News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1921-03-16

and asked the fourth FOR lignt. Her
bert" he continued, in modulated
tones, ''the cab outside is waiting for
Mr.. r. H. Randolph. 1t may be there
for some time. Have an eye kept on
It,"
eyes, Mr.. Randolph, I'll see to it,
Mr.. Randolph George, Mr.. Randolph's
letters"
"Never mind the letters" counter
manded the oft-named one, and pro-
ceeded to thread his way to a certain
small room strategically placed well
within the depths of the e1ifce and
far from the maddenng tumult of the
streets. The said apartment at the
moment of his arrival contained five
occupants seated round a circular table
of convenient height and clothed in
pale green, kindest of all shades to the
eye of man. There were no mirrors
on the walls.
Mr.. Randolph's entry was greeted
first with CONSERVATION and then with
shouts.
Bobby, you old scout"
"Herv, by great balls of sweat"
Brandy, from where the devil?"
The speakers arose and pump
handled Mr.. Randolph's, arm.
"Ye gods, man, where you been:
Strayed in from a fancy dress?"
"Never mind the glad rags, fellows"
said Mr. Randolph. 81 was just feel
ing lonely for the sound Of chips. Room
for another?"
'"The surest thing! You don't know
these two chaps. do you? Mr.. Seegar,
passed on to us from Frisco and Mr..
Bowling True our latest new member.
Gentlemen, this is Mr.. Randy Ran
dolph of New Haven and New York,
in disguise but still the best ever"
liable stakes?" murmurcd Mr.. Ran
dolph, as he took his place, apparent
ly at random, but at the left of the
two comparative strangers.
"Of course! Same old ante, Same
old game. You talk as though you'd
been away for q month"
For a moment, but for moment
only, Mr.. Randolph was daZed. Was
it possible that the last three weeks
hadn't been "a year? He drew out his
sixty-eight dollars and fifty cents nom
chalantly, as though they were merely
the loose change he had on his per-
son. bought fifty in chips, and laid the
small heap Of what was left Of his
cash on tie board. The strain on his
nerves during the next half-hour put
that of the five days wait for bunch
on the Street to the blush. There
came a lHoment when all his chips
WIRE gone. and he was forced to see
with a full house for his small pile
of change only. =
SERVES you right, Randy" said Mr.
Mem "For forgetting to pile up the
ready in a table-stake game; there are
two and a half million walking the
streets"
"Oh, stow it" murlnured Mr.. ian
ylolDh. as he counted out his share
amounting to ninety-two dollars and
fifty cents, and pushed across the rest
Of the fat pot to tie next best hand.
ale looked up and smiled. Boys" he
remarked frankly. I'm riding a bunch
WIN TOUR legs. NuIcn IllS.
Five spectators did, but got little |
excitement of their pains. Mr.. Ran
dolph was playing that most difficult
and uninteresting of poker cOrolaries
"a tight game. Mr. Saaegar turned i'm |
patient as the conviction grew upon
him that he had run up against the |
original hard-shell who never drew to |
less than pair of tens, never bluffed, |
and could surrender three kings with |
out a sigh to low straight unseen. |
re began to make facetious remarks |
in connection with the safety-first cam |
paign which was then at its height
Mr.. Randolph nursed his pile |
through five long hours up to eighteen |
hundred dollars. Then it was that |
he suddenly met raise of two hun !
dred on thu part of Mr.. Seegar, tackled |
-en~.three hundred more, waited for |
that individual to throw in his very |
: cd hand. face up. with the resigned |
sllle of wise one and then careless |
y d a7iayed in the same manner his !
own three-flush, so bObtailed that~the |
aHeuton of the S. p. G. A. should have
been called to tine case.
TIE rear of laughter that went up |
from all but Mr.. Seegar was more full |
and free than even such occasions
usually produce. Mr. Mein pounded I
Mr.. Randolph on the back
Bobby, old boy he said, that was
the eternaiest, patientest, and deepest |
laid trap I've ever witnessed in life
long pursuit of the only national pas
timei"
The light merely flickered in Mr.. !
Randolph's blue eyes. and he returned |
to his old job of saving wood. Not |
for nothing had he made that grand
stand flourish, and his object had been
gained. A new seriousness, masked in
coldedged, classic poker smiles. set
tied upon the table as a whole. The
idea that they were gathered together