The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1922-11-17
pcriuinkle House

you don't sayf Well, WE'LL But I
never heard of you. either" Now they
laughed, the joyous and unsuspicious
mirth OF youth. They stood looking
down upon the deck-hands, loading
1 freight, listening TO the stream Of the
second mates profanity, who swore
his emotion by the stars, the moon
the river, the universe; and when the
Leona was on her way again, the
fiddles going, the muddy roustabouts
singing, Liberty Shottle and Drace
seated themselves on campstools
eagering toward swift acquaintance
the friendship OF two natures far apart
in aim and principle.
III you've got two cigars, I'll Join
you In a smoke" said Shottle. "Thank
you. You see, my people, what few
OF them are left. say that / don't
exist They haven't cast me OF, or
anything of that sort, but being OF
staid habits themselves. they swear
that am too unreal to exist Lord,
what Is the world but queer7 What's
| your game?"
haven't any-any game" parriei
the Northerner. "But what are you
doing on this boat yourself?"
I'm going down to New Orleans"
replied Liberty, ito see how long !
can stay there. l had pretty fair
JOB couple of months ago teaching
school near Memphis. They liked
me. too. I've got a sleeps hide from
Chapel Hill university. North Caro-
lima, with all the wool singed off and
the board acknowledged my qualifica-
lions, but they caught me shaking dice
with the boys and told me that as
there were some branches Of learning
they didn't care TO have instilled, I'd
better get professorship In some
higher institution. Have you been In
there?"
Liberty Shottle waved his hand:
and Drace. thinking he meant the ball
room. answered him:
"Only passed through. I've been
rather worn with that sort of thing"
oh, you think I meant the balli
meant the poker-room."
Yes, | sat In there for q time"
How did you come out?"
mot very well. Lost two hundrad-
you speak OF losing two hundred
as lightly MS II 1t were a matter OF
breath instead of blood. Would ven
mind holding my hand till you say n
againf Two hundred Why. Won
know, fellow would teach bullet.
heads and sissIes for two months for
two hundred dollars Now. let me
lay down proposition: I am luclxy
tonight. lost fifteen dollars. all had
but I'd just got up to the point OF
winning when I lost my last dollar
Just one more ante. and it would have
come my wny. I saw 1t coming. bur
a laundering fool headed It Off. Now.
here's my scheme. and it's good one:
you want your two hundred back; you
stake me to q hundred and III go I'm
there and make n cleaning. Don't re |
fuse. now, until you have let your
mind digest the situation. Most of the
errors in this life come from snap
"Ah. you think You can win, because
you lost?"
my dear Virgil, there is, you might
ny. psychology In everything. Who
Wins fght7 The man who believes
lie can't? No. the man who knows he
an. And I know right now. WHY. I'd
take my life on It. You give me the
undred and stay right here and wait.
IS for my honesty, can give you ref.
mayor OF New Orleans
nd Judge Hebbins of MemphIs-but
e died last week. No matter - I'd
imp into the river and let the paddle
heel beat me into sausagemeat be-
pre- I'd deceive you. Liberty Shottle,
hats my name"
Drace leaned back and laughed.
Liberty, thing astonishing to me Is
ding to happen. I'll stake you to the ..
No superstitious devotee ever re-
eived from the priest of the gods a
baton with more of emotional strain
ian Liberty Shottle evinced when he
osed in tight clutch on Braces ad.
enturous hundred. Then he bowed
nd disappeared.
brace sat musing. and soon he be-
an to wonder why he had been so
eak as to give 500 to this peculiar
,llow. n stranger. Well. Liberty had
nused him. Made him laugh. and In
lis world there is more money spent
IT the promotion Of laughter than for
e relief OF tears.
Presently Shottle returned. He sat
,wn and though physically he was
,ht, the camp stool groaned beneath
m. brace waited. The Leona blew
n great horn and all the world
emed to tremble. When the sound
ID died. echoing miles away, the
mbler coughed lightly and groaned.
ace wondered why he should be ,
killed. over any ones misfortune. but
felt a merry tingling In his blood.
This boats got a good bass voice."
remarked.
BASS voicel Do you know what
like TO do7 I'd like to bore a ten