The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1916-08-01
CHAPTER TX.
We Compare Notes.

WV Wien he saw me coming he
pulled a fat buckskin bag
from Ids breeches pocket, opened its
mouth and shook quantity Of its
contents by guess into the palm of his
hand.
There you are" said he; "thats
near enough. I'm pretty good guess
er. 1 hope you took care of the mules
all right You ought to, you're from
farm"
II fixed EN-
"And the mud2 How many times
did you get stuckT
"Not at ALL"
He looked at me with surprise.
would you think of that nowT said
ne. "You must have loaded her light"
~ did"
did you get all the goods overT
YES"
"Well, I'll acknowledge you're a
judgmatical young man, and II you
want a Job with me I'll let that lawyer
60 1 spoke to the Judge about. He
handed 1t TO me then, didn't he?" He
laughed heartily. "No? Well, you're
right. A mans fool to work for any
one but himself. Where's your bag?
Haven't any2 How do you carry your
dust? Haven't any? I forgot; you're
q tenderfoot, of course" He opened
his buckskin sack with his teeth, and
poured back the gold from the palm
of his hand. Then he searched for
moment In all his pockets and pro-
duced n most peculiar chunk OF gold
metal. It was nearly as thick as 1t
was wide, shaped roughly into an Oc-
tagon, and stamped with initials. This
he handed to me.
"It's about a fifty dollar slug" said
he; you can get 1t weighed. Give me
the change next time you see me-"
but / may leave for the mines to
morrow" objected.
"Then leave the change with Jim
Rocket of the III Dorado"
"How do you know I'll leave itT' l
asked curiously.
'T don't" replied McGlynn bluntly.
"But II you need $25 worse than you
do a decent conscience then John A.
McGlynn isn't the man to deny your
Johnny and | left for the hotel.
II didn't know you expected any
mail" said-I.
II don't"
but thought saw you In line
"Oh, yesl When i saw the mail
sacks It struck me that there might be
quite crowd; 80 came up as quick
ly as / could and got In line. There
were a number before me, but ] got "A
place pretty well up In front. Sold the
place for 50, and only had TO stand
there about an hour at that"
"Good headr' admired. "Pd never
have thought of 1t, How have you got
ten OnT
''Pretty rotten" confessed Johnny
81 tried all morning to find decent
opportunity to do something or deal In
something, and then ! got mad and
plunged In for odd Jobs. I've been {
regular errand boy. made W carry
ing a mans bag up from the ship"
How much all toidT
"Fifteen. suppose you've got you
pile"
"That twenty-five you saw me get 1
the size of It,"
Johnny frightened. We moved u
closer In n new intimacy and sense o
comradeship over delinquency. II n
iieved both TO feel that the other, to'
hnd failed To enter the Plaza we ha
20 pass one OF the larger OF the gan
bling places
"Tm going In here" said Johnny suC
denly.
He swung through the open door
and followed him.
The place was comparatively deser
ed, owing probably to the Distribute
OF mail We had full space 10 loo
about u.s. and was never more RstoI
ished in my life, The outside OF III
building was rough and unfinished d
barn, having nothing but size to II
tract or recommend. The Interior W.
the height OF lavish luxury. A polls
ed mahogany bnr ran down one sid
backed by huge gilt framed mirro
before which were pyramded tiI
glasses and bottles of liquor. The re
OF the wall space was thlckly hun
with more plate mirrors, dozens
well executed Oh paintings aud strlI
OF tapestry. ~ one enu was Snlh
raised stage on which lolled half do
en- darkies with banios and tamho
rines. The floor wns covered with
thick velvet carpet Easy chairs. son
of them leather upholstered, sto'
about In every available corner
The game was roulette. Johnny al
the dealer evidently recognized ca
other, for a nash OF the eye passed
tween them, but they gave no 9th
sign. Johnny studied the board u II
mcnt, then laid S22 Ia coin on one
the numbers. The other players Ii
out small bags OF gold dust, q
wheel spun and the hall rolled. "
OF the men lost Their dust was en-
tied into a drawer beneath the taI