The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1920-01-09

that his money vas gone. Then, re-
gardless Of those about, he rushed
through the crowd, fiinging bystand-
ers right and left, and plunged into
the night.
He walked down a street until II
lost itself on the prairie; her he fol-
lowed a prairie trail far into the coun-
try. The air was cold and a few drops
Of rain were falling in it, but he was
unconscious Of the weather. He was
in a rage through and through. Slop-
eye was now a dream. a memory,
gone-gone. Everything was gone;
only his revolver and a few cents re-
manned. He gripped the revolver
again. With that he IA supreme. No
man In all that town Of men schooled
in the ways Of the West was more
than his equal while that grip lay
in his palm. At the point Of that
muzzle he could demand his money
back-and get it.
Then he laughed. Hollow and
empty 1t sounded in the night air. but
it was a laugh. and it saved his spirit.
why. you fool" he chuckled. you
came to town for to learn sOmethin',
didn't you? Well. you're learnin'.
Sixty dollars a throw. Education
comes high. don't 1t? But you
shouldn't kick. He didn't coax you
In, an gave you every chance TO back
away. You butted in ana got stung.
Perhaps you've learned somethin'
worth sixty dollars"
In his innocence Of the ways OF the
game it never occurred to him that the
friendly stranger who had showed him
how TO play it was q friend Of the
sharper. and probably A. this moment
they were dividing his sixty dollars
the price Of old Slopeye--between
them.
Early G K morning he was awake
and astir. The recollection Of his loss
e . sudden pang through his norm
ing spirits, but he tried to close his
mind to 1t.
mo use worryin' over that" he said,
juggling the few coins that now rep
resented his wealth. THAT'S over and
gone. I traded sixty dollars for my
first lesson. Maybe it vas a bad trade,
but anyway l amt goin' to squeal."
lie whistled as he. finished dressing,
ate his breakfast eheerfully. and set
out in search Of employment.
Almost the first person he met was
the stranger who had schooled him in
the gambling game the night before.
There was something attractive about
his personality; something which in
vited friendship and e confidence,
felt a sense Of distrust. as though part
Of his nature rcbelled against the ac-
craftsmanship.
That was the %rottenest luck you
had last night" the stranger was say
ing. II never saw the peat OF it. l
next time; you might have got your
money back that way"
"Oh, ! don't mind the money!" said
Dave. %cheerfnlly. II don't want It
back. In fact, l figure it was pretty
well spent"
"LOts more where It came from.
eh?" laughed the other. "YOu're from
the ranches. l see. and I suppose the
price Of a steer or two doesn't worry
you a hairs worth"
"From is right" Dave replied. I'm
from them. an I amt goin' back. AS
for money--well. I spent my last nickel
for breakfast. SO I've got to line up a
job before noon."
The stranger extended his hand.
shake" he said. II like you. You're
no squealer. anyway. My name is Con-
ward. Yours?"
Dave told his name and shook
hands. Coward offered his cigarette
box. and the two smoked for = few
In silence.
what kind Of a joi, do you wantr"
Coward asked at length.
ANY kind that pays q wage" said
Dave.
II know the fellow that runs an
employment agency down here" Con-
ward answered. Lets go down. Per-
haps ! can put you In right"
Coward spoke 20 n manager OF
the employment agency and intro
duced Dave.
Nothing very choice on tap today"
said the employment man. "YOu can
handle horses. l suppose?"
II guess I can" said Dave. 'some."
II can place you delivering coal.
Thirty dollars q month. and you board
with the boss"
It'll take It" said Dave.
The boss proved to be one Thomas
Metf0nd. He owned half q dozen
teams and was engaged In the cartsge
business. specializing on coal. He was
a nun IT big frame, big head. and .
vocabulary appropriate to the pur-
poses to which he applied It. Among
his other possessions were q wife. nu-
merous children and a house and barn. |
In which he boarded his beasts Of bur.
den. including In the term his horses,
his men and his wife. In the order OF