The Holly chieftain., 1923-05-31

DouSc ~Quecu-AScp LII Dctllus
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 second between his lips. His
right hand dropped and he drew out a
deuce. Eyes shifted from Sandy to
Plimsoll, to Hahn. Little beads of
moisture oozed out on the dealers
forehead. The atmosphere was charged
with intensity. Plimsolls dark eyes
were boring through the dealers low
cred lids.
"Moye yo' flngehs, 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. Plimsoll
clapped Sandy on the shoulder.
"You did It," he said. Broke the
bank when you called that turn.
Games closed and the drinks on the
house. How'll you have itY'
| The crowd made way as Plimsoll
walked across to his safe, twirled the
combination, opened the doors and
took out stack of bills.
bills from century up" said
| Sandy. 1.-THE odds and ends in gold
| for the drinks"
The excitement was dying down.
The man from the Three Star had
won and had been paid. Plimsoll's
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 compact package.
"See who went out2' asked Sam in
his side whisper.
"Yep. Saw 1t In the glass of that
picture. Well 60 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 90 out the back way"
he said. II amt strong fo' playin'
crawfish Sam. but I amt keen on
bein' potted in the dark. I'll bet what
got in my pocket Butch is huggin'
the boards to one side of this shack.
I got too much money on me to be a
| good insurance risk"
Sam chuckled Pllmsoll met them
tust inside the door.
MAXIM 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 cat, he covered the short distance
between the house and the arroyo of
this creek and disappeared, merged
in Its shadow. Sandy Joined him
and they made their way swiftly
along the bottom. climbing the bank
where the railroad bridge crossed II,
striking of for the main street, lit
by sputtery. arc-lamps, making for
their ponies, still standing patiently
outside the all-night restaurant.
"No sense in runnin' our heads into
n flynn 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 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.