The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1920-01-16
CHAPTER Ill.
The End of the Game.

1t must have been nearly midnight
before I finally decided to seek few
hours rest below, descending the short
ladder and walking forward along the
open deck for one last glance ahead.
Some time the next day we were to
be in ST. Louis, and this expectation
served to brighten my thoughts. /
turned back along the deserted deck,
only pausing a moment to glance care
lessly I'm through the front windows
of the main cabin The forward por-
ton was wrapped in darkness, and I'M
occupied, but beyond, toward the rear
of the long saloon, considerable group
of men were gathered closely about a
| small table, above which a swinging
lamp burned brightly, the rays of light
| Illuminating the various faces. Gam
bling was no novelty on the great river
in those days, gambling for high
| stakes, and surely no ordinary game,
| involving small sum, would ever
arouse the depth of interest displayed
by these men. Some instinct told me
that the chief players would be Kirby
and Beaucaire, and with quickening
pulse / opened the cabin door and en-
tered.
No one noted my approach, or so
much as glanced up, the attention of
the crowd riveted upon the players.
There were four holding cards-the
judge, Kirby, Carver and McAfee; but
1 judged at a glance that the latter
fxx-o a1xr In, hn 0ar oc
tense, the betting having already gone
far beyond the limit of their resources.
Without a thought as to the cards
they held my. eyes sought the faces
of the two chief players, and then Wis
toned the stakes displayed on the table |
before them. McAfee and Carter |
were clearly enough out of 1t, their |
cards still gripped In their fingers, as |
they leaned breathlessly forward to
observe more closely the play. The
judge sat upright his attitude strained,
staring down at his hand, his face
white and eyes burning feverishly. I
That he had been drinking heavily was
evident, but Kirby fronted him in ap-
parent cold Indifference, his feelings
masked, with the cards he
held punched in his hands and entirely
from view. Between the two
rested a stack of gold coin, a roll of
crushed bills and a legal paper of
some kind, the exact nature of which
could not determine. 1t was evident
hat fortune already rested on that
able, awaiting the flip of card. The
silence, the breathless attention. con-
7inced me that the crisis had been
was the judges move; he
must cover the last bet or throw down
lis hand a loser.
Precipitation beaded his forehead,
md he crunched the cards savagely In I
lis hands. His glance swept past
he crowd as though he saw nothing
f their faces.
another drink, SAM" he called, the {
dice trembling. He tossed down the {
lass Of liquor as though it were so
much water, but made no other effort
0 speak. You could hear the strained |
reathing Of the men.
"Well," said Kirby sneerngly, his I
old gaze surveying his motionless J
pponent. "You seem to be taking
our time. Do you cover my bet?"
Someone laughed nervously, and 6
Dice sang out over my shoulder, you I
light as well go the whole hog, q
ldge. The niggers won't be no good |
ithout the land ter work 'em on.
ling 'em into the pot-they're as good
, money"
Beaucaire looked up, red-eyed, into
le impressive countenance opposite. Q
IL lips twitched yet managed to make b
0rds issue between them.
How about that, Kirby?" he asked 81
'arsely. "Will you accept a bill Of L
llef' p
Kirby srinned. shuhjing his hand B
lrelessly. n
why not7 ~Twon't be the first time