Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1921-06-02


Sharp. without seeming interest
Make your bets"
This time the boy tried the black
with equal success. AS the minutes
passed it became startling evident that
the thing called luck was on his side
only at rare intervals did he lose, and
then at times when the sum risked
was unusually small. The hands OF
the dirty clock crept toward train
time, yet the pile of chips before him
showed no signs OF diminishing.
Waltz he cried, interrupting Mr..
Sharp's monotonous chant. It's just
ten minutes of train time This is my
last stake-all I've got About eleven
hundred there, l guess, he gasped
a little as he named the sum-"goes
down on the red"
Without comment, Mr.. Sharp spun
the wheel. 1t travelled with exasper-
ating slowness round the whirling
saucer. After ages of waiting. it
dropped
All yours" said Mr. Sharp calmly.
This is my off day. Too hot to play.
Serves me right"
He waddled to his safe, hidden be-
hind the bar. With an unhappy grunt,
he stopped and brought forth large
roll of bills. many of which had yell
low backs.
There's your twenty-five hundred"
he said in moment, placing the roll
on the bar. you better count it your
self, to make sure You see, amt"
He stopped, for he had caught sight of
the boys face.
With young Bill Stubs weird sus-
picion of moment before had become
a bitter reality. He laughed-a harsh,
unnatural laugh. His hand shook as
he pushed the bills back toward Mr..
Sharp.
It's not your money she wants. he
cried. IT'S not your money she
watches for each night on that train
from the West. It's you'll"
Mr.. Sharp turned a startled gaze on
the boy.
"What dye mean?" he asked.
I'm no fool" the boy answered. II
know well enough no man walks away
from here with twenty-five hundred of
your money unless you want him to
have it. I'm no fool can see all this
pretty plain. You gave me this money
gave it to mel Yes; it's little gift
from Henry Stubbs-a little gift from
fatherl"
What are you talking about?"
whined Benny Sharp. THE wheels
straight. You won the money. You're
crazy What are you talking about?"
God knows, there's little enough of
the Henry Stubs she told me of in
you" broke in the boy. Il don't see
the keen eyes-nor the black hair. |
don't see the handsome face. l don't
hear the talk out of books I've got
nothing to go -nothing-except |
twenty-five hundred dollars you
made me a present of. And that's
enough, | guess"
You run for your train" urged Mr..
Sharp. You got Just five minutes to
Don't fool yourself" the boy inter
rupted I'm not catching trains just
now l think you're Henry Stubs,
and I'm not leaving Kiowa Junction
till get the truth
You're a young fool" Sharp expos
Lulated 81 amt your dad. All this is
a joke if we just had time to laugh. /
amt your father. Do l look like a
wanderer from Indiana
% your"
81 should say mott" answered the
BOY. Not, don't see it myself. But
ell me one thing; who else besides
Henry Stubs would want to make me
present of twenty-five hundred dol
airs? Tell me that, if you can
Mr.. Sharp stood for moment; then
he snatched the roll of bills
rom the bar and thrust it into the
lands of the boy.
I'll tell youi" he cried, his words
ushing out in torrent. I'll tell you,
nd then you hike for that train.
heres one other man besides Henry
itubbs might want to give you money.
low about Harding? How about
Iarding-the dog who stole from your
ad the money he'd sweat blood for
Tho stopped him from keeping his
Onest promise to go back to the wom- |;
n he loved-who started him on the i
Dad TOTO his death? Don't stare at .
lie like that. You got train to t
atch. boy. Go back to her. Stubs S
|; dead-he died in the Yukon. Hurry I
O back Q
The train was whistling over the u
esert, and the agent had started up .
ie track with his flag as Sharp n
ushed the bewildered boy down the
cps. For a second the young man Fl
God gazing at him, and then, with ei
1t a word. he turned and ran toward ii
le station. Sharp stood watching Ia
IN as he snatched the old carpet-bag IL
ON the platform and swung safely
BOARD the train He remained watch .