The Arvada enterprise. (Arvada, Colo.) 1908-1970, 1920-01-15
CHAPTER ~.
The End q The Game.

The End ~ the Game.
It must have been nearly midnight
before I finally decided to seek q 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. I
turned back along the deserted deck,
only pausing q moment to glance care
lessly in through the front windows
Of the main cabin. The forward por-
tion was wrapped In darkness. and un-
occupied. but beyond. toward the rear
Of the long saloon. considerable group
Of men were gathered closely about 4
small table. above which q sv3oging
lamp burned brightly. the rays Of light
Illuminating the varisss faces. Gam
bling was no novelty on the great river
in those days. gambling for high
stakes. and surely NO ordinary game.
involving Q small sum, would ever
arouse the depth Of Interest displayed
By these men. Some Instinct told me
that the chief players would b Kirby
and BeaucaIre. and with quickeninE
pulse ! opened the cabin door and en-
tered.
No one noted my approach. Of %
much a. glanced up. the attention Of
the crowd riveted upon the players.
There were four holding cards-the
Judge. Kirby. Carver and McAfee: but
I judged at q glance that the latter
two were merely In the game ~ pre-
tense. the betting having already gone
far beyond the limit Of their resources.
without . 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. NcAfee and Carter
were clearly enough out Of II. their
cards still Gripped In their fingers. A.
they leaned breathlessly forward to
observe more closely the play. Tho
Judge sat upright. his attitude strained.
staring down at his hand. his face
white and eyes burning fsveFishly.
That he had been drinking heavily was
evident. hut Kirby fronted him In ap-
parent cold indifference. his feelings
completely masked. with the cards he
held punched In his hands and entirely
concealed from view. Between the two
rested q stack Of gold coin. roll Of
crushed bills and . legal paper Of
nome kind. the exact nature Of which
I could not determine. II was evident
that 4 fortune already rested on that
table. awaiting the dip Of card. The
silence. the breathless attention. con.
WINGED me that the csisia had been
rcachcti-lt was the judges move: he
must cover the last bet or throw down
his hand loser.
Precipitation beaded his forehead.
md he crunchcd the cards savascly In
his hands. His glance swept past
the crowd a. though he saw nothing
Of their faces.
Smother drink. SAM" he called. the
voice trembling. He tossed down the
glass Of liquor a. though Il were %
much water. but made no other effort
to speak. You could hear the strained
breathing Of the men.
"wcll." said Kirby snessinxiy. his
cold case surveying his motioaisss
opponent. "You seem to b. taking
your time. Do you cover my bstr
Someone laughed nervcusly. and .
voice sang out over my shoulder. "You
might ~ well 70 the whole boz.
Judge. The nlsxers won't b - good
without the land tse wosk EN- a..
Fling EN- Into The pot-thsy'rs - good
10 money"
Beaucairs looked %. so1-eSed. iato
the impassivs eouateaanee opposite.
His nps twitchsd yst managed % make
words issus bstweea TN.
How about that KlsSvr ~ asks1
Aoaessly. "Will ~ aeeo04 Q bm q
salsr
Kirby eia1sd, sha0lAg ~ hand
eafslsasly.
WY aoti TWsot - ~ ~ ~