The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-04-08
I'd copper Appleton's bets and open

I'd copper Appleton's bets and open the ones he coppered.'
 O'Nen smiled, for Happy Tom's eau Z ltion in money matters was notorious, You know you don't believe in gam blfng.,' he said.
 It's not 8 belief, it's a disease.' de clared the fat man. ssI was born to be 8 gambler. but the business is too un- certain. Now that I'm getting so old and feeble I can't work any more, I'd and when I ftry to deal I drop the cards. what atsareswe going to dog.
 Just wait" said O'Neil.
 Unobserved the two friends watched the poker game. which for 8 time pro ceeded quietly. But suddenly lthey ga " Appleton lean over the table and address the man with. the derby hat; then. thrustipg back his chair, he rose, declaring in a louder tone:
 q tell you I saw it. Ithought ! was mistaken at fitst.'' His facet was white and he disregarded the efforts of his right hand neighbor to quiet hirne
 Don't squeaI.n smiled the dealer. ri leave t to the boys if I did any thing wrong
 .eYou pulled that king from the bot tom It ray not be wrong, but it's mighty 1eculiaE'' , Forget fts-' one of the others ex- claimed. Denny wouldn't double cross you. .
 .HardIy,s agreed MT. Denny evenly. You're in s1Se. but if you're sore you can have it back 2
 Appleton flung his cards into the middle of the table and turned away disgustedly ly Its hard thing to prove. and I'm not absolutely sure. I saw straight orzI.d take 1t back fast enough
 Denny shrugged and gathered in the discarded hand You've been drink ing too much, that's all Your eyesig1t is scattered.
 App1eton's face flushed as he beheId the gaze of the company upon him and heard the laughter which greeted this remark He turned to leave when O'Nefl, who had continued to watch the proceedings with interest, crossed to the group and touched Denny on the shoulder saying quietly:
 Give hinn his money z
 Eh 9 The smile faded from the fellows face. He looked up with star tied inquiry. What r
 .tGive him his money
 Tn the monentary hush which fol lowed Happy Tom Slater. who had frequently seen his employer in action and understood storm signals, sighed deeply and reached for the, nearest chair. With a wrench of his powerful hands he loosened q leg. Although
 
 customed to meet it philosophical1y A lifetime spent in construction camps had taught him that of all weapons the one .bes:4 suited to his use was a pick handle. Second to that he had come to value the Hardwood leg of a chair But in the present case his pre- pute was over before he had fairly prepated himself.
 Without waiting for O'Neil to put his accusation into words Denny had risen swiftly. and in doing so he had either purposely or by accident made a movement which produced a prompt and instinctive reaction. Murray fist met him as he arose, met him so square ly and with such force that he lost all interest in what followed, The other card players silently gathered MT. Den ny in their arms and stretched him upon a disused roulette table The bartender appeared with wet towel and began to bathe his temples.
 Appleton, dazed by the suddenness of 1t all, folnd stack of gold pieces in his hand and heard O'NeiI saying in an everyday tone:
 Come to my room, please I'd like to talk to you.'' Something command ing in the speakers face made the en- gfneer follow against his will. He longed to 1oiteT here until Denny re- gained his senses, but tO'Nefl had him by the arm, and moment later he was being led down .the hall away from the lobby and the Barroom As Slater, who had followed. closed the door behind them Dan burst forth:
 By love! Why didn't you@teu me? I knew heSwas crooked, but I couldn't be1ieveY-
 isis down." said O'Neil. "He won't pull himself together for awhile. and I want to get to bed. Are you looking for job ?.
 The engineers eyes opened wide.
 sYes.ip
 DO you know. the Kyak country a'' <
 Pretty wel1.s
 q need a surveyor Your wages will be the same that Gordon paid, and they begin now, if it's agreeable"
 ''It certainly is.''
 "Goodl We'll leave at 6 o'clock sharp. Bring your bedding and in- struments."
 Thanks! l. This is a bit of sur prise. Who are you?'
 .'rm O'Neil.,,
 aero Ise Continued.1