The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1916-09-14

Amt that just my blamed luck?"
lamented Slater. NOW. II they were
playing faro l could make a killing.
I'd copper Appleton's bets and open
the one he coppered."
O'Neil smiled. for Happy Toms cau
ton in money matters was notorious.
You know you don't believe in gam
bling" he said.
Its not a belief. it's a disease" de-
clared the fat man. 81 vas born to be
a gambler. but the business Is too un-
certain. Now that I'm getting so old
and feeble can't work any more. I'd
take 1t up, only l broke three fingers.
and when I try to deal ! drop the
cards. What are we going to do?"
Just wait" said O'Neil.
Unobserved the two friends watched
the poker game, which for a time pro
ceeded quietly. But suddenly they
saw Appleton lean over the table and
address the man with the derby hat;
then, thrusting back his chair. he rose.
declaring in a louder tone:
II tell you | saw it. ! thought was
mistaken at first" His face was
white, and he disregarded the efforts
of his right hand neighbor to quiet
him.
Don't %squeal," smiled the dealer.
"Ill leave 1t to the boys If I did any
thing wrong"
you pulled that king from the bot
tom. 1t may not be wrong. but it's
mighty peculiar"
"Forget itr' one Of the others ex-
claimed. Denny wouldn't double
cross you"
Hardly" agreed Mr.. Denny evenly.
You're in $50, but If you're sore you
al have 1t BACK.
Appleton flung his cards into the
middle Of the table and turned away
disgustedly. Its a hard thing to
prove, and I'm not absolutely sure ]
saw straight ord take it back fast
enough"
Denny shrugged and gathered in the
discarded hand. you've been drink
ing too much, that's all. Your eyesight
Is scattered"
Appleton's face flushed as he beheld
the gaze Of the company upon him and
heard the laughter which greeted this
remark. He turned to leave when
O'Neii, who had continued to watch
the proceedings with interest, crossed
to the group and touched Denny on
the shoulder. saying quietly:
"Give him his money"
"Eh?" The smile faded from the
fellows face. He looked up with star
tied inquiry. "WhatT'
"Give him his money"
In the momentary hush which fol
lowed Happy Tom Slater, who had
frequently seer 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 a leg. Although
Mr.. Slater abhorred trouble. he was ac'
customed to meet it philosophically. A
lifetime spent in construction camps
had taught him that OF all weapons
the one best suited to his use was a
pick handle. Second to that he had
come t value the hardwood leg OF @
chair. But in the present case his pre-
caution proved needless, for the dis
pute was over before he had fairly
prepared himself.
Without waiting for O'Neil to put
his accusation into words Denny had
risen swiftly, and In doing so he had
| either p%urposely or by accident made
a movement which produced a prompt
and instructive reaction. Murray's fist
met him as he arose, met him so square
~ and with such force that he lost all
interest in what followed. The other
card players silently gathered Mr.. Den
ny In their arms and stretched him
upon a disused roulette table. The
bartender appeared with a wet towel
and began to battle his temples.
Appleton, dazed by the suddenness
of it all. found a stack OF gold pieces
In his hand and heard O'Neil saying In
an everyday tone:
Come to my room, please. I'd Ike
to talk to you Something command
ing in the speakers face made the en-
gineer follow against his will. He
longed to loiter here until Denny re-
gained his senses, but O'Neil had him
by the arm, and a 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 Jove! Why didn't you tell me?
| knew he was crooked, but I couldn't
believe
"Sit down." said O'Neil. He won't
pull himself together for awhile. and
| want to get TO bed. Are you looking
for a job?"
The engineers eyes opened wide.
Yes"
"Do you know the Kyak countryT'
pretty we'll"
81 need a surveyor. Your wages will
be the same that Gordon paid, and
they begin now, If it's agreeable"
1T certainly is"
Good. Well leave at 6 o'clock
sharp. Bring your bedding and in
struments."