Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1916-09-20
CHAPTER XXI.
The Einh$

washed our dishes method.
" ically and walked up to
town. The Bella Union was
the largest Of the three gambling
houses, log and canvas structure
some forty feet long by perhaps TWEEN
ty wide. A bar extended across one
end, and the gaming tables were ar
ranged down the middle. A dozen oil
lamps with refectors furnished illumi-
nation.
All five tables were doing brisk
business. When we paused at the
door for preliminary survey the bar
was lined with drinkers, and groups
Of twos and threes were slowly saun-
tering here and there or conversing at
the tops Of their voices with many
outlaws. The air was thick with to-
bacco smoke. Johnny stepped just in
side the door, moved sideways and SO
stood with his back to the wall. His
keen eyes went from group to group
slowly. resting for moment in turn
on each Of the five impassive gamblers
and their lookouts, on the two bar
keepers and then one by one on the
men with whom the place was crowd
ed. Following his, my glance recog-
Randall with five rough looking min
ers. He caught my eye and nodded.
No one else appeared to notice US,
though imagined the noise Of the
place sank and rose again at the first
moment Of our entrance.
"Jim," said Johnny to me quietly.
"there's Danny Randall at the other
end Of the room. Go join him. want
you to leave me to play my own
game"
started to object.
"Please do as l say" insisted John.
ny. II can take care Of myself unless
there's a general row. In that case
all my friends are better together"
Without further protest l left him
and edged my way to the group at the
end of the bar. Randall nodded to me
as came up and motioned to the bar
keeper to set me out glass, but said
nothing. Ours was the only lot away
from the gaming tables not talking.
We slipped our drink and watched
Johnny.
as e.err surveying cooily the room John
ny advanced to the farther Of the gam
ing tables and began to play. His
back was toward the entrance. The
game was roulette, and Johnny tossed
down his bets methodically, studying
with apparent absorption each shift of
the wheel TO all appearance he was
intent on the game and nothing else.
and he talked and laughed with his
neighbors and the dealer as though his
spirit were quite carefree.
For ten minutes we watched. Then
huge figure appeared in the black
ness of the doorway, slipped through
and instantly to one side, so that his
back was to the wall. Scarface Char
ley had arrived. a..
He surveyed the place as we had
done, almost instantly caught sight OF
Johnny and Immediately began to
make his way across the room through
the crowds Of loungers. Johnny was
laying bet, bending over the table,
Joking with the impressive dealer, his
back turned to the door, totally obliv-
ious of his enemy's approach. l start
ed forward, instantly realized the
hepelessness Of either getting quickly
through that crowd or Of making my
self heard and leaned back, clutching
the rail with both hands. Johnny was
hesitating his hand lowering uncer-
tainly above the marked squares of
the layout. in doubt exactly where to
bet. Scarface Charley shouldered his
way through the loungers and reached
the clear space Immediately behind his
unconscious victim. He stopped for
an instant, squared his shoulders and
took one step forward. Johnny drop
ped his chips on the felt layout, con-