The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-05-02

Woody. don't believe the levee
Will hold. None OF the river men be-
heve 1t. l know the patrol has been
furnished dynamite to make a gap in
the Maxine lateral and let the water
in gradually in case the pressure on
the north end becomes dangerous. II
they blow II. Niccopola will go under.
In SO it had a depth OF four feet. I've
often heard daddy talk about 1t. He
landed a relief boat at the post office
door Give up this deal, Woody" she
concluded earnestly. THE chances
are too desperate"
II live on chances--eat 'em alive"
he answered teasingly. But I'm not
going 1t blind, Deed. phoned Bob
Dessay to phone his agent at Noe
copola to look into the condition OF the
track on the q. t. I'm on the way to
Port Godfrey now to get his report"
Before Deeda could answer the door
opened and Capt Zeno Calvert. her
father thrust in florid face adorned
with a rosy. Dubious nose.
Come on down. Woody, and make
up table OF poker. Four OF them
Arkansas sheep men are aboard and
their money is burnin' their pockets"
"Sorry, Cap. but I've quit" answered
the young man.
The captain cooked a crafty eye
aloft.
Your grandmother, Come on
down. You can buzz Deed any time,
but you won't get a crack at another
roll like this soon"
Bonebrake shook his clean cut
head decisively. "Nixie. Cap. Nothing
doing. I'm treadin' the straight and
narrow path"
Old Zeno retired growing, for he
and Woody knew many trick with
kings and queens. But Deeda. with
eyes of molten topazes, said swiftly.
"Good boy. Woody"
"You say good but you won't
marry me-" he answered soberly.
Il have one man to take care OF
now Daddy's business wouldn't last
a year without me. That's what
gambling and booze will do"
"You class me with him." he asked
sharply.
Isn't it true-flush to-day and
broke to-morrow?-laying aside the
matter of cards. This minute you are
crazy to put every dollar you own into
a scheme that is only a gamble"
call 1t that II you will" he re-
torted.
Port Godfrey hove into view. Deeda
tapped the landing bell twice and
slanted shoreward. The hamlet oc-
cupied a high bank, but today the
Valley Belle fioated almost level with
the houses and she thrust her stage
plank into Dessay's warehouse door
Capt. Calvert had not appeared-evi-
IDENTIFY the poker game was on-and
De eda descended with Bonebrake to
the forecastle. where the crew of
negro roustabouts. naked from the
waist up and shining Ike wet seals.
were trucking ashore ties, jute baling
cloth, gin repairs and other parapher-
MALTA for the court of old King Cotton.
Dessay, a fat but energetic young
man, ran down the stageplank, dodg-
Ing the trucks.
woody" he announced. skinny
McAfferty has beat you to that cotton
of SHEPHERDS. Bought it at 8 cents,
too"
THE damnable traitor" cried Bone
brake. with a black brow. His last
words 10 me at the hotel last night
were: This is your fat. Fry 1t out
to suit yourself"
Dessay laughed. (Which ought to
have warned you that he had his own
pan hot. However, you needn't feel
so bad. The joke Is on skinny, after
all. Dudd.e Cakes phoned me this
morning to tell you that IL was i'm
possible to get train into Nocco-
pola."
you're easy. Bob" observed Bone
brake bitterly. THAT message was
sent simply to head me of in case
Skinny was delayed in getting to Noe
copola. 1t means that he offered a
bigger bride than ] did for a train.
Well I hope the rascal loses every
bale"
1.-THE chances are good II the train
fails him." said the merchant glumly,
for he too had property at stake. THE
crest OF the food hasn't reached Mem
phs yet and they're already sandbag-
ging this levee in half n dozen places"
The Valley Belle steamed up the
river twenty miles further and landed
the Arkansas sheep men, lighter OF
purse than OF heart The crossings"
and island Chutes were running like
mountain fumes. Capt. Calvert de-
cided to aba ndon The remainder Of the
run to Vicksburg and the boat
Strengthened down stream for Natchez.
Deeda. now of watch. summoned
her father and Bonebrake into
the formers spacious cabin In the
Texas. She wore an important air,