Putnam patriot., 1916-07-07

AA@AEttfA I tAAA lANlfI4lA Ntl a iAstNlt Of interest.
 Yes; Cortez is fast becoming metropolis l see The man in the deray hat is performing a little feat that once cost me S4.e0o 10 learn
 I'd better split Dan away" said Tom hastily.
 Wait, Education is a good thing even if it is expensive at times. fancy your friend K bright enough to take care of himself Let's wait a bit
 "Ain't that just my blamed luek?" lamented Slater. NOW if they were playing faro l could make killing I'd copper Appleton's bets and open the ones he eoppered."
 O'Neil smiled. for Happy Toms eau tion in money matters was notorious. You know you don't believe in gam bling" he said,
 Its not a belief it's disease" de clared the fat man. T was born to be a gambler but the business is too un- certain. New that I'm getting so old and feeble can't work any more. I'd take it up. only l broke three fingers. and when try to deal drop the cards What are we going to do?"
 lust wait" said 0'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 thrustiug lack his chair he rose. declaring in louder tone:
 T fell you saw if. I thought was mistaken at first His face was white. and he disregarded the efforts of his right hand neighbor to quiet him
 Don't saueal." smiled the dealer "I'H leave if to the boys if I did any thing wrong
 "You pulled that king from the bot tom. It may not be wrong. but it's mighty peculiar"
 Forget ltt' one of the others ex- .laimed Denny wouldn't double TOSS you
 Hardly" agreed Mir Denny evenly. You're in S1sO. but if you're sore you an have it back.
 Appleton flung his cards into the middle of the table and turned away lisgustedly. Its hard thing to prove. and I'm not absolutely sure l saw straight or-Td take 1t back fast enough.
 Benny 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'Neil. 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. "What?''
 "Give him his money"
 Tn the momentary 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 a leg. Although Mr. Slater abhorred trouble, he was ac- customed to meet it philosophically. 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 to 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 purposely or by accident made a movement which produced prompt and instinctiye reaction Murray $ tist 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 Mir 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, found stack of gold pieces in his hand and heard O'Neil 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- 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 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? I knew he was crooked, but l couldn't believe"-
 "sit down. said o'Neil "He won't pull himself together for awhile. and I want to get to bed. Are you looking for a job?"
 The engineers eyes opened wide. Yes"
 Do you know the Kyak countryT Pretty well.
 q need a surveyor. Your wages will be the same that Gordon paid. and they begin now. if h's agreeable" "It certainly is.'
 Good. We'll leave at 6 o'clock sharp. Bring your bedding and in- struments'
 @Thanksi L. This is a bit of a sur r,rsno NNhn ara r-nn c,