad Jim agreed
Old Ike drew forth battered pocket.
book and laid 1t before him on the
table. one hand still clutching 1t.
Throw yer keerds," he commanded.
Railroad Jim obediently displayed
the three cards to the company and to
the old man. All could see them dis
tinctly. the ten Of spades, the ten OF
clubs, the jack Of diamonds. The
thrower passed them back and forth
gently. slowly, then dropped them deli
cately one by one on the table.
"I'll bet my pile pick tn jack" Old
Ike clamored.
How muchY" Railroad Jim asked.
His voice was colorless still, but a
Heck Of red burnt in either cheek.
"Just plumb s4.O0Ow
Ike opened the pocketbook and dis
played thick roll of bills. Twice he
counted them. There were tens, tweh-
ties, fifties. hundreds. The total was
an even $4,000. He laid the money In
a neat pile on the table midway be-
tween himself and the three cards.
match it," he commanded tersely.
Railroad Jim produced his pocket
book In turn and counted out an equal
sum in bills Of large denomination,
fresh from the bank. his profits Of two
weeks. This money lay on his side Of
the table. Between the two heaps Of
bills the three cards waited silently, ar.
biters Of fortune.
Suddenly something happened "a
swift movement, flash. thud. A
bowie knife stood quivering In the ta-
BILE, Its polished steel shaking flame.
The bowie's point was buried deep In
the table top. and 1t pierced and held
fast In its place the center card Of the
three.
Old Ike. his spectacular deed wrought.
stood back q little and laughed aloud.
The tension of the startled crowd re-
laxed somewhat. They had expected O
robbery, murder. They leaned for
ward In breathless attention.
THAT'S my keerd," the old man cried
triumphantly. His right hand was at
his hip: his left pushed his stack Of
bills up against the center card. THAT'S
my keerd." he repeated defiantly. my
$4,000 is bet on jest that same per-
teller keerd. And It's there t win!'
Railroad Jim had neither moved nor
spoken. Now the eyes Of the two
men met and locked for long half
minute, and neither flinched In his
stare.
But at last Old Ike again put forth
his left hand, and now he turned over
the card on the right. 1t was the ten
Of spades.
A moment more Of pause. then he
turned over the card on the left. It
was the ten Of clubs. The third card
remained face downward pinned to the
table by the bOwie's blade.
Once more Old Ike raised his eyes to
those Of Railroad Jim.
"Do win?" he asked tauntingly.
And again he laughed.
The monte dealer thrust his pile Of
banknotes toward the old man. He
displayed no emotion. but the tieck OF
color In his cheeks burned brighter
than before.
Excuse me minute. gents" he re-
marked In hSs cold tones 81 must git
some more money t 90 on with" With
that he left the room by Il back door.
Old Ike put away the SS.OOO without
undue haste. chuckling softly This
done. he pulled the bowie knife from
the table. An the blade left the wood
the card was Nosened and fell OH the
table face up. 1t was the ten OF clubs
A gasp Of umazement went up from
the crowd The three cards now lay
plainly revealed to all-the ten OF
spades, the ten of clubs and the ten
Of clubs.
A chorus OF eXclamations broke forth
The old man looked ut the excited
crowd and waved his hand for ST.
ience.
"Where's tn jack O di'monds!' he
repeated contemptuously in answer to
the burden of the cries why, Rail-
road Jim sleeved tn jack reg'ler. He
never let 1t OH to tn table when they
was any money wuth while. Kept
that other ten o. clubs out O sight be-
hind 1t when he showed tn keerds
then tipped the jack into his sleeve
with them long fingers O. his'n.
"But got onter his little game. An
he didn't dast let me turn up that 9th
er ten O. clubs. He'd ruther pay. He
knew we'll yew'd string him up In
Stanter. He"-
But Old Ike's voice was lost among
the shouts and curses.
The crowd rushed forth to wreak
vengeance on the man who had so
deftly fleeced them. They were too
late. Helena knew Railroad Jim no
more.
Ike followed the crowd. sober.