Catoctin clarion., 1923-05-17

front Of him, but there were five
small oblongs Of blue, markers repre-
senting five hundred dollars apiece. II
had come down to the last turn OF
the deal again. Every player and on.
locker knew what the three cards
were-a queen, five and Il deuce. II
the order of the three cards were
named correctly the bank would pay
four to one. If Sandy staked all on
his call he would win over ten thou
sand dollars. Plimsoll would have to
open His safe. Hahn did not have
that amount in his cash drawer
Plimsoll himself was looking on.
Butch Parsons stood beside him for II
second and then strolled into the
front room. Another man followed
him.
Sandy showed the markers across
the board, followed by his chips Ap-
parently aimlessly, he hitcled at his
belt and the two Cots with their tied
down holsters swung little to the
front, their handles just touching his
hips.
"Deuce-queen-five, I'm bettin',"
he said. AN deal 'em slow" His
voice drawled and his eyes lifted to
Hahn's and rested there.
Hahn had been mechanically chew
ing gum most of the evening. Now
his cheek muscles bulged more plainly
and the end Of his tongue showed
for a second between his lips. His
right hand dropped and he drew out
deuce. Eyes shifted from Sandy to
Plimsoll, to Hahn. Little beads of
moisture oOZed out on the de,. ler's
forehead. The atmosphere was charged
with intensity. PlimSOll's dark eyes
were boring through the dealers low
cred lids.
"Move yo' fingehs, dealer an re-
veal royalty" drawled Sandy. "The
queen wins" His hands were on his
hips, fingers touching the butts of
his guns, his eyes burned For all its
drag there was ring to his voice.
Hahn shot one swift look at him
and removed his hand. The queen
showed. The room gasped. Plimsol
clapped Sandy on the shoulder
You did it," he said. Broke the
bank when you called that turn
Games closed and the drinks cn the
house. How'll you have it?'
The crowd made way as Plimsoll
walked across to his safe, twrled the
combination, opened the doors and
took out n stack of bills
Bills from century up" said
Sandy. "The odds and ends in gold
fer the drinks"
The excitement was dying down.
The man from the Three Star had
won and had been paid. Plimsolrs
game WAS square. The drinks were
brought. Two men lOunged out into
the front room after they had tossed
theirs down. Sandy slipped the fold
ed bills into the breast pocket of his
shirt in a compact package.
"See who went out?' asked Sam In
his side whisper
"Yep. Saw it In the glass of that
picture. Well go out the back way.
Not yet" He shouldered his way
through the congratulating crowd,
Sam close behind him, into the front
room. 1t was empty. The short end
of Sandy's winnings still provided
liquor. For moment they were
alone. Plimsoll had not followed
them. Sandy swiftly sOcketed the bolt
on the inside Of the front door, turned
the key and slid that into his pocket.
Now We'll go out the back way"
he said. II amt strong TO playin'
crawfish, Sam, but amt keen on
bein' pOtted in the dark. I'll bet what
l got in my pocket Butch Is huggin'
the boards to one side of this shack.
l got too much money on me to be
good insurance risk"
Sam chuckled Plimsoll met them
just inside the door.
MAXIM a short cut" said Sandy.
Good night"
AS the pair went out at the rear
Plimsoll jumped into the front room
Sam, closing the back door behind
them noiselessly, heard the gambler
cursing at the bolted door. Silently
as a cat, he covered the short distance
between the house and the arroyo of
ths creek and disappeared, merged
In It's shadow. Sandy Joined him
and they made their way swiftly
along the bottom, climbing the bank
where the railroad bridge crossed II,
off for the main street, lit
by sputtery arc-lamps, making for
their ponies, still standing patiently
outside the all-night restaurant.
mo sense in runnln' our heads into
a flyin' noose," said Sandy. "Plimsoll
owns the sheriff Married his sister.
We'd be wrong whatever stahted.
They'd frisk me Of my roll an we'd
never see it ag'in, less we made a run
MIN fight OF It,"
They mounted, swung their horses
and loped off toward the bridge across
the creek. There were two spans, one
built since the advent of automobiles,
the other ancient, little used. They
headed for the latter.
CHAPTER v