davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1915-12-02

said And perhaps / will change
my luck if | go OUT
When he had gone, Hilard lit a ci-
gar and leaned back in his chair.
"Plucky little viXen!" he said under
his breath. Then he smoked Contem-
platively until Banting returned.
1t soon became evident that Bant-
ling had not changed his luck by GO
ing out, for the succeeding games
were like those that had preceded
them, and finally he threw down his
last hand and looked straight across
at IIillard.
well, that's ALL" he said, rs quiz
city as though it were five cents, in
stead of as many thousands of dol
lars that had changed hands that
night. But I guess it was nearly
al yours once; so you're only get
ting back your own
Mr.. Hillard picked up the cards and
handed them to him. SHUTTLE" he
said.
What for" Bantling asked.
Shuttle, and I'll show you" he re-
piled.
Bantling did so, and Hilard dealt
Then he pushed his winnings into tho
middle of the table. where they made
little mountain of green, with a
SpTlHkllllp OF SILVER
"Tll stake all that against this
Mrs. Smith," he said and touched
the white hand opposite him with his
finger-tps.
The hand was withdrawn quickly,
and Bantling's startled gaze rested
upon him for q moment but Hillard =
eyes alone expressed anything moro
than the gamblers interest habitual
with him. For a moment longer
Ii.
der light came into his eyes. He pick
ed up his cards and began the game
as If nothing more than the mex
pressive chips were the stake for
which he played.
Silently they discarded and drew
Both sat and looked at their hands
for a few minutes after the draw.
Suddenly Mr.. Hillard threw down
his cards, eXclaiming. "Tll call you,
AliCe!' And, without waiting to see
her cards, he stepped quickly around
the table. She took a step toward
the door as he reached her side; then
turned and hid her face against his
coat as she yielded TO his arm.
When she could find her voice, she
asked But, Mr.. Fillard, how did
you know"
1--WE always suspected it, dear" he
replied. And that night jeff came
mere illS loi ybu' fll'N' W h'l'
is the little fellow" I haven't seen
him since that night"
Il had to send him away after
that. l was afraid he would follow
me again"
We'll, we will go to him tomor-
row." Hillard said.
Yes; and We will never deal an
other pokerhand, will we?" she re-
piled. AS she spoke she swept her
hand into the discard. 1t was a pity
to have wasted it. Royal flushes are
scarce.
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1915-12-02

ton. but always at one end of a
leather strap with Jock at the other.
David could no more go out alone
in the paddock than the baby could
go on the road alone when the au-
tomobiles are out hunting.
David responded to Jocks doing or
his own youth, and l advertised him
for sale by name, number, descent.
as being sound a good actor, twenty
months, fifteen hundred and forty
pounds, worth five hundred dollars
no more, no less.
There must be market for some
Percherons, for a sheaf Of answers
came in. Most of them wanted me
to trade him in, with little boot,
for a far better horse-usually a trot-
ter. Some offered orchards.
David's first actual caller was an
old man from Michigan. I shall
never forget him. Does a girl ever
forget her first beau, even If he
doesn't propose?
l escorted him, just rs pleasantly
as I knew how, to David's box in the
paddock-it was almost miniature
stable-which had been constructed
to resemble the home Of Sarris King.
Jock said it was the only proper ca
per.
do you keep him In that coop
much?" asked the old man. Dad
for wind, eyes, tendons. feet, tenn
per. and getting qualities. Pull him
out in the sunshine. Mrnm. He's
shod. What foro shoeing's = ne
cessary cvil-but an evil. What's
tho good OF putting shoes on baby
like him, that amt working"
when was alons o tho hack
neys ut Sir Vranehete Blubbio's, sir.
at Sarris Hall"
"Hackneys. Were you q hackney
1ock?" distrustfully.
WAS I? Didn't I do Sarris King
you will of heard tell of 'im-goin'
on nigh three years."
"Hackneys and draft stock are
about as much alike as lace and
goloshes. That's why you put all
this cinders down."
He had given up talking to me, for
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1915-12-02
By GEORGE AUSTIN BARNES

appeared and resumed his almost I'M
interrupted career of success. short
Il afterward, Mrs. Smith moved
away, and he went to board at the
Eagle House. He was IL most quiet
and appreciative guest.
A year went by, and in the unstable
developments of the oil regions Tight
Pinch began to lose much of it's pres
tige and sink into the pathetic con-
ditiOn of a deserted boom town. But
it's prosperity had been longer lived
than usual, and the uneasy spirits
who form the principal population OF
n new oil-town. welcomed its impend-
ing desolation as valid excuse for
forsaking their whilom stamping
ground for fresher and more exciting
scenes; but the two gamblers re-
NAMED. BOyers was no longer the
place IL had been, and the exciting
games that were played there in for
iner days had become memories to
ba resurrected and told to chance
newcomers. or discussed by the in
habitants who were either too poor
or too lazy to leave the town. The
two men were the only regular GUS
toners Of the once well-patronized
place. and almost nightly they met
across the baiZe-covered table they
had come to look upon as their own
Mr.. billiards. luck was no better than
formerly. but he seemed willing to
play as long as he had anything to
play with.
other as usual. Mr.. Hilard's face
was as irpa ssive as ever. but Bant-
ling looked troubled, and pla yed
nervously. His luck had forsaken
him. and game after game Mr.. Hill
ards winnings increased.
your luck has left you, Mr.. Bant-
ling" he said, as he dealt the cards
with a deliberation no one had ever
known circumstances to affect
Yes" Bantling replied but this
run can't last much longer; and I'll
stay with you as long as l can
They silently scaled their hands,
and then Hilard, after studying his
cards for n few moments, pushed for
ward his entire stack Of chips. Bant-
ling nervously put in his remaining
chips and drawing his wallet from
an inner pocket, laid little roll of
bills on the table.
"Twenty-five raise" he said lacon-
ically.
Mr.. Hilard promptly covered the
bet and raised with . double amount
Bantling pushed the rest of his roll
forward. "I'l call YOU" he said, and
threw his cards on the table. Mr.
billiard spread his cards deliberately
in a semicircle before him. II guess
four kings and a ten are good" he
said.
Banting rose. Mr. Hillard, will
you kindly wait for me while I go to
my room? That is all the money
have with me-" he said.
PLAY right ahead, If you wish. Mr.
Banting." Hillard replied. III you
lose, you can pay me tomorrow"
mo: 7 would rather have the
money by me as l play" BantlinG
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1915-12-02
wv HEN the dead body OF Jim
w Smith, professional gambler.

NIHEN the dead body OF Jim
wv Smith, professional gambler,
was brought home, Mrs.
Smith was convalescing after n Sc
we're attack of fever. Knowing. as She
did. his proclivity for cards and
cheating, her husbands demise was
not entirely unexpected. Since he had
forsaken his legitimate business Of
small lawyer to follow strange gods,
and incidentally women. in the trail
OF the oil development in western
Pennsylvania, during the early six
ties, she had waited with dread and
foreboding for the end she felt was
Inevitable.
Fleeing from one mushroom town
TO ANOTHER. as his character was dis
covered. he had at length reached
Tight Pinch, where q drllcr named
Jackson objected to his showing four
kings In his hand when The king of
clubs had been dealt 10 Jackson. on
this little discrepancy being pointed
out by jackson, his antccedcnts had
been questioned by smith, who called
him d blank mud-diggnr. ard, lastly.
r. hopolessly condemned liar. While
he might not have disputed some of
these charges, Jackson objected to
having his vcracity Questioned. and,
drawing his pistol. he responded so
decsively that Smith was soon in Il
land where jack-rots and extra cards
cease to trouble.
In the turbulent life Of the little
ou-town. the event would have been
soon forgotten had interest not been
revived by the arrival of the consta-
BILE from the adjoining town Of Fed
Hot who. in the absence of the prop
er officials in either town, consented
to act in the dual role of coroner and
judge-he having previously exercised
his constabulary authority by locking
jackson in the tankhouse that served
as Jail in Tight Pinch. The jury be-
Ing duly empaneled. the prisoner was
put on trial. not exactly for his life,
but to prove that the provocation had
been sufficient to warrant his decisive
action. His defense was, as previous
~ stated, that while a certain card
had been dealt to and retained by
him. when their hands We're shown
Smith had full complement of cards
of that denomination. Words had
followed. and he shot Smith. not be-
cause he objected to being beaten.
hut because he didn't ALLOW no man
to call him e liar
According to the unsolicited testi-
mony of several of the spectators, 1t
vas no uncommon thing for Smith to
have cards that had been dealt to
some other person; and it was a pity
HAT "Gentlemen" Hillard had not
shot him two years before, when he
attempted the same game at l1thole.
After the prisoner, all the jury, and
part of the audience had testified as
TO the chronic dishonesty of their late
townsman. the coroner and judge pro
tempore expressed the general opin-
ion that Smith had received no more
than his deserts, and Instructed the
fury to render a verdict in accordance
with the testimony.
AS the Judge was interested in
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1915-12-02

mind as 1 wanted to do with David
and plump a good three inches OF lard
under his 'ide. Ell show as big as
'ouse. And the lard won't melt out
till he's gone clear away from ere.
work along O. Sir Wranefiete Blub-
bie's in Sarris Hall, Yarkshire, sir
and If l do say it, there's few as 10
better to blow a 'oss up"
l almost nodded a yes.
liar" exulted Jock. II knowed
you'd be comm forarder in the oss
business, sir. And when will l have
this yearln' bloom"
Bloom"
"Oh, yuss. A 'oss blooms, like a
tree. Their 'ides get shinin' and soft.
summat like silk. and they ave
clean odor to them. l can make
'oss bloom any time l like"
"How?"
by changin' the amount o.
strychnin l gives in the winter, ana
flnishin' on arsenic"
TT doesn't hurt them?"
"'Urt 'em? Har. Excuse me, sir.
1t does 'em good. Now, Sir Wrane-
hete, he allus left strck orders that
his colts was to bloom just at sellin'-
time-say April. Likely you'll be
the same, sir?"
Let him bloom in April" 1 sighed.
have seen pictures in magazines
Of a n-hundred-acre farm, all
fenced and underdrained, and stocked
with pure-bred Herefords, which
George AIDE bought with the sultan
of Sulu." His is the only way to
farm, unless you turn over your own
burrows.
And l have come to feel that l,
too, have a message to deliver in
dramatic aspect. ! have already Sc
lected the name for this years pure
bred colt. 1t is Abraham l.. Erlan-
ger. But the other 1927 fellows are
getting onto my schemes. The man
next door has named his Barred
Rock. that got second as a cockerel
at the show last fall, William
Morris. Inc.
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1915-12-02

and he insisted upon playing, rs much
az possible, in a room whore inquis-
tive eyes could not see the contents
of his hands nor the jack-pots he
raked in.
The other men laughed at this little
ccCentricity, but Mr.. Hllard had been
n gambler for years, and understood
how insignificant things affect
mans nerves, and even acknowledged
that he. too, could play better when
there were no spectators.
But the change did not seem to i'm
prove his ability. or else Bantlng's
proficiency increased proportionately
for the games played behind closed
doors were no more fortunate for the
older man than those played in the
public rooms.
Only once did Bantling lose to him.
II was a night in the late fall, soon
after he had insisted on playing away
from the public rooms. A heavy rain
had been falling all day. and as night
came on the storm increased. The
gaslights either blow out ard left the
streets in darkness or rlared dismal
Il upon the wet sidewalks and the
puddles in the muCky road. Here
and there It drillcr or tool drcsser, on
his way to work, hurried along = side
street. or n bcl1ted teamster dashed
his steamng horses and swore, while
his load of drillingtools or well-sup-
plies dismally ratified and clanked.
The two men sat in their usual room
Mt Boyor's. Considerable money had
already changed hands. although It
was not vet midnight. and the pile
of chips before Bantling showed In
which direction luck was travelling.
Suddenly there was the sound Of
somebody hurrying up the stairs;
then the quick. suuish. souish Of lit
tie wet shoes along the passage. and
n voice. choked with sobs, crying.
MAMA! Mama! l want you. Where's
my mama"
At the sound. Paintings face flush
ed and he half rose from his chair,
and then sank back again He did
not seem aware that Mr.. billiard had
raised his bid and was waiting,
watching him narrowly meanwhile,
hut sat and listened while the little
feet carried the childish searcher the
length of the passage and back. and
his fearful cries echoed through the
rooms.
Not until his voice had died away
down the stairs did either man speak.
Then Mr.. billiard said, "Some little
fellow hunting his mother Queer
place to come to. Wonder how he
got past Boyer? lie usually keeps
81 pretty close watch for any one who
don't belong here. Makes man feel
kind of blue, though, doesn't it? It's
your play, Mr. Bantling."
Bantling made his bets mechanical
" after that. and allowed the pots
to fall. game after game, into his ad-
vorsary's hands, until his winnings
and all the money he had with him
We're gone. Then, excusing himself
on tho plea of not being well, he left
the place and hurried horne.
For several nights he was absent
from his usual haunts; then he re-
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1915-12-02

and once an adnirer had poured into
his ears n highly Colored account of
the time Mr.. Hillard had almost shot
one Jim Smith for cheating.
One evening, as Mr.. Dantling sat
playing with another gambler tail,
handsome man entered the room, and
was Immediately surrounded by
crowd eager to speak to him and
shake his hand. lnquiring who the
newcomer was. he learned that IT was
Gentleman" Hilard, famous in eV-
cry gambing-hell in the oil regions.
He could not keep his eyes off the
man. and was glad when the crowd
carried him to that part Of the room
behind his chair for iIillard evident
~ found something interesting about
him, and more than once, looking up
from his cards, he found himself the
focus for pair of wonderfully pierre
ing eyes.
For some reason he could not play
that night, and whenever there was
an extra heavy stake, he lost. The
appearance of Hillard behind his OPP
ponent's chair did not increase his
playing powers. ana when he came
around and looked ut Bantling's hand,
that young man felt a nervous desire
to fling his cards on the table and
cry. In his nervousness, he dropped
card - dark ton-Spot-and lillard
picked II up and handed 1t to him.
Bat somehow in the transaction the
card was transformed and became a
king OF diamonds, giving him
straightforward and taking the pot
At the same time his opponent moved
uneasily in his seat, and, after the
hands We're shown. mumblcd some
thing about another engagement and
Snoaked from the room.
Bantling turned to Hillard and
asked angrily, why din you change
that card, Mr.. IIillard?"
well, thought it was almost time
for YOU to crook him little; he had
been stuffing his hand right along
Mr.. Hilard replied evenly.
You mcan-"
THAT you've been cheated, sonny.
He's that kind; l have known him
for years" Mr.. Hillard explained.
The justice of the act appealed to
Bantlng. and he held out his hand.
Mr. Hillard. I am obliged to you.
My name is Bantling. and / hope we
will be friends" he said.
II am pleased to meet you" re-
sronded Mr.. Ililard. and now that
the gentleman you We're playing with
has gone. why can't we continue
the game?" Without waiting for 4.
reply. he slipped into the vacant chal'
and motioned Bantling to be seated.
billiard evidently liked to play with
1.-THE Boy" for it was not long be-
fore two or three nights out of every
week found them together in a pri
vate room at Boyer's playing alone
and without spectators. Early in his
career in Tight Pinch. Bantlirg had
objected TO playing among a crowd
of men who watched every moment.
looked at the cards in each players
hand. and speculated among them
selves on what they might make by
drawing. This made him nervous,
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1915-12-02

honesty. and it pays" He showed
me letter from Danton's owners
saying all his colts for the year had
gone, but they had colts by other
sires at eight hundred dollars apiece.
"Now, Danton," said Iowa. was
no better horse than Pelleus, but he
got in better hands. You write for
a Pelleus colt, and they'll answer
sure, come along, take your choice
of fifty'-and that after they've been
filling the auctions since early spring
with Pelleus colts and selling 'em
two day at the home barn. fig
ure he must have got near five hun
dred foals in 1907. by the amount
they sold this spring already. That's
why you pay twice 8 much for
Danton colt as Pelleus-but you get
him and no mistake"
But how" I queried. "can the
Pelleus people get all those colts
registered in the book"
"Oh, there's as much politics in
Percherons as in Washington. Good
by" And David was still a WALL
flower.
A householder wrote he'd help me
make the sale to q close personal
friend of his for a secret rebate Of
fifty dollars. I wasn't quite sure
whether it was doubtful ethics, but
David was selling very poorly. SO
telephoned him to hurry.
The two came. looked over the colt.
nodded no, and departed. was
amazed at this last fall-down. and
confded the story to Jock.
"Har-har; excuse me. sir; but they
was both ss-dealers In together,
and that was their little way Of get
tin fifty dollars OFF the price afore
ever even seem the colt. Har-har-
har bless me art. but that is a
old one"
Jock" said I, well make a work.
horse Of him. But next year We'll
take that gawky, long-legged year.
ling there: and don't you think he
can look bigger"
"Oh, yes, sir" exclaimed Jock.
Well take this yearlin' and corn
feed i'm and soft-feed im-you've in
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1915-12-02
TIE was the first pure-bred Per-

LIE was the first pure-bred Per-
l. i cheron born on my farm. l
named him David Belasco,
because, like the other commuters,
I had a play nearly finished, and l
thought that might help. Every lit
tie bit helps in the drama, they say
When his pedigree came back. en-
graved in noble heraldry of design,
with pictures of Nogent-Le-R otrou.
the cradle of his race, and four Per-
cherons-one in each corner-which
are his ancestors, and make Rosa
Bonheur's look like febrile ponies, 1
picked out a harmonizing frame Of
sturdy dark oak. thick and wide, and
most ponderable; but something
warned me in time against such am
ateurishness, and I threw my beauti-
full first pedigree carefully into a
deep drawer in the library and named
1t the pedigree drawer. In 1885 1t
ought to be full, If our made-in-Ge
many gardener, who practices both
pure and applied science, doesn't
break me first.
David was a most awkward begin
ner, but he grew in grace in the long
grass, and his mother went back to
hauling, and he fell into the hands
of Jock to be finished off for the mar
ket.
Jock used to be an exercise boy on
Newmarket Heath, but after he
tipped ten stun he went along O. the
hackneys with Sir Wraneflete Blub-
bie's at Sarris Hall. Yarkshire, sir,
and what he doesn't know about do
ing a colt Is no more than his COM
mission on a single bale OF straw.
"Doing a colt" Is an intricate pro-
cess that involves much massage and
the putting of many balls over his
neck. 1t almost always involves, as
we'll, another man in the stable to dc
the other work. Sunshine and fresh
air are not especially necessary.
once suggested that they might help
but Jock slapped his hand on the
colts loins with emphasis. ION q
day like this, why 1t would get him
slEht here, pop-off like that"
Exercise may be taken in modera'
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1915-12-02

selves Out came our filly on her
toes, and l tell you, sir, she did show.
They pinned the blue on her, arter
she 'ad a bit of tusse with another
flly. as 'ad been shot full O. dope
out a needle. l knowed their tricks.
/ never dope 'oss myself, sir, very
seldom. Arr an hour later they
pulled us out again, and so We 'ad
to slip another measure O. whisky
over the filly's neck-and blessed IL
she didn't come into the rink stag
germ Yer flly's drunk says the
judges to the marster; take 'er out
An bless me art and soul. II Sir
Wranefete didn't bust down an cry.
Fust time l ever seen a gentleman
cry"
A stoclSman from Iowa came to
take look at David.
Hes only fourteen-thirty," con-
fessed.
yep, l guessed it. What's he shod
for-and clipped"
Jock was a trihe peevish about the
shooting by this time, but he explained
the clipping: Account O. the lice.'
"How'm going to know how much
feather he's got on his legs. II he's
clipped? And that's half OF where
the Percheron has it on the Clyde
no feather to get soggy and give him
the grease" expounded Iowa. Il
only dropped out to see If mebbe you
had a bargain. Fifteen-forty at
twenty months sounded good"
"Ill knock Il hundred dollars Off"
IAN understood sire Is high-priced
at nothing" said he. 81 wanted to
get a Danton colt, but they're all
sold for the year. See here-thats
The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1915-02-13
On His Regular Monthly Visits
Hours: Gam. to pm.

Specializing in chronic diseases devel
ops the knack of KNOWING HOW to
overcome them in the shortest posi-
bic time. DR.. Spar differentiates be-
tween reflex and direct symptoms. He
finds the cause and the result of his
treatment can be felt very soon.
COMPLICATED CONDITIONS mvar-
iably require expert treatment. There
should be no patch work. The best
treatment can come only from the
specialist whose vast experience, deep
knowledge and expert skill enable him
to cope with the diseases constituting
his speciality.
REMEMBER, A simple ailment
amenable to prompt and proper treat
ment is easily made worse by neglect,
careless or Indifferent attention.
Don't be misled. Save time, disap-
pointment and money by getting the
right doctor at the very beginning.
DR.. Sparr offers you the same careful,
conscientious, painstaking and skillful
attention that has enabled him to sat
isfy hundreds of patients in the past.
The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1915-02-13
OBITUARY

The Angel of Death has made two
visits to the home of Mr.. and Mrs.
Ernest Albert and taken from them the
twin babes that were lent to earth but
for a brief stay.
Proud indeed were the parents of
their little baby daughters, Dorothy
and Doris, born December 1st. How
tenderly their unfolding charms were
watched from day to day. What plans
were made by the entire family for the
futures of these little ones. But all
that is left to the bereaved family is a
tender memory and two little graves.
But they will feel as do others when
their dear ones are called away, that
heaven grows dearer and seems nearer
than ever before because of our inter
ests there.
The entire community sympathize
with the sorrowing family. Rev. A. S.
Hale conducted the funeral.
Eyes, our darlings are in heaven,
Praying for the call that's given
When Wen journey to their home
There to live in love forever,
Never knowing care or pain,
In a bond death cannot sever,
Where earth's prayers are not in
vain -