Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1916-08-02
By REX BEACH.
Copyright by Otis L. Wood.

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the row of games opposite, each hidden
by it's cluster Of devotees.
The buzz and rattle of the roulette
claimed nervous circle also, while a
craning mob stretched over shoulder
for glance at the faro layout. This
was the big game Of tho evening, the
only silent spot In all the rush. Here
was grim quiet. "Goldie" had opened
Z '.fier' for the edihcation and retro
erosion of Dawson gambler, and the
stakes were appalling. Men stood on
stools and hung over the sphinx in the
lookout chair for . glimpse Of the t.
BILE and the two tense players.
A glittering, stirring sight II was,
that set the blood a-gallop with the
aggressive vigor Of the frontier, and .
welcome sight, thought Big George rs
he pushed In ont Of the sharp oO-below
night.
For a long year he had seen none Of
It. Straight from the arctics he had
come. his dogs still warm from the last
sixty mile drive.
II want Kid Riley" beloved George
to the busy whitecoats; then, spying .
waiter scudding past, he stretched out
his arm and ended the meteoric flight
amid much splitting Of mixed drinks.
Hes up in one Of the front boxes y
said the waiter. regretfully eying his
tray, and George plowed back toward
the music, leaving an eddy in his wake.
He went up the stairs to the theater
gallery and around behind curtained
boxes, whence came much laughter.
"Hello, George" said Riley evenly as
the big man drove into his presence,
settling on and over tho edges Of a
chair. Where fromY'
Candle City" said the other. II
been lookin' for you, Kid"
"What'n ysu drink
~Nothin'. There amt enough people
on the streets to hold me II get drunk.
It's small town you have here"
Riley is penurious only in the matter
Of speech. 30 George continued:
"'You remember Peter Mcdonald?
Well, he's struck it rich, and he's been
took down with matter-mony-took
bad. BE didn't dast to leave his ground
vacant, 20 he sent me down to get him
a wife. He offered $500 to anybody
thatd produce the goods. I believe
in givin' the public what It wants. 20
I got an 1njun boy to break trail, cook
dog feed and be shappy-roan on tho
way back and come down after the ex-
hibit."
Are you a-going to foller your own
aesthetic instincts, or did Pete give
you some specifications and landmarks
to go BY" inquired Riley.
Sure he did" Georges big brown
face wrinkled with worry. That's the
trouble. I've lost 'em. Pete amt the
kind to nail his location notice on to
the first vacant property he finds. Hes
got ideels. I've lost the bill Of par
ticulars, Kid, but f1ggered you'd know
who the lady is"
II guess it's the Gazelle," said Riley
after consideration. II never see him
maxim up to anybody else round here.
They had 'reg'lar hydrophobia last
summer. That's her now" The pro-
prietor indicated the stage where, ush-
cred by a sobbing burst of minors. n
Gargantuan blond appeared and sang
achingly relative to a fatal note that
Jack had wrote"
Her voice was as full Of knots as
curly maple and Of that piercing, plan
ing mill quality that strokes the fur
upward and bores into the ganglia.
Say. there's mistake here" said
George. This Mcdonald amt lost
his faculties. Besides, she's too big
to haul. I'd rather freight tubular
boiler. What's that name 'Gazelle'
mean-female for gazabo?"
Riley leaned out of the box and in
the midst Of the song cried:
Come up here. you, when you get
that out Of your system. Want to see
you"
The lady appeared soon. masculine
and hard featured, and in response to
the first question regarding Mcdonald
displayed such unmistakable emotion
that George sighed thankfully. Then,
at the news Of her f1ance's good for
tune and resultant matrimonial yearn-
ings, she fairly overwhelmed the mes
senger. With naive abandon she flung
herself at him, grease painted, rice
powdered landslide. but George skill
fully kicked chair in her way and
backed to corner. Considering his
years absence, he displayed remark
able aptitude in the civilities Of refined
society.
Say, we'd better start back before
the clear spell breaks. It's liable to
storm, said he. when can you get
ready?"
'Pretty quick. All / want is my
trunk and couple Of valises and
telescope and
.Whaty' yelled George. rising amid
upsetting furniture. while Riley's dark
face split into labored grin. the sign
Of ungovernable mirth.
Trunks and val D'you reckon I'm
runnin' a local freight? I've got six
dogs and it's 300 miles through deep
snow to Candle City. We've got to
haul grub and camp outfit and sleep
In bags and dog feed and lots OF other
things. Great Lord, Trunks: You'll
take change OF footgear and maybe
a toothbrush IL you cut off the handle.
but that's the limit Weight counts In
this DEAL
Then the lady arose with eyes that
snarkied like a battery. while the whalr