Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1921-05-20


occupants seated round 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 scOutw
"Herv, by great balls Of sweat"
Randy, from where the devil2"
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?" murmured 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 a MONTH
For a moment. but for a 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 non
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 the board. The strain on his
nerves during the next half-hOur put
that of the five days wait for a bunch
on the Street to the blush. There
came a moment when all sis chips
were gone. and he was forced to see
with a full house for his small pile
of change only.
SERVES you right, Randy" said Mr..
Alelll. 4 Vi lOl zGlAlAlZ " lJAAC uI lAAE
ready in a table-stake game; there are
two and a half million walking the
streets"
"Oh, stow It :" murmured Mr.. Ran
dolph, as he counted out his share,
amounting to ninety-two dollars and
fifty cents. and pushed across the rest
of the fat pot to the next best hand.
He looked up and smiled. Boys" he
remarked frankly, I'm riding bunch
with four legs. Watch me-"
Five spectators did, but got little
excitement of their pains. Mr.. Ran
dolph was playing that most difficult
and uninteresting Of poker corollaries
"a tight game Mr.. Seegar 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 a pair of tens. never bluffed,
and could surrender three kings with
out a sigh to g low straight unseen.
He began to make facetiOus remarks
in connection with the safety-frst 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
ne suddenly met a raise of two hun
ired on the part of Mr.. Seegar, tackled
On three hundred more, waited for
hat individual to throw in his very
good hand, face up, with the resigned
smile of wise one, and then careless
Y displayed in the same manner. his
'wn three-tlush, so bObtailed that the
attention of the s. p. c. A. should have
Deen called to the case.
The roar of laughter that went up |
rom all but Mr.. Seegar was more full |
md free than even such occasions |
Usually produce. MIR Mein pounded |
Ir. Randolph on the back.
Bobby, old boy" he said, that was
he eternalest, patientest, and deepest
aid trap I've ever witnessed in life
ong pursuit of the only national pas
ime !"
The light merely fiickered in Mr..
.andOlph's blue eyes, and he returned
D his old job of saving wood. Not
Or nothing had he made that grand
rand flourish, and his object had been
aimed. A new seriousness, masked in
classic poker smiles. set
ed upon the table as a whole. The
lea that they were gathered together
erely to while away an idle evening
Ided into the background, and, one by
lie. like stars coming out at evening
me, supper trays began to make their
)pearance. All but Randolph, they
Id been toying with poker; now they
gan to play it.
That gentleman continued for the
nee the even tenor of his stride eX-
pit for a Lenten concession 10 his
sides. He ordered placed on 8 stand
his elbow large jug Of ice water
d a platter containing four dozen
ndwiches. No added touch could I
We done more toward persuading his
endly antagonists that he, Randolph, '
Is out for thick blood. If any one Z
the five had joyed In the knowl-
&c that two slices, thin, of buttered {